#newstodonfriday — Public Fediverse posts

Texas has a dire shortage of social workers. @TexasObserver explores how the state is shooting itself in the foot by imposing a lifetime ban on candidates who’ve been convicted of certain crimes such as assault. The law came into place in 2019 and does not allow for rehabilitation or glowing recommendations — it’s one strike, and you’re out. James Knight and Daryl James spoke to Katherin Youniacutt, a grandmother and recovering alcoholic with more than 10 years of sobriety who is still being punished for a mistake she made in 2007.

https://www.texasobserver.org/social-worker-license-lawsuit-texas-law/

#SocialWork #Crime #Texas #TexasObserver #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Documentary photographer Alan Pogue has been contributing to @TexasObserver for decades. Here’s a selection of some of his greatest work for the magazine, which is coming to the end of its 70th anniversary year.

https://www.texasobserver.org/alan-pogue-photo-essay-observer-seventieth-anniversary/

#Photography #PhotoJournalism #AlanPogue #Texas #TexasObserver #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

When assistive technology for people with physical disabilities is developed, the final users of it — its “pilots” — are often not involved until the very end. That’s why robotics expert Robert Riener launched the Cybathlon. The technotopian competition takes place every four years — the next tournament is this month in Switzerland and online — and involves eight events including the assistance robot race, in which pilots control a robot assistant from their wheelchairs and the brain-computer interface race, where pilots with quadriplegia use their thoughts to guide an animated avatar through an obstacle course. Here’s more from @KnowableMag.

https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/technology/2024/cybathlon-competition-bionic-athletes-use-assistive-tech

#Accessibility #PhysicalDisabilities #Sport #Robotics #AssistiveTechnology #Technology #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Technology has transformed every facet of life — so why not religion?@restofworld created a Flipboard Storyboard of their brilliant Digital Divinity series, which includes Hindu temples made by 3D printers, priests that dance on TikTok and more.
https://flipboard.com/@restofworld/digital-divinity-ancient-traditions-meet-modern-technology-0gmpvc702t3iqbmp

#Religion #Culture #Lifestyle #Christianity #Islam #Buddhism #Hinduism #Jainism #Technology #Tech #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Two scientists from Massachusetts won this year’s Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were honored for their discovery of microRNA — research that is having profound effects on our understanding of how cells and organisms work. @gbhnews wrote about the scientists’ responses to their prize. “The surprises are what keep you young in science,” Ruvkun said. “And so I am constantly surprised. And my ignorance is bliss.”

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-10-07/pay-attention-to-revolutions-mass-scientists-win-nobel-prize-in-medicine-for-discovery-of-microrna

#Science #NobelPrizeinMedicine #microRNA #Boston #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Is the testability of a theory essential to good science or is there room for more unconstrained exploration of ideas? @thetransmitter looks at whether this might be the case in relatively young fields like neuroscience.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/breakout-room/must-a-theory-be-falsifiable-to-contribute-to-good-science/

#Science #Neuroscience #ScientificTheory #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday