Michael Brown
@mjibrown.bsky.social
Astronomer, Monash academic, Conversation writer, cycling commuter or mamil.
https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/michael-brown
https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/michael-brown
Pinned
Michael Brown
@mjibrown.bsky.social
· Oct 9
A US startup plans to deliver ‘sunlight on demand’ after dark. Can it work – and would we want it to?
Satellites beaming sunlight down to Earth sound like science fiction – and they have astronomers very worried.
theconversation.com
A US tech startup is proposing to use mirrors in space to power solar farms on Earth at night. Is this even feasible? And what are the light pollution dangers?
Myself and @mattkenworthy.bsky.social have crunched the numbers for The Conversation.
theconversation.com/a-us-startup...
Myself and @mattkenworthy.bsky.social have crunched the numbers for The Conversation.
theconversation.com/a-us-startup...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Coalition appears to be aiming to win the teal seats back from PHON.
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Coalition appears to be aiming to win the teal seats back from PHON.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Because the "debate" framing shifts the purpose of a news network from informing viewers to providing an entertaining spectacle.
"Debate" also obscures truth by turning matters of fact into he said/she said slugfests, giving people cover to ignore inconvenient facts by saying they're "debated."
"Debate" also obscures truth by turning matters of fact into he said/she said slugfests, giving people cover to ignore inconvenient facts by saying they're "debated."
I don’t understand why Weiss thinks the desired outcome of CBS News coverage is debate.
November 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Because the "debate" framing shifts the purpose of a news network from informing viewers to providing an entertaining spectacle.
"Debate" also obscures truth by turning matters of fact into he said/she said slugfests, giving people cover to ignore inconvenient facts by saying they're "debated."
"Debate" also obscures truth by turning matters of fact into he said/she said slugfests, giving people cover to ignore inconvenient facts by saying they're "debated."
Reposted by Michael Brown
On Nov. 22, Israeli strikes killed more than 20 people and injured over 80 in #Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health. Since Oct. 11, over 339 Palestinians have been killed and more than 870 been injured.
Despite the ceasefire, we are still treating injured people in Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire, we are still treating injured people in Gaza.
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
On Nov. 22, Israeli strikes killed more than 20 people and injured over 80 in #Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health. Since Oct. 11, over 339 Palestinians have been killed and more than 870 been injured.
Despite the ceasefire, we are still treating injured people in Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire, we are still treating injured people in Gaza.
Saw a space station and two other bright satellites in the space of 5 minutes last night. It’s getting busier in low Earth orbit.
And here are the current measurements of Starlink brightnesses by Mallama and Cole 2025: https://academic.oup.com/mnrasl/article/544/1/L15/8251664?login=false
Everybody is too bright. OneWeb manages to halfway make it below the recommended limit, but everybody else pretty much sucks.
Everybody is too bright. OneWeb manages to halfway make it below the recommended limit, but everybody else pretty much sucks.
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Saw a space station and two other bright satellites in the space of 5 minutes last night. It’s getting busier in low Earth orbit.
An interesting little artifact in the SDSS navigation tool, reflecting the SDSS observing strategy from many years ago.
skyserver.sdss.org/dr18/VisualT...
skyserver.sdss.org/dr18/VisualT...
November 25, 2025 at 3:56 AM
An interesting little artifact in the SDSS navigation tool, reflecting the SDSS observing strategy from many years ago.
skyserver.sdss.org/dr18/VisualT...
skyserver.sdss.org/dr18/VisualT...
Reposted by Michael Brown
DECRA success rate is the lowest in 14 years, since 2012 (1st year the scheme ran).
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
🚨 #DECRA #DE26 announcement:
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/285
/bot
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/285
/bot
November 25, 2025 at 12:34 AM
DECRA success rate is the lowest in 14 years, since 2012 (1st year the scheme ran).
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
Reposted by Michael Brown
The drought in Iran that may see the evacuation of Tehran (10 million people) was made much more likely and more severe by climate change.
New rapid-assessment by WWA.
www.worldweatherattribution.org/human-induce...
New rapid-assessment by WWA.
www.worldweatherattribution.org/human-induce...
Human-induced climate change compounded by socio-economic water stressors increased severity of 5-year drought in Iran and Euphrates and Tigris basin – World Weather Attribution
www.worldweatherattribution.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The drought in Iran that may see the evacuation of Tehran (10 million people) was made much more likely and more severe by climate change.
New rapid-assessment by WWA.
www.worldweatherattribution.org/human-induce...
New rapid-assessment by WWA.
www.worldweatherattribution.org/human-induce...
Reposted by Michael Brown
"It is located 5km from the town of Deniliquin, but none of that town’s population of more than 2,700 people objected to it.
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
November 24, 2025 at 10:09 AM
"It is located 5km from the town of Deniliquin, but none of that town’s population of more than 2,700 people objected to it.
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
All 66 objections came from more than 50 kms away, with 60 of them from people located more than 100kms away, and 26 from interstate"
reneweconomy.com.au/long-distanc...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Wanna know how bad the Arizona legislator's petition forgeries were? Here's the examples from the Austin Smith indictment.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24...
I feel there's been a real increase in good potential international PhD students wanting to study in Australia (probably because of developments in the US), but without an increase in scholarship funding the thresholds for entry have risen and good students are being turned away.
November 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I feel there's been a real increase in good potential international PhD students wanting to study in Australia (probably because of developments in the US), but without an increase in scholarship funding the thresholds for entry have risen and good students are being turned away.
Reposted by Michael Brown
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Michael Brown
Reposted by Michael Brown
"But now, the fact the BOM has been hiding the true cost of its white elephant and initially lying about the total figure is deeply concerning, considering that the BOM should be all about trust."
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has asked the weather agency's new boss to examine how the website's cost and redesign went so wrong.
BOM's new website and $96.5m cost-blowout under renewed scrutiny by minister
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has asked the weather agency's new boss to examine how the website's cost and redesign went so wrong.
www.abc.net.au
November 23, 2025 at 11:15 AM
"But now, the fact the BOM has been hiding the true cost of its white elephant and initially lying about the total figure is deeply concerning, considering that the BOM should be all about trust."
Reposted by Michael Brown
#Newspoll 58-42 to ALP (yep)
ALP 36 L-NP 24 Green 13 ON 15 IND/other 12
Albanese net 0 (haha) (47-47)
Ley net -29 (26-55)
Better PM (favours incumbents) Albanese leads 54-27.
ALP 36 L-NP 24 Green 13 ON 15 IND/other 12
Albanese net 0 (haha) (47-47)
Ley net -29 (26-55)
Better PM (favours incumbents) Albanese leads 54-27.
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 AM
#Newspoll 58-42 to ALP (yep)
ALP 36 L-NP 24 Green 13 ON 15 IND/other 12
Albanese net 0 (haha) (47-47)
Ley net -29 (26-55)
Better PM (favours incumbents) Albanese leads 54-27.
ALP 36 L-NP 24 Green 13 ON 15 IND/other 12
Albanese net 0 (haha) (47-47)
Ley net -29 (26-55)
Better PM (favours incumbents) Albanese leads 54-27.
Twenty people allege he has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about Farage’s schooldays?
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Twenty people allege he has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about Farage’s schooldays?
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’. We talk to victims and witnesses
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Twenty people allege he has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about Farage’s schooldays?
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
So many electric bikes that can produce excess power and speed. We have blundered into this predictable mess.
E-bikes have become a regular sight in Sydney's coastal suburbs. Their surge in popularity among school-aged children has been matched by a rise in injuries.
When Kai came off his e-bike he felt his leg was 'disconnected'
E-bikes have become a regular sight in Sydney's coastal suburbs. Their surge in popularity among school-aged children has been matched by a rise in injuries.
www.abc.net.au
November 22, 2025 at 9:13 PM
So many electric bikes that can produce excess power and speed. We have blundered into this predictable mess.
Not good.
…radical responsibility means that a freebirthing mother assumes complete responsibility for all the outcomes of her birth, including her own death or that of her child. No one is coming to save her, nor does she want them to. She is fully autonomous or, in FBS parlance, sovereign.
…radical responsibility means that a freebirthing mother assumes complete responsibility for all the outcomes of her birth, including her own death or that of her child. No one is coming to save her, nor does she want them to. She is fully autonomous or, in FBS parlance, sovereign.
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Not good.
…radical responsibility means that a freebirthing mother assumes complete responsibility for all the outcomes of her birth, including her own death or that of her child. No one is coming to save her, nor does she want them to. She is fully autonomous or, in FBS parlance, sovereign.
…radical responsibility means that a freebirthing mother assumes complete responsibility for all the outcomes of her birth, including her own death or that of her child. No one is coming to save her, nor does she want them to. She is fully autonomous or, in FBS parlance, sovereign.
Reposted by Michael Brown
this is very good journalism
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
this is very good journalism
Reposted by Michael Brown
Malaysian company MediCeram, which previously made moulds for Australian glove-maker Ansell, has denied claims it abused the rights of its Bangladeshi workers.
Former Ansell supplier fires workers after human rights abuse allegations
Malaysian company MediCeram, which previously made moulds for Australian glove-maker Ansell, has denied claims it abused the rights of its Bangladeshi workers.
www.abc.net.au
November 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Malaysian company MediCeram, which previously made moulds for Australian glove-maker Ansell, has denied claims it abused the rights of its Bangladeshi workers.
Hmmm…
McInerney, a former deputy head of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation who also serves on Campion’s academic board and board of trustees, attended the March for Australia rally in Sydney this August, where he warned of a “radical transformation” of Australia….
McInerney, a former deputy head of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation who also serves on Campion’s academic board and board of trustees, attended the March for Australia rally in Sydney this August, where he warned of a “radical transformation” of Australia….
Academics who say they are ‘pro-white’ and have ‘ethnic conception’ of Australia turn spotlight on Sydney’s Campion College
Academics who say they are ‘pro-white’ and have ‘ethnic conception’ of Australia turn spotlight on Sydney’s Campion College
Higher education regulator investigates Catholic institute after comments by academics, including endorsing the White Australia policy
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An influential Catholic college in Sydney is under investigation by the higher education regulator over a series of comments made by two of its prominent academics supporting the White Australia policy and calling for Anglo-Celtic Australians and Europeans to become a “supermajority” in the country.
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, said the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) was “undertaking a compliance process” with Campion College in relation to a number of comments made by Stephen McInerney, a dean of studies, and Associate Prof Stephen Chavura, a senior lecturer. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Hmmm…
McInerney, a former deputy head of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation who also serves on Campion’s academic board and board of trustees, attended the March for Australia rally in Sydney this August, where he warned of a “radical transformation” of Australia….
McInerney, a former deputy head of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation who also serves on Campion’s academic board and board of trustees, attended the March for Australia rally in Sydney this August, where he warned of a “radical transformation” of Australia….
Reposted by Michael Brown
After two weeks of #COP30 negotiations, countries agreed to BEGIN DISCUSSIONS on fossil fuel phase out. And as the article says, "they achieved this incremental progress only in the teeth of implacable opposition from oil-producing countries."
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
End of fossil fuel era inches closer as Cop30 deal agreed after bitter standoff
Wealthy countries agree to triple funds for countries to tackle climate impacts, but deforestation and critical minerals blocked from final deal
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
After two weeks of #COP30 negotiations, countries agreed to BEGIN DISCUSSIONS on fossil fuel phase out. And as the article says, "they achieved this incremental progress only in the teeth of implacable opposition from oil-producing countries."
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
THIS is the problem with requiring unanimous decisions.
Reposted by Michael Brown
"In recent weeks, junior officers in the military, fearing potential legal exposure, asked military lawyers, judge advocates general, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes. It does not appear that such memos were furnished."
wapo.st/43FXQfO
wapo.st/43FXQfO
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
wapo.st
November 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
"In recent weeks, junior officers in the military, fearing potential legal exposure, asked military lawyers, judge advocates general, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes. It does not appear that such memos were furnished."
wapo.st/43FXQfO
wapo.st/43FXQfO
