Daniel Lawler
@daniellawler.bsky.social
Science and health journalist at AFP
@en.afp.com
@en.afp.com
Pinned
Daniel Lawler
@daniellawler.bsky.social
· Feb 20
'We will save them': The quest to rescue nearly extinct rhino
Two rhinos munch serenely on grass as the sun rises over Mount Kenya, oblivious to the massive global endeavour to prevent them being the last of their kind.
www.france24.com
I met the two last northern white rhinos in the world, and dug into how many chances scientists will have to save the species.
My story for @afpnews.bsky.social
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
My story for @afpnews.bsky.social
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Here we go. Just an entirely pointless thing to investigate, literally meaningless, and will only be used by bad-faith actors to attack the COP process and climate action in general www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
COP webpages emit seven times more carbon than average sites
Websites produced for COP conferences emit up to 10 times more carbon than average internet pages, new research suggests.
www.eurekalert.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Here we go. Just an entirely pointless thing to investigate, literally meaningless, and will only be used by bad-faith actors to attack the COP process and climate action in general www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
That’s before I reckon with the ethics of using a thing for ghost efficiency that is pretty societally devastating.
And on a final personal note, I don’t want to become stupid before my time. I really don’t. I will keep mucking about so that I can keep mucking about, for as long as possible.
And on a final personal note, I don’t want to become stupid before my time. I really don’t. I will keep mucking about so that I can keep mucking about, for as long as possible.
November 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
That’s before I reckon with the ethics of using a thing for ghost efficiency that is pretty societally devastating.
And on a final personal note, I don’t want to become stupid before my time. I really don’t. I will keep mucking about so that I can keep mucking about, for as long as possible.
And on a final personal note, I don’t want to become stupid before my time. I really don’t. I will keep mucking about so that I can keep mucking about, for as long as possible.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Countries around the world have agreed to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams in tooth fillings by 2034, a move that will change the practice of dentistry. The World Health Organization considers mercury one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern u.afp.com/Sn4Z
November 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Countries around the world have agreed to phase out the use of mercury-based dental amalgams in tooth fillings by 2034, a move that will change the practice of dentistry. The World Health Organization considers mercury one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern u.afp.com/Sn4Z
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Wonderful
Jacob, an 11-year-old lion, has defied expectations by surviving for years after losing a leg – now we know his success is down to an innovative hunting strategy
A three-legged lion has learned to hunt in a completely unexpected way
Jacob, an 11-year-old lion, has defied expectations by surviving for years after losing a leg – now we know his success is down to an innovative hunting strategy
www.newscientist.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Wonderful
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
NEW: Common Crawl, the massive archiver of the web, has gotten cozy with AI companies and is providing paywalled articles for training data. They’re also lying to publishers who have asked for material to be removed. “The robots are people too,” CC’s exec director told us when we asked about this.
The Nonprofit Feeding the Entire Internet to AI Companies
Common Crawl claims to provide a public benefit, but it lies to publishers about its activities.
www.theatlantic.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
NEW: Common Crawl, the massive archiver of the web, has gotten cozy with AI companies and is providing paywalled articles for training data. They’re also lying to publishers who have asked for material to be removed. “The robots are people too,” CC’s exec director told us when we asked about this.
“The robots are people too." - what a grim quote about our times
November 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
“The robots are people too." - what a grim quote about our times
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Attention Authors: Updated Practice for Review Articles and Position Papers in arXiv CS Category – arXiv blog
blog.arxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
An Air Canada flight right now
November 2, 2025 at 1:38 AM
An Air Canada flight right now
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Can apple cider vinegar make you lose weight?
Probably not. My piece this week takes a look at a fascinating example of unreliable science, forensic metascience, and seriously problematic data.
gidmk.substack.com/p/apple-cide...
Probably not. My piece this week takes a look at a fascinating example of unreliable science, forensic metascience, and seriously problematic data.
gidmk.substack.com/p/apple-cide...
Apple Cider Vinegar For Weight Loss - A Study That May Never Have Happened At All
Some fascinating insights into the world of scientific integrity.
gidmk.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Can apple cider vinegar make you lose weight?
Probably not. My piece this week takes a look at a fascinating example of unreliable science, forensic metascience, and seriously problematic data.
gidmk.substack.com/p/apple-cide...
Probably not. My piece this week takes a look at a fascinating example of unreliable science, forensic metascience, and seriously problematic data.
gidmk.substack.com/p/apple-cide...
If the problem is scooter collisions, surely you regulator scooters, not pedestrians
The Slovak parliament yesterday adopted an amendment to the traffic law that sets a maximum permitted speed on sidewalks in urban areas at 6 kph.
Slovakia adopts speed limit for pedestrians
Power walking will soon be illegal in Slovakia as law changes to prevent sidewalk accidents.
www.politico.eu
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
If the problem is scooter collisions, surely you regulator scooters, not pedestrians
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Lab monkeys from Tulane University have escaped an overturned truck north of the town of Heidelberg, Mississippi.
Despite initial claims by local law enforcement, the monkeys are not carrying COVID-19, herpes or hepatitis C.
buff.ly/16gTRJa
Despite initial claims by local law enforcement, the monkeys are not carrying COVID-19, herpes or hepatitis C.
buff.ly/16gTRJa
Lab Monkeys Escape Overturned Truck Near Heidelberg, Mississippi
Lab monkeys from Tulane University have escaped an overturned truck around mile marker 117 on Interstate 59, north of the town of Heidelberg, Mississippi, marshalling a response from numerous law…
www.mississippifreepress.org
October 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Lab monkeys from Tulane University have escaped an overturned truck north of the town of Heidelberg, Mississippi.
Despite initial claims by local law enforcement, the monkeys are not carrying COVID-19, herpes or hepatitis C.
buff.ly/16gTRJa
Despite initial claims by local law enforcement, the monkeys are not carrying COVID-19, herpes or hepatitis C.
buff.ly/16gTRJa
If you're killing dozens of people with your saber, I think that is more than just rattling it
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Trump’s threats against the country and attacks on nearby boats cannot be justified under international law
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
If you're killing dozens of people with your saber, I think that is more than just rattling it
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Imagine what the stats for X users must be?
October 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Imagine what the stats for X users must be?
This is not actually how French people dress, but how Americans think they do (a view 70 years out of date).
I bet this guy is actually an American tourist
apnews.com/article/louv...
I bet this guy is actually an American tourist
apnews.com/article/louv...
Inspector Clouseau? The mystery man in an AP photo after the Louvre jewel heist creates a buzz
A photo taken by an Associated Press photographer after the brazen daylight robbery at Paris' Louvre Museum is generating an online buzz.
apnews.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This is not actually how French people dress, but how Americans think they do (a view 70 years out of date).
I bet this guy is actually an American tourist
apnews.com/article/louv...
I bet this guy is actually an American tourist
apnews.com/article/louv...
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Dodger Stadium's parking lot is so big that it could fit an additional 10 Dodger Stadiums.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
October 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Dodger Stadium's parking lot is so big that it could fit an additional 10 Dodger Stadiums.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
"This magic ring is the secret to everything" "Why" "It binds the other rings" "What do they do" "Grant power" "What sort of power" "Power to rule" "Be more specific" "...." "If I'm in a fight, can I use them" "Well, they make some short people invisible" "Just invisible?" "No! also hurt and sad"
October 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM
"This magic ring is the secret to everything" "Why" "It binds the other rings" "What do they do" "Grant power" "What sort of power" "Power to rule" "Be more specific" "...." "If I'm in a fight, can I use them" "Well, they make some short people invisible" "Just invisible?" "No! also hurt and sad"
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Like UBI and providing long-term contraception to teenagers, this will be repeated a billion times and never believed, but yes, reducing parking requirements encourages affordable housing.
Analysis: Denver Study Shows Removing Parking Requirements Results in More Affordable Housing Being Built
"We find that eliminating parking minimums creates more options for developers and renters."
www.westword.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Like UBI and providing long-term contraception to teenagers, this will be repeated a billion times and never believed, but yes, reducing parking requirements encourages affordable housing.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Gift link if you need to stop doom scrolling.
Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Gift link if you need to stop doom scrolling.
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
The Treasury Department instructed employees not to share to share photos of the demolition of parts of the White House’s East Wing
Exclusive | Treasury Tells Employees Not to Share Photos of White House Ballroom Construction
Images of the demolition of parts of the East Wing went viral on Monday, and Treasury’s headquarters next door to the White House has a front-row seat.
www.wsj.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:40 AM
The Treasury Department instructed employees not to share to share photos of the demolition of parts of the White House’s East Wing
Reposted by Daniel Lawler
Good evening. We estimate that between 4.2 and 7.6 million people turned out for the No Kings Day demonstrations held around the country on Saturday. This makes Oct 18 very likely the biggest single-day U.S. protest event since 1970. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...
Second "No Kings Day" protests likely the largest single-day political demonstration since 1970, with 4.2-7.6 million participants
Here are the initial results from our crowdsourced crowd-counting estimates
www.gelliottmorris.com
October 19, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Good evening. We estimate that between 4.2 and 7.6 million people turned out for the No Kings Day demonstrations held around the country on Saturday. This makes Oct 18 very likely the biggest single-day U.S. protest event since 1970. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...