Featured Stories
World in a Molecule: CSHL's Mass Spectrometry Core
COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Oct. 8 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news:
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The World in a Molecule: CSHL's Mass Spectrometry Core
October 07, 2026
Understand a molecule, and you can understand the biological entity it constitutes. For example, you can learn a lot about a person's lungs by studying the air therein. This is one of the central conceits behind mass spectrometry, the scientific technique by which individual molecules can be weighed and analyzed. At the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, this technique is used every
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COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Oct. 8 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news:
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The World in a Molecule: CSHL's Mass Spectrometry Core
October 07, 2026
Understand a molecule, and you can understand the biological entity it constitutes. For example, you can learn a lot about a person's lungs by studying the air therein. This is one of the central conceits behind mass spectrometry, the scientific technique by which individual molecules can be weighed and analyzed. At the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, this technique is used everyday to understand cancers and the drugs used to treat them.
"It's almost surprising that it works," remarks Resource Director and CSHL Research Associate Professor Paolo Cifani, "but it does."
Through a process called liquid chromatography, a mass spectrometer can separate samples into distinct, observable molecules that provide valuable data to research technicians in the lab. Cells' behavior, abnormalities, and responses to drugs can all be studied at the molecular level.
Mass spec enables scientists to see cancers and cancer treatments in a whole new light. Researchers can not only note differences between healthy cells and cancer cells--they can see just how effective drugs are across different cell types in different parts of the body. "This kind of information can then be integrated to engineer better therapeutics," Cifani adds.
Press play to see CSHL's Mass Spectrometry Core in action and hear how it's advancing research at CSHL.
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Original text here: https://www.cshl.edu/videos/the-world-in-a-molecule-cshls-mass-spectrometry-core/
[Category: Science]
Statement From Climate and Energy SVP Josh Freed on Environmental Group Opposition to Bipartisan Permitting Deal
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Third Way issued the following news release:
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October 5, 2026
Statement from Climate and Energy SVP Josh Freed on Environmental Group Opposition to Bipartisan Permitting Deal
WASHINGTON-- Following the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, several environmental groups have expressed opposition to the bill, citing potential benefits for fossil fuel expansion. One group went so far as to say they had no interest in changing the bill-- only tanking it. This opposition ignores the fact that the bill will be overwhelmingly beneficial to transmission
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- Third Way issued the following news release:
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October 5, 2026
Statement from Climate and Energy SVP Josh Freed on Environmental Group Opposition to Bipartisan Permitting Deal
WASHINGTON-- Following the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, several environmental groups have expressed opposition to the bill, citing potential benefits for fossil fuel expansion. One group went so far as to say they had no interest in changing the bill-- only tanking it. This opposition ignores the fact that the bill will be overwhelmingly beneficial to transmissionand clean energy expansion in the United States. Third Way Climate and Energy's Senior Vice President Josh Freed offered the following statement:
"Some environmental organizations are saying the quiet part out loud: they are more interested in obstructing imperfect solutions than working to improve them. This behavior has been on display for many years, but the strategy to sink permitting reform, as reported this week, is a rare public acknowledgment that these groups just don't get it.
"They don't get the need for bipartisan compromise, even if Democrats win the House and Senate, if we want to make any progress in the foreseeable future. They don't get that preserving the status quo in permitting isn't acceptable if you actually care about deploying clean energy and reducing emissions. And they don't get that Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich are never going to put their names on a deal unless it's a net win for the environment.
"This might be the most surprising misunderstanding, seeing as how these Senators have gone to the mat for climate efforts, championed land and ocean conservation, and sponsored endangered species legislation endorsed by some of the groups that are now accusing these Senators of "gutting" the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act in their permitting reform bill.
"What these groups are making clear is that they can not be taken seriously in policy negotiations when they have no intention of getting to yes on any deal that might actually have a chance of passing."
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Original text here: https://www.thirdway.org/press/statement-from-climate-and-energy-svp-josh-freed-on-environmental-group-opposition-to-bipartisan-permitting-deal
[Category: Political]
ELPC Satellite Technology Tool Offers New Way to Combat Ag Water Pollution
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 8 (TNSrpt) -- The Environmental Law and Policy Center issued the following news release:
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October 07, 2026
ELPC Satellite Technology Tool Offers New Way to Combat Ag Water Pollution
Open-source model detects winter manure spreading from space; Wisconsin case study demonstrates potential for use across snowy states
CHICAGO - A new technological tool developed by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is showing how publicly available satellite imagery can help uncover a difficult-to-monitor source of agricultural water pollution: manure spread on frozen ground
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 8 (TNSrpt) -- The Environmental Law and Policy Center issued the following news release:
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October 07, 2026
ELPC Satellite Technology Tool Offers New Way to Combat Ag Water Pollution
Open-source model detects winter manure spreading from space; Wisconsin case study demonstrates potential for use across snowy states
CHICAGO - A new technological tool developed by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is showing how publicly available satellite imagery can help uncover a difficult-to-monitor source of agricultural water pollution: manure spread on frozen groundfrom industrial-scale livestock operations. ELPC has developed a computer model that scans publicly available satellite imagery to identify likely winter manure applications.
Applied to three regions of Wisconsin over two winters, the ELPC model identified 1,094 likely manure-spreading events - many in locations where runoff could pose heightened risks to waterways. The findings and analysis, along with details about development of the ELPC model, are in a report released today.
The technology tool provides a potential new approach to an enforcement and transparency problem facing states across the Midwest: agricultural regulators have limited staff and cannot physically monitor thousands of livestock operations and fields during winter conditions.
"Satellite technology gives us the ability to see patterns on the ground that have been extremely difficult to monitor," said Katie Garvey, Senior Attorney at ELPC. "Winter manure spreading is incredibly dangerous for water quality, so more tools can help communities protect clean water. Wisconsin is our first major demonstration, but with some customization, this approach can help regulators and communities in other states identify where to focus attention and resources."
The ELPC model uses free satellite imagery from the Landsat and Sentinel-2 programs, processed through Google Earth Engine. The system analyzes visible and non-visible wavelengths of light to identify manure applications on snow-covered fields. ELPC worked with a doctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to develop the model and tested it against observations collected on the ground by citizen scientists. The underlying research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment in August 2026.
Although developed and tested in Wisconsin, the model can be easily adapted to other snowy regions. The source code, video tutorial, and supporting materials are available for others interested in using the technology for other states.
"The technology is designed to be useful beyond Wisconsin," said Aaron Suiter, University of Wisconsin Doctoral Researcher who worked with ELPC to develop the model. "Different states have different rules, different landscapes, and different water-quality challenges, but the basic problem is widespread: frozen ground cannot absorb livestock waste, especially in liquid form, regulators cannot be everywhere to stop it, and self-reporting alone cannot provide a complete picture. Satellite technology can help fill that information gap."
Wisconsin offers an especially useful test case because of its large dairy industry, wintry conditions, and statewide restrictions barring concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) - facilities with more than 1,000 animal units - from winter spreading during February and March. ELPC analyzed three regions containing 17 counties and identified 1,094 total detections of livestock waste spreading in the winters of 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The analysis found:
* 729 detections, or 66.6%, fell within impaired watersheds.
*344 detections - 31.4% - overlapped at least one mapped water-quality risk factor, including proximity to surface water, shallow bedrock or slope.
* 71 detections - 6.5% - overlapped two or more of those factors.
*95 detections - 8.7% - overlapped within known nutrient-management-plan fields for large, permitted CAFOs.
The analysis demonstrates how the screening tool identifies locations where winter spreading and regulatory or water-quality concerns overlap. The report also stresses that the number of detections is likely an undercount because satellites do not provide usable imagery every day, cloud cover and other conditions can obscure events, and the model only identifies spreading visible on snow.
ELPC's report offers recommendations, including: using the model to identify potential winter spreading incidents and target inspections; strengthen enforcement of existing restrictions; close regulatory gaps involving large and smaller animal feeding operations; expand protections during periods of snow and frozen ground; and prioritize action in impaired watersheds.
The model is being made available for use beyond ELPC, and the organization is encouraging regulators, researchers, local governments and community groups to explore applications in other states.
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REPORT: https://elpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/WI-CAFO_ELPC_10.7.26.pdf
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Original text here: https://elpc.org/news/elpc-satellite-technology-tool-offers-new-way-to-combat-ag-water-pollution/
[Category: Environment]
DENNIS BROWN JR. HIRED AS CHICAGO-BASED AKC EXECUTIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: Animals] -- The American Kennel Club posted the following news release:
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DENNIS BROWN JR. HIRED AS CHICAGO-BASED AKC EXECUTIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
Oct 05, 2026
The American Kennel Club (AKC(R)), a not-for-profit organization that is the world's largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is pleased to announce that Dennis Brown Jr. has been hired as an Executive Field Representative based in Chicago, IL. He will start January 4th, 2027.
Brown Jr's career in the dog world started with
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NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: Animals] -- The American Kennel Club posted the following news release:
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DENNIS BROWN JR. HIRED AS CHICAGO-BASED AKC EXECUTIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
Oct 05, 2026
The American Kennel Club (AKC(R)), a not-for-profit organization that is the world's largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is pleased to announce that Dennis Brown Jr. has been hired as an Executive Field Representative based in Chicago, IL. He will start January 4th, 2027.
Brown Jr's career in the dog world started withJunior Showmanship, where he showed Labrador Retrievers, Pointers, and Dalmatians. He has been a professional dog handler for over 20 years and has handled numerous Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show, Westminster Best of Breed, National Specialty, and AKC National Championship winners, dedicating his career to preserving the integrity of the sport and the advancement of purebred dogs.
"Dennis has been immersed in the sport for many years, and his extensive participation in AKC conformation events and in-depth knowledge of handling, breeding and club involvement will be valuable assets as an Executive Field Representative," said Sandy D'Andrea, AKC Field Director, Conformation. "We welcome him to our AKC Family."
In addition to his many accomplishments as a professional handler, he was the President and Show Chair of the Hilton Head Island Kennel Club. He is currently a member of the American Pointer Club where he previously served on the Board of Directors.
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Original text here: https://www.akc.org/press-releases/dennis-brown-jr-hired-as-chicago-based-akc-executive-field-representative/
Brazil's Far-Right Surge Puts the Amazon in the Crosshairs
OAKLAND, California, Oct. 8 [Category: Environment] -- Amazon Watch, an organization that says it protects the rainforest and advances the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin, issued the following news release:
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Brazil's Far-Right Surge Puts the Amazon in the Crosshairs
October 5, 2026
Belem, Brazil - Brazil's presidential race is heading to a runoff after Flavio Bolsonaro surprised many observers by finishing ahead of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round - 47% to 45%. The two will face each other in a runoff on October 25. Meanwhile, the election delivered a significant
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OAKLAND, California, Oct. 8 [Category: Environment] -- Amazon Watch, an organization that says it protects the rainforest and advances the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin, issued the following news release:
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Brazil's Far-Right Surge Puts the Amazon in the Crosshairs
October 5, 2026
Belem, Brazil - Brazil's presidential race is heading to a runoff after Flavio Bolsonaro surprised many observers by finishing ahead of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round - 47% to 45%. The two will face each other in a runoff on October 25. Meanwhile, the election delivered a significantcongressional shift: Brazil's extreme-right Liberal Party (PL) will enter 2027 as the largest caucus in both chambers, holding 121 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 28 in the Senate.
Amazon Watch warns that the new balance of power strengthens political forces that support mining on Indigenous lands and the rollback of territorial and environmental safeguards, regardless of who wins the presidential runoff.
In the Chamber of Deputies, the PL increased its representation from 99 to 121 lawmakers. In the Senate, it grew from 15 to 28 members, forming the largest party caucus in the chamber since Brazil's return to democracy in 1988. For Indigenous peoples the consequences are profound. A more powerful PL Senate caucus is already advancing a proposal to open Indigenous territories to mining, currently prohibited under Brazil's constitution.
"The Senate results are especially alarming," said Ana Alfinito, Legal Advisor at Amazon Watch. "This is where a proposal to regulate mining on Indigenous lands is being advanced, and it is also the Senate that considers impeachment requests against Supreme Court justices. The PL alone does not have enough votes to remove a Justice, but the new balance of power increases the ability of political forces that support opening Indigenous territories to mining and confronting institutions that are fundamental to protecting constitutional rights."
"This scenario strengthens an anti-Indigenous agenda that is already operating within the National Congress and has our territories in its sights," said the Association of Brazil's Indigenous Peoples (APIB) in a statement on the election results. "APIB had already warned about this risk, denouncing the growing power of sectors pushing projects against Indigenous peoples. The next political cycle will be one of intense resistance."
APIB called on Indigenous peoples to mobilize in response to the new composition of Congress and to strengthen Indigenous representation in decision-making spaces.
State elections across the Brazilian Amazon also strengthened candidates associated with the expansion of extractive industries. In Para state, Dr. Daniel of the Podemos party won in the first round alongside his running mate Ellayne D'Almeida (PL), an Itaituba businesswoman with ties to illegal gold-mining activities.
In Rondonia, Marcos Rogerio, who serves as vice president of the Senate working group on mining on Indigenous lands, was elected governor, vacating a seat that has been a key driver of the mining push. In Roraima, Arthur Henrique (PL) also won in the first round, with a platform that includes mining as one of the state's economic development priorities. In Amapa, Dr. Furlan of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) was elected after a campaign in which oil exploration at the mouth of the Amazon River emerged as a central issue, with both he and his main opponent backing investment in the sector. Governors in Acre, Amazonas, and Tocantins states will be decided in runoffs on October 25.
The election set a record for Indigenous political participation, with 191 Indigenous candidates running nationwide according to APIB, drawing on data from Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE). But results in the Chamber of Deputies were mixed: Sonia Guajajara won reelection with the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), while Celia Xakriaba (PSOL) and Alessandra Munduruku (PT) both lost their elections.
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Original text here: https://amazonwatch.org/news/2026/1005-brazils-far-right-surge-puts-the-amazon-in-the-crosshairs
Blogger Jailed for Four Years in Uzbekistan
NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news:
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Blogger Jailed for Four Years in Uzbekistan
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Blogger Sirojiddin Adilov's October 5 conviction on dubious extortion and fraud charges raises serious questions about fair trial standards in Uzbekistan, as well as the government's commitment to upholding freedom of expression.
A criminal court sentenced Adilov--who ran "Sirojiddin Media," a YouTube channel with over 915,000 subscribers--to four years in a prison colony for committing extortion in the case of one individual and fraud in the case
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NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news:
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Blogger Jailed for Four Years in Uzbekistan
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Blogger Sirojiddin Adilov's October 5 conviction on dubious extortion and fraud charges raises serious questions about fair trial standards in Uzbekistan, as well as the government's commitment to upholding freedom of expression.
A criminal court sentenced Adilov--who ran "Sirojiddin Media," a YouTube channel with over 915,000 subscribers--to four years in a prison colony for committing extortion in the case of one individual and fraud in the caseof two others. The court also ordered that he pay a total of 75 million Som in damages (approximately US $6370).
The court explicitly noted that Adilov was not prosecuted in connection with his social media activities. Yet, Adilov's arrest in March 2026 came just several months after he reported on a case of abuse of power in law enforcement, raising concerns that he may have been targeted for his critical reporting.
The human rights organization Ezgulik reported on multiple procedural violations in Adilov's case, including authorities' refusal to allow Adilov to choose his own lawyer in pretrial detention proceedings and a warrantless police search of Adilov's apartment and vehicle.
The head of Ezgulik, Abdurakhman Tashanov, who monitored Adilov's trial, informed Human Rights Watch that none of the individuals who filed complaints against Adilov provided substantiating evidence to support their claims. Tashanov also pointed out that from the time of the alleged incidents of fraud and extortion, it took the complainants over three years to file a complaint.
Adilov's "Sirojiddin Media" reported in 2025 on the efforts of a school principal from the Fergana region, Gulirano Kosimova, to hold accountable police officers who had beat her and made her strip naked on camera as part of an apparent set up to frame another official. In late November 2025, Kosimova won her case and a Fergana district criminal court convicted a district police chief and his deputy, sentencing them to four years in a prison colony.
Adilov's sentencing comes amidst increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Uzbekistan. Authorities should stop prosecuting bloggers and others on dubious extortion charges and for non-violent offenses such as "insulting the president online."
Sirojiddin Adilov was entitled to a fair trial and should get a fair and impartial appeals hearing that respects due process and is capable of reviewing both the procedural aspects and evidence base of his conviction.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/10/08/blogger-jailed-for-four-years-in-uzbekistan
B'nai B'rith Unequivocally Condemns NYC Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 Anniversary Statement
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- B'nai B'rith International issued the following news release:
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B'nai B'rith Unequivocally Condemns NYC Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 Anniversary Statement
October 7, 2026
B'nai B'rith International condemns in the strongest terms New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's disgraceful and extremely offensive statement marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, in which he distorted and erased the experiences of the victims and the brutality Hamas inflicted upon them.
B'nai B'rith CEO Evan R. Bernstein said: "As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- B'nai B'rith International issued the following news release:
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B'nai B'rith Unequivocally Condemns NYC Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 Anniversary Statement
October 7, 2026
B'nai B'rith International condemns in the strongest terms New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's disgraceful and extremely offensive statement marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, in which he distorted and erased the experiences of the victims and the brutality Hamas inflicted upon them.
B'nai B'rith CEO Evan R. Bernstein said: "As mayor of the city with the largest Jewishpopulation outside Israel, Mamdani has a profound responsibility to recognize the weight this day carries for New York's Jewish community."
Instead, on the anniversary of the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust, he used his platform to promote inflammatory accusations against Israel while shifting the focus to deceptive accusations that Israel is committing genocide and apartheid.
That choice is particularly reckless in a city where anti-Jewish incidents have accounted for 52.9% of all confirmed hate crimes so far in 2026, though Jews make up roughly 10% of the city's population.
More than 1,200 people were murdered on Oct. 7, 2023, including 49 Americans, and 251 were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. New Yorkers were among those murdered and abducted. Yet rather than remembering the people whose lives were destroyed by Hamas terrorists that day, Mamdani made accusations against Israel the focus of his message.
Bernstein added: "This is especially troubling coming just days after Mamdani announced his administration's new plan to combat antisemitism, and less than a month after the 25th anniversary of 9/11. A mayor cannot credibly claim to fight antisemitism and terrorism while using the anniversary of a terror attack to promote disinformation."
New York's Jewish community deserves a mayor who understands that the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks is not simply a political issue. It is the day Jews were massacred, families were torn apart and hundreds were taken hostage, fellow New Yorkers among them. That history must not be rewritten, minimized or erased.
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Original text here: https://www.bnaibrith.org/oct-7-anniversary-mamdani-statement/
[Category: Religion]
