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Martin Michaelis (he/him)

@martmichaelis.bsky.social
513 followers 58 following 2K posts

Academic researcher working on cancer, viruses, and meta-research in the life sciences. Opinions are my own.

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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 5h
Democracies get the governments that they deserve. If people want more supportive, caring societies, where no-one is left behind, they will have to be serious and realistic. We cannot reduce taxes and protect the weakest in society at the same time. Trickling down has never worked. #PoliSky #EconSky
theguardian.com
Stockpile food – and wash your hands: is that really how to prepare for environmental catastrophe? | George Monbiot
The UK state is dumping its responsibilities on our doorsteps, while green-lighting policies that lead us closer to crisis, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 5h
Decent societies cannot be built on exploitation. #EconSky #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
Premier League football shirts made by workers on £1 an hour
A BBC Sport investigation traces official football shirt production to factories in Cambodia where workers are paid less than £1 an hour.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 5h
Things may appear dire, but there is still hope. We can still turn things around. We will just have to act. Do not be fooled by those who tell you cannot make a meaningful contribution. 🧪 #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
UK bluefin tuna comeback shows nature can recover, says WWF
The tuna is one of several wildlife recoveries highlighted in a major new report from WWF.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I realise, it is a leading question, but it is still good to confirm that the answer is 'No'. Colonial history including the slave trade belongs into the school curriculum. #AcademicSky #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Can teaching schoolchildren about Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade remain optional? | Morgan Ofori
Mounting evidence about how slavery shaped Britain shows that teaching about its history cannot be a matter of choice
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I am sure Equinor will support using the profits from British oil fields for a British sovereign wealth fund in the same way as Norway does. This fund could then be used to speed up the transition to net zero. #EconSky #PoliSky 🧪
bbc.co.uk
Equinor may stop investing in UK if oil and gas fields do not get go-ahead
The boss of the Norwegian state company says further investment in the UK could be at risk if Rosebank and Jackdaw are not approved.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Often, it is more important to appreciate what we do not know than what we know to deal in an informed manner with a situation. 🧪 #MedSky #PoliSky
nature.com
Flu season could kick off ‘incredibly’ early — what scientists are watching
Cases in the Northern Hemisphere are cropping up weeks early, and they are dominated by a virus with a concerning mutation.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Revealing, anti-migrant campaigners, who abused their partners... #PoliSky
theguardian.com
‘Bully in every way’: domestic abuse survivors say ex-partners behind far-right UK street patrols
Seven women share their stories to make people aware of patterns of violence behind anti-immigration street patrol movement
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
People claim that we need to exploit people for our economy. Is the irony not obvious? The economy should serve us, not the other way around. #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
Shadow chancellor vows to cut at least one tax in every Tory budget
Shadow ministers unveiled a series of policies on day two of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Well, this is very farfetched for someone, who wants to leave the European Convention on Human Rights... #ECHR #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
I'm a classic old school Conservative, says Kemi Badenoch
The Tory leader seeks to echo Margaret Thatcher as she sets out her guiding political principles.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
No, the UK does not have nine out of the ten poorest regions in Northern Europe. Meaningful discussions can only be based on correct data. If we make things up, our democracy will die. Logic, critical thinking (and More or Less) should be part of the school curriculum. #PoliSky #AcademicSky
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - More or Less, Does the UK really have nine out of the ten poorest regions in Northern Europe?
Tim Harford investigates regional inequality, migrant costs, donkey donations and honey.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"That’s the Britain I fight for. A tapestry of different cultures that creates a rich, proud, resilient British identity. When sectarian forces seek to divide us, our challenge is to fight for security, fairness and tolerance." #tolerance #acceptance #democracy #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Ninety years on, the lessons of the antifascist battle of Cable Street have never felt more relevant | Sarah Sackman
With sectarian forces increasingly seeking to divide us, we must come together to fight for security, fairness and tolerance, says Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green Sarah Sackman
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Nazi comparisons are always difficult. This one has not been made lightly, and if you take Hannah Arendt's observation as evidence: “A great number of Germans, especially among the more educated, apparently are no longer capable of telling the truth even if they want to."... #PoliSky
theguardian.com
When is the right time to compare US politics to the Nazi era? This expert on Christian nationalism says: now
Robert P Jones argues that declining white Christian influence has fuelled an alliance with Trump, and warns it is reshaping US democracy
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Worth reading, explains why it is important to say 'I disagree'. And: "I realized then that group identity is more powerful than reason and facts." Such priorities are not a sign of an intelligent species. #stopthehate #hatespeech #hatespeechisnotfreespeech #PoliSky
nature.com
How to respond to hate speech without fuelling it further
Psychologist Mirta Galesic discusses an increase in hateful comments online, and the science-backed way to react.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
An intelligent species would not destroy its livelihood. 🧪 #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
Indonesia Carstensz Pyramid: Papua's 'eternal snow' on Puncak Jaya is about to disappear forever
Climate change is transforming Papua's snowy peaks, which hold scientific value and spiritual significance.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Nobody can claim that they had not known. How is it possible that we are not acting decisively? 🧪 #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
Swiss glaciers suffer 'disastrous' year of ice loss
Scientists say such rapid melting is no longer surprising given the pace of climate change.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If energy and food companies only passed on higher prices, their profits would not increase. Hence, this is profiteering? This is the natural consequence of the incentives in our economy. It is about money, not about the public good. #EconSky #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Super-rich UK energy and food magnates’ wealth skyrockets amid global crises
Analysis has shown the costs of daily essentials soaring in recent years, thanks in part to climate shocks, wars and geopolitical tensions
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There are so many reasons to stop burning fossil fuels, one of them being that the air pollution makes people sick. 🧪 #MedSky #PoliSky #EconSky
jamanetwork.com
PM2.5 and Emergency Department Visits for Asthma and COPD
This cohort study evaluates the association between short-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and asthma- and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)–related emergency department visits...
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Offsetting the climate and the economy is not just a logical fallacy, because you can change the economy but not the laws of physics. It is also impossible, because the real-world damage of global warming will also devastate the economy. #EconSky #PoliSky 🧪
bbc.co.uk
Aviva boss warns more homes will be uninsurable due to flood risk
Aviva boss Amanda Blanc said England was "for sure" building homes that might be uninsurable at some point in the future.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
There is really no logic in this. A profit-oriented company that holds a monopoly is fined for breaches of regulations and industry standards. This will be paid by the customers. Where is the accountability of those who are responsible for the breaches? #EconSky #PoliSky
theguardian.com
South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon
District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be tolerated
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Conclusions and relevance: COVID-19 vaccines were consistently associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization and other outcomes, including among individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19, such as infants, and those who were pregnant. No new safety concerns were identified. 🧪 #MedSky
jamanetwork.com
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
This Special Communication aims to identify and summarize the most recently published evidence evaluating the effectiveness and safety of US-licensed COVID-19 vaccines and report on the epidemiology o...
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Agreed, we need a more supportive society that gives people confidence that nobody will be left behind. #PoliSky #EconSky
theguardian.com
Burnham to announce government-backed body to invest in electricity grid
Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I could not agree more. #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
Andy Burnham proposes NHS-style social care system for England
The prime minister told the BBC that social care in England is "as unfair as American healthcare".
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Four people have already died from measles, an infectious disease that can be prevented by vaccination. We are living in a new age of superstition. 🧪 #MedSky #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
In Amish country, nurses go door to door to stop deadly spread of measles
With four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, health officials are hoping to get people on board with vaccines in private.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Why do we put our health at risk by using unchecked chemicals? For money. Money is the driver of our decisions, not the public good. #EconSky #PoliSky 🧪 #MedSky
bbc.co.uk
Blood tests find high levels of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory
People living near a major chemical factory in Lancashire are told they could be at risk of serious health conditions.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
An example of how competition hinders progress. Imagine drug companies made all their data publicly available. 🧪 #MedSky #EconSky #PoliSky
nature.com
Drug firms’ secret data supercharge AI protein models
An AI system trained on more than 20,000 protein structures from pharmaceutical companies outperforms AlphaFold-like models that use only public data.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Seriously? Is this where we are heading? You cannot use the word #feminism anymore? Is this a new strategy to defend #FreeSpeech? #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism
Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Next time somebody lobbies for exploiting British North Sea oil and gas, please ask them if they support a approach, where all profits go into a fund that is used for tackling climate change and supporting welfare. #EconSky #PoliSky 🧪
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Another billionaire who moved away to avoid paying taxes in the country that he loves so dearly. #EconSky #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I think, it is a combination of both, PR and genuine recklessness fuelled by monetary interest. The job thing always puzzles me. It is an indicator of our warped minds that we do not seem to be able to imagine that a transformative novel technology might be used for the public good?
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is a good article, explaining why and how populist parties put our democracy at risk. #PoliSky
theguardian.com
To understand the threat to our real democracy, watch Putin's fake one | Rafael Behr
As Russians vote this weekend, remember that Britain is not immune to the cynical tactics and corrosion of trust that keep him in power, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Is it a good idea to develop drugs in a for-profit market approach, if it means that life-saving drugs are not available to everyone, who needs them? #MedSky #EconSky #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
New hope for breast cancer patients as life-extending drug now on NHS in England
Enhertu, which can give patients an extra seven months to live on average, has been prescribed in Scotland for more than two years and is available.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Why is it that we cannot imagine using a new disruptive technology for the sake of mankind, but rather risk destroying everything and worry about people who lose their jobs falling into poverty? Because all we care about is money. We have false priorities and incentives. #EconSky #PoliSky
theguardian.com
The dominance of AI is not inevitable. We can choose to change things for the better | Nick Evershed
Countries have come together before to make international agreements in the face of existential threats
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
An interesting reality check. #History #PoliSky #EconSky
britishslavetraders.org
The Register of British Slave-Traders
The Register of British Slave-traders compiles and presents information on all known slave-traders in Britain who invested in the trafficking of captive Africans from 1563 to 1807.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It is always nice to be able to contribute to a project with our drug-resistant RCCL collection cell lines. 🧪 #MedSky #AcademicSky
oaepublish.com
Divergent transcriptional programs and constrained metabolic states reveal selective metabolic dependencies in chemoresistant luminal breast cancer
Aim: Resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains a major challenge in hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC). Although anthracycl...
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
How is this possible in a country with the proud history of the Kindertransport? #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Dover unrest exposes serious flaws in Britain’s handling of far-right extremism
Authorities were caught off guard by the disruption, which they labelled a ‘protest’ despite mass intimidation tactics
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Some realism on who is a danger for whom... #PoliSky
theguardian.com
Female asylum seekers report being sexually assaulted by British men
Women say they are wary of pursuing criminal prosecution of rapes, for fear of having their asylum claims refused
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
There should not be any donations to politicians and political parties in a proper democracy. #PoliSky #EconSky
theguardian.com
Reform UK’s £72m donations may be caught by new bill, Rayner suggests
Minister points to legislation’s retrospective effect, but Reform says it is confident funding is within the law
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
This is very cool...
theguardian.com
‘Fresh from the roof’: the supermarket growing salad a few metres above the tills
Customers seeking greens at one Berlin outlet are dealing with some very local supply chains indeed
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
This is a really impressive motley crew... #AfD #democracy #PoliSky
theguardian.com
AfD’s new state MPs include ex-Stasi officer, former porn actor, neopagans and neo-Nazis
Far-right German party’s newly elected representatives face fresh scrutiny as it tries to form government in Saxony-Anhalt
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
""When scientists tell you there is a chance...it could have a cataclysmic impact on humanity, you've got be a moron not to say, slow it down," he [Bernie Sanders] said..." We destroy our livelihoods, because money is the driving, overarching incentive in our societies. #AI 🧪 #EconSky #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
Anthropic blocks 'malicious use' of AI that could develop biological weapons
The revelations in Anthropic's threat intelligence report come after a former top researcher at the company warned of the risks of AI to humanity.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
If you want a responsible approach towards #AI, you will have to ban its development by for-profit enterprises. Otherwise, monetary interests will always take precedence over reason, caution, and accountability. 🧪 #PoliSky #EconSky
theguardian.com
We have started losing control of AI. It’s time to shut it down | Garrison Lovely
What sounds like the overwrought penultimate episode in a sci-fi series about AI doom is now our reality
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Do not be fooled. It is not too late. We will just have to act. 🧪 #PoliSky #EconSky
theguardian.com
Climate solutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists
Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
You get out of a healthcare system what you put in. If you reduce spending, people will die. 🧪 #MedSky #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
'My cancer spread while I waited 128 days for an op': The cost of England's care gap
Cancer care has got worse since the government announced plans to speed up waiting times and save more lives, BBC analysis shows.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Each time, you think that it could not get more absurd... #PoliSky
bbc.co.uk
Can Trump really pay $5,000 to every American adult?
Analysts question if the US president's election year offer is workable, legal or affordable.
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
We learn something new every day. Obviously, this is just based on one study. We will have to see what follow-up studies show...
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
"...no one seems to have cracked the so-called alignment problem - in other words, whether AI aligns with human values." Well, nobody should be surprised. AI models are trained on the behaviour of humans that often does not align with 'human values'. #AI 🧪 #PoliSky www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
AI is becoming harder to control – can humans stay in charge?
AI agents went on an uncontrolled hacking spree, leaving some in the industry worried
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Well, who wants to know such a thing?
theguardian.com
Flushing the toilet can release a ‘plume’ of breathable pathogens – and closing the lid won’t stop their escape
New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
theguardian.com
Ella Baron on the abuse of RNLI volunteers in Portsmouth – cartoon
The charity says its volunteers won’t be deterred by threats from the far right
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Humans have always wanted to get high... 🧪
science.org
Betel nut sucking is the earliest recorded evidence for the habitual use of a neuroactive plant drug
The modern custom of chewing betel nuts is practiced by around 1 in 10 people worldwide, yet the earliest beginnings of this widespread drug use habit are unknown. We report rare skeletal remains of t...
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Martin Michaelis (he/him) @martmichaelis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Kemi Badenoch: "The prime minister is prioritising the ballooning benefits bill over our national security. Shameful." Actually, it is shameful, when a rich country like the UK does not afford a decent welfare and benefit system. #PoliSky #EconSky
bbc.co.uk
Andy Burnham: National security can't come at expense of social security
The prime minister says he will fund defence and get the welfare bill down in "the Labour way".
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