Vox Meditantis

Women In STEM

Isabella Karle: The Crystallography Pioneer Who Deserved a Nobel Prize

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

31/05/2025

| Reading time:

5–7 minutes

Isabella Karle’s remarkable contributions to crystallography were overshadowed by gender biases that led to her exclusion from the Nobel Prize recognition awarded to her husband. Despite her pioneering methods that transformed drug development and molecular science, her legacy highlights the systemic undervaluation of women’s roles in science, demanding greater equity…
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Philosophy

The Metaethical Battleground: When Philosophers Fight About What ‘Good’ Really Means

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

31/05/2025

| Reading time:

6–9 minutes

The debate between moral realists and anti-realists centres on the nature of moral claims. Realists argue for objective moral truths, while anti-realists like J.L. Mackie contend that moral judgments are inherently false, merely reflecting attitudes. This discussion significantly influences our understanding of social justice and moral disagreements in society.
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Fiction

The Watchers

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

31/05/2025

| Reading time:

5–8 minutes

I had always prided myself on being observant, but it wasn’t until that particular afternoon in late spring that I truly understood the art of watching. The gravel crunched beneath our tyres as we pulled into my mother-in-law’s drive, and I was already reaching for the door handle when something…
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Poetry

Mama’s Voice in the Kitchen

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

31/05/2025

| Reading time:

1–2 minutes

In the voice of my grandmother, speaking her blend of Southern drawl and broken English Chile, let me tell you ’bout the timeI lost my baby boy to that war—not the big one everybody talk about,but the little one inside his headthat nobody could see comin’. Every mornin’ I still…
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Daily Prompt

The Last Signal

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

31/05/2025

| Reading time:

5–8 minutes

I knew it was time when I found myself checking my phone whilst standing at my father’s graveside. The notification had buzzed against my chest pocket during the vicar’s final blessing, and without thinking, I’d glanced down at the screen. A work email marked “urgent”—though in my experience, everything was…
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Women In STEM

Florence Seibert: The Forgotten Pioneer Who Made Medicine Safe

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

30/05/2025

| Reading time:

6–9 minutes

Florence Barbara Seibert, a pioneering biochemist, revolutionised medical science by ensuring the safety of intravenous therapies and developing the purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculosis test. Despite her groundbreaking contributions in the 1920s and 1930s, Seibert remains largely unrecognised, reflecting the systemic undervaluation of women’s roles in scientific history.
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Politics

The Populist Paradox: How Farage and Trump Expose Democracy’s Greatest Challenge

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

30/05/2025

| Reading time:

8–11 minutes

The rise of populism in the Western world poses a significant threat to liberal democracy. Populism’s ambiguous nature allows it to adapt to various ideologies, potentially leading to authoritarianism. As exemplified by figures like Farage and Trump, it undermines democratic institutions while exploiting genuine grievances, raising questions about its impact…
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Daily Prompt

The Keeper of Secrets

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

30/05/2025

| Reading time:

6–8 minutes

I never thought much about loyalty until the morning I watched my dearest friend choose between my life and his own conscience. The year was 1943, and the cobblestones of occupied Lyon glistened with autumn rain as I pressed myself against the cold brick wall of the safe house, my…
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Women In STEM

The Unsung Pioneer: How Edith Quimby Revolutionised Cancer Treatment While Her Male Colleagues Claimed the Credit

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

29/05/2025

| Reading time:

7–10 minutes

Edith Hinkley Quimby’s story highlights the systemic bias that relegated women’s contributions in science to obscurity while male colleagues claimed credit. A pioneer in radiation therapy, Quimby developed influential dosimetry methods and safety measures, saving countless lives. Despite facing discrimination, her innovations laid the foundation for modern cancer treatment and…
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Anthropology & Human Geography

When Identity Meets Inquiry: The Power Dynamics of Research in Contested Spaces

Published by

Bob Lynn

on

29/05/2025

| Reading time:

5–7 minutes

The article examines the complexity of identity politics and intersectionality in research, highlighting the potential for both transformative insights and the replication of existing power structures. It critiques the performative nature of positionality statements and stresses the need for relational reflexivity, urging researchers to connect personal narratives with structural analysis…
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