Nuno
@nmachado.bsky.social
Biochemist. Non-academic researcher. Immigrant (🇪🇺➡️🇬🇧). Main interests are science 🧬 and metal 🤘. I like archaea and sequencing tech.
Reposted by Nuno
NEW: After DOGE outed Mohammad Halimi on social media, Taliban intelligence agents blindfolded and took three of his family members to a remote prison.
They were repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized work for the United States.
They were repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized work for the United States.
DOGE Targeted Him on Social Media. Then the Taliban Took His Family.
Afghan scholar Mohammad Halimi, who fled the Taliban in 2021, had worked to help U.S. diplomats understand his homeland. Then DOGE put his family’s lives at risk by exposing his sensitive work for a U...
www.propublica.org
August 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
NEW: After DOGE outed Mohammad Halimi on social media, Taliban intelligence agents blindfolded and took three of his family members to a remote prison.
They were repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized work for the United States.
They were repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized work for the United States.
Reposted by Nuno
Horrific. mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and could save millions more.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
August 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Horrific. mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and could save millions more.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
Reposted by Nuno
Two vaccine candidates using mRNA technology elicit a potent immune response against HIV
go.nature.com/46Kiais
go.nature.com/46Kiais
mRNA vaccines for HIV trigger strong immune response in people
Nature - Results from early-stage trial show that 80% of participants who received one of two HIV vaccine candidates produced antibodies against viral proteins.
go.nature.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Two vaccine candidates using mRNA technology elicit a potent immune response against HIV
go.nature.com/46Kiais
go.nature.com/46Kiais
www.chemistryworld.com/news/an-act-... UK visa costs 'act of national self-harm' as chemistry departments struggle to attract international research talent | Chemistry World
‘An act of national self-harm’: UK visa system deters top chemistry talent
Immigration policies are making it much more difficult to get scientific talent to come to the UK at a time of global flux
www.chemistryworld.com
August 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
www.chemistryworld.com/news/an-act-... UK visa costs 'act of national self-harm' as chemistry departments struggle to attract international research talent | Chemistry World
More on the age verification chaos and how this is a bad idea. The article also has references to ways that age verification procedures can be put in place without handing over sensitive data to private companies with unvertain T&C www.theverge.com/analysis/715...
Ready or not, age verification is rolling out across the internet
An age-gated internet comes with huge privacy risks.
www.theverge.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:29 AM
More on the age verification chaos and how this is a bad idea. The article also has references to ways that age verification procedures can be put in place without handing over sensitive data to private companies with unvertain T&C www.theverge.com/analysis/715...
More excellent news, because some parents don't know how to parent and instead rely on the government to baby-proof the internet with the help of "trusted" companies.
www.independent.co.uk/tech/spotify...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/spotify...
Spotify users could lose their accounts because of new rule
Age verification checks come amid sweeping changes across the web
www.independent.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
More excellent news, because some parents don't know how to parent and instead rely on the government to baby-proof the internet with the help of "trusted" companies.
www.independent.co.uk/tech/spotify...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/spotify...
Reposted by Nuno
Britain is not a broken society https://on.ft.com/45nWkQx | opinion
Britain is not a broken society
The country has serious problems but the right’s vision of it has become hysterical
on.ft.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Britain is not a broken society https://on.ft.com/45nWkQx | opinion
Reposted by Nuno
Governments probably should slap Facebook about for a moderation and recommendation system that prey on the suggestible.
But as it stands, the OSA mostly seems to threaten the access of WIKIPEDIA from the UK. For goodness sake, it took the entire Gaming on Linux (!!!) forum down.
Not about porn!
But as it stands, the OSA mostly seems to threaten the access of WIKIPEDIA from the UK. For goodness sake, it took the entire Gaming on Linux (!!!) forum down.
Not about porn!
July 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Governments probably should slap Facebook about for a moderation and recommendation system that prey on the suggestible.
But as it stands, the OSA mostly seems to threaten the access of WIKIPEDIA from the UK. For goodness sake, it took the entire Gaming on Linux (!!!) forum down.
Not about porn!
But as it stands, the OSA mostly seems to threaten the access of WIKIPEDIA from the UK. For goodness sake, it took the entire Gaming on Linux (!!!) forum down.
Not about porn!
This has been a terrible couple of weeks for free internet. First the UK, now Denmark trying to lead the EU astray, with the same old arguments that it is for “children’s safety”. You want to protect children, you fund police services and targeted investigations
www.techradar.com/computing/cy...
www.techradar.com/computing/cy...
The EU still wants to scan all your chats – and the rules could come into force by October 2025
Chat Control is back on the lawmakers' table
www.techradar.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This has been a terrible couple of weeks for free internet. First the UK, now Denmark trying to lead the EU astray, with the same old arguments that it is for “children’s safety”. You want to protect children, you fund police services and targeted investigations
www.techradar.com/computing/cy...
www.techradar.com/computing/cy...
Reposted by Nuno
🇦🇫 On the streets of Kabul, ‘virtue police’ chase and arrest young women for apparent breaches of strict dress code
July 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
🇦🇫 On the streets of Kabul, ‘virtue police’ chase and arrest young women for apparent breaches of strict dress code
These are the same people that would ban table salt because sodium is highly reactive and can explode www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
RFK Jr to remove preservative thimerosal from all US vaccines
Anti-vaccine campaigns have targeted thimerosal for decades despite no evidence of ingredient causing harm
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
These are the same people that would ban table salt because sodium is highly reactive and can explode www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
“"They'll download the first free app with decent reviews, often without realising they're handing over access to their data."”
People do that *because* they don’t want to send their documents and biometric data to whatever company is doing age verification.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
People do that *because* they don’t want to send their documents and biometric data to whatever company is doing age verification.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
VPNs top App Store charts as UK age verification kicks in
Experts say free versions of such apps or services may carry potential security and privacy risks.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
“"They'll download the first free app with decent reviews, often without realising they're handing over access to their data."”
People do that *because* they don’t want to send their documents and biometric data to whatever company is doing age verification.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
People do that *because* they don’t want to send their documents and biometric data to whatever company is doing age verification.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Nuno
It is my opinion that introducing age verification now is irresponsible, mainly because we have now reached the point where Western governments *are* using "the database state" and exploiting online surveillance to be repressive - just as privacy activists warned for decades. This applies to UK & US
July 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
It is my opinion that introducing age verification now is irresponsible, mainly because we have now reached the point where Western governments *are* using "the database state" and exploiting online surveillance to be repressive - just as privacy activists warned for decades. This applies to UK & US
Reposted by Nuno
So "EU privacy" is better than "Swiss privacy" - interesting news, given the source. 👀
Background on the upcoming Swiss surveillance law that's worse than US surveillance laws - and that we all need to fight against! 💪
👉 tuta.com/blog/switzer...
Background on the upcoming Swiss surveillance law that's worse than US surveillance laws - and that we all need to fight against! 💪
👉 tuta.com/blog/switzer...
![= Jonah Aragon
@jonah@neat.computer posted here: https://mastodon.social/@jonah@neat.computer/114902990636685184
Buried in Proton's Al announcement [proton me] today is a pretty
shocking detail about their service:
"Because of legal uncertainty around Swiss government
proposals [www.tdg.ch] to introduce mass surveillance —
proposals that have been outlawed in the EU — Proton is moving
most of its physical infrastructure out of Switzerland. Lumo will
be the first product to move."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hrl5pa232nb72z4f2dyyhasr/bafkreignd5ukrf54gyol65nhnaap5z6gd7pohmakyurzw3q6xqjhvuobuu@jpeg)
July 24, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So "EU privacy" is better than "Swiss privacy" - interesting news, given the source. 👀
Background on the upcoming Swiss surveillance law that's worse than US surveillance laws - and that we all need to fight against! 💪
👉 tuta.com/blog/switzer...
Background on the upcoming Swiss surveillance law that's worse than US surveillance laws - and that we all need to fight against! 💪
👉 tuta.com/blog/switzer...
I wasn't a massive fan of the music of Black Sabbath, but as a fan of metal it's impossible not to feel what a loss Ozzy Osbourne's passing is. Rest in peace!
July 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I wasn't a massive fan of the music of Black Sabbath, but as a fan of metal it's impossible not to feel what a loss Ozzy Osbourne's passing is. Rest in peace!
It's a pity that decisions like this are likely to be backtracked "just" because of commercial agreements rather thanfor being a bad idea that attacks people's privacy and security. www.macrumors.com/2025/07/20/u...
UK May Backtrack on Controversial Demand for Backdoor to Encrypted Apple User Data
The British government may be forced to drop its plans to force Apple to build a backdoor to access encrypted user data, the Financial Times reports....
www.macrumors.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
It's a pity that decisions like this are likely to be backtracked "just" because of commercial agreements rather thanfor being a bad idea that attacks people's privacy and security. www.macrumors.com/2025/07/20/u...
That was an interesting read www.chemistryworld.com/news/why-is-...
Why is a prehistoric creature still vital for the pharmaceutical industry?
Every year, horseshoe crabs are harvested for their blue blood, but alternatives are now coming through that could help protect these ancient animals
www.chemistryworld.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
That was an interesting read www.chemistryworld.com/news/why-is-...
This is cool. I haven't looked up on this any further (and certainly I'm no expert in mitochondrial biology), but why necessarily "three-person" IVF? Couldn't the father be the mitochondrial donor?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Landmark’ study: three-person IVF leads to eight healthy children
Long-awaited results suggest that mitochondrial donation can prevent babies from inheriting diseases caused by mutant mitochondria.
www.nature.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
This is cool. I haven't looked up on this any further (and certainly I'm no expert in mitochondrial biology), but why necessarily "three-person" IVF? Couldn't the father be the mitochondrial donor?
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...