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Matthew LaPointe

@matthewlapointe

Runner. Occasional triathlete. Sci-comms / web / marketing @jcvi.org. Views my own.

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26.11.2024
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Latest posts by Matthew LaPointe @matthewlapointe

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U.S. offers India a 30-day waiver for buying Russian oil as Iran war deepens energy supply worries U.S. has given India a waiver to buy Russian oil for 30 days as conflict in Middle East impacts global energy supply.

Don't worry though, we're playing hardball.

www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/u...

06.03.2026 19:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Elucidation of odd-chain dicarboxylate metabolism in Acinetobacter baylyi and application to polyethylene upcycling Polyethylene (PE) is a versatile polymer, but its end-of-life management is challenging due to its recalcitrant structure. We present a promising appr…

Led by JCVI's @taeseokmoon.bsky.social, the paper highlights how engineered microbes could reshape plastic recycling and accelerate a circular bioeconomy.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

30.01.2026 19:28 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

JCVI and Diploid Genomics Inc. looking to hire several human genome scientists and bioinformatics specialists for the Human Genome Project 2.0 2026. Apply at JCVI.org

27.12.2025 03:32 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Great learning opportunity β€” The workshop will show researchers how to analyze and explore bacterial and viral pathogen data using the BV-BRC website (www.bv-brc.org), focusing on bacterial, and viral examples and workflows. πŸ§ͺ🧬

22.01.2026 15:06 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals Federal law required majority of documents to be released by 19 December, but only 125,575 pages have been published The Department of Justice has released less than 1% of the so-called Epstein files, a court filing has revealed, as Democrats step up criticism of the Trump administration’s β€œlawlessness” for keeping records under seal. The department conceded that only 12,285 documents, totalling 125,575 pages, relating to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have been published to date, despite a federal law requiring the vast majority to be released by 19 December. Continue reading...

US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals

06.01.2026 15:27 πŸ‘ 291 πŸ” 141 πŸ’¬ 22 πŸ“Œ 20
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NEW: European leaders rebuked Donald Trump over his comments about taking over Greenland, saying in a joint statement that β€œIt is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

06.01.2026 15:48 πŸ‘ 321 πŸ” 80 πŸ’¬ 22 πŸ“Œ 6
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Scientists engineer microbial teams to transform mixed plastics into valuable products La Jolla, Californiaβ€”December 11, 2025β€”Each year, the world produces more than 400 million metric tons of plastic, much of which ends up in...

A circular economy turns waste into resourcesβ€”and JCVI scientists are making it real. We are engineering microbes to upcycle mixed plastic waste into valuable products like lycopene and lipids. No sorting, no landfillsβ€”just innovation for a sustainable future. πŸ§ͺ🧬

www.jcvi.org/media-center...

11.12.2025 17:08 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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18.11.2025 13:52 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

When I was in graduate school my life and carreer were completely transformed by a seminar I attended at Stanford by Dr. Hamilton Smith. In the talk he discussed how TIGR was sequencing whole genomes of organisms. Here is a scan of P1 of my notes. 1/n

11.11.2025 05:42 πŸ‘ 82 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1
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Hamilton Smith obituary: molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA Nobel laureate who helped to sequence the first bacterial and human genomes.

@jcv.bsky.social penned an obituary for Ham Smith in @nature.com. Since the early 90s, Ham has been a key figure at the Institute for his invaluable contributions and mentorship. "Ham was the best colleague that one could ever have in science and a great friend."

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

10.11.2025 15:32 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
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Remembering Hamilton O. Smith Hamilton O. Smith August 31, 1931 – October 25, 2025 It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Hamilton O. Smith, M.D., a...

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Hamilton O. Smith, M.D., a scientific giant, compassionate mentor, and beloved by all who had the honor of knowing him. Ham was humble, gentle, and brilliant. πŸ§ͺ🧬

www.jcvi.org/media-center...

29.10.2025 13:41 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

He’s not wrong.

26.10.2025 16:27 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

How dare he use the actual words of Ronald Reagan, not out of context.

26.10.2025 16:23 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What a poorly written headline.

24.10.2025 00:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

They must have been using his autopen.

bsky.app/profile/atru...

23.10.2025 20:44 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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"nearly half..." ???

it's an open book test.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...

23.10.2025 16:02 πŸ‘ 16851 πŸ” 5477 πŸ’¬ 1871 πŸ“Œ 608

Maybe sports betting is a bad idea.

23.10.2025 20:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Well Todd, you're an idiot.

23.10.2025 03:12 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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23.10.2025 00:13 πŸ‘ 15255 πŸ” 7220 πŸ’¬ 761 πŸ“Œ 319

He's not wrong (this time).

21.10.2025 22:58 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Literally no bottom. Turns out there wasn't a uniparty, but a unibranch, all reporting to one guy.

21.10.2025 22:54 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This looks like a fantastic race. Congrats.

21.10.2025 22:50 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I love Herman.

21.10.2025 22:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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21.10.2025 20:36 πŸ‘ 2113 πŸ” 446 πŸ’¬ 36 πŸ“Œ 78
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And now for a report from the hellish, war-zone that is Portland

08.10.2025 14:08 πŸ‘ 5213 πŸ” 1566 πŸ’¬ 207 πŸ“Œ 131

Dumpy chic

07.10.2025 22:01 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Feel free to attribute the following to a former OMB General Counsel: The supposed "new legal analysis" is, to use a technical legal term, horseshit. What the law actually says is that when Congress enacts a law ending a lapse, furloughed employees get paid at the earliest date possible. Period.

07.10.2025 14:25 πŸ‘ 3436 πŸ” 1096 πŸ’¬ 137 πŸ“Œ 43

Wait. Is Santa Claus the Chief Justice?

07.10.2025 17:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Resolution of the University of Virginia Faculty Senate (thus not institutional policy and entirely non-binding, but still inspirational): 

Resolution Opposing the
"Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education"
WHEREAS the United States Secretary of Education has requested that the University of Virginia enter into a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education", and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions antithetical to the mission and traditions of the University, and
WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions which endanger the independence and integrity of the University, and
WHEREAS the compact likely violates state and federal law, and infringes upon the constitutional rights of members of the University community, and WHEREAS the University of Virginia exemplifies American academic values of the highest standard, including universal right to free speech and the cultivation of academic freedom; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia firmly opposes this Compact as written and calls upon Interim President Mahoney and the Board of Visitors to also reject this Compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the University.
Feature Date:
Friday, October 3, 2025

Resolution of the University of Virginia Faculty Senate (thus not institutional policy and entirely non-binding, but still inspirational): Resolution Opposing the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" WHEREAS the United States Secretary of Education has requested that the University of Virginia enter into a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education", and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions antithetical to the mission and traditions of the University, and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions which endanger the independence and integrity of the University, and WHEREAS the compact likely violates state and federal law, and infringes upon the constitutional rights of members of the University community, and WHEREAS the University of Virginia exemplifies American academic values of the highest standard, including universal right to free speech and the cultivation of academic freedom; therefore BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia firmly opposes this Compact as written and calls upon Interim President Mahoney and the Board of Visitors to also reject this Compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the University. Feature Date: Friday, October 3, 2025

04.10.2025 16:22 πŸ‘ 222 πŸ” 62 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 5
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The passing of Clyde A. Hutchison, III Clyde A. Hutchison, III November 26, 1938 – September 27, 2025 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Clyde A....

The passing of Clyde A. Hutchison, III, friend, colleague, and giant in the biological sciences. πŸ§ͺ

www.jcvi.org/media-center...

04.10.2025 02:49 πŸ‘ 33 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0