Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 6h

Just need to scale it up by a factor of a million and I’m in business.

Reposted by Michael Brown

Prof. Sam Lawler @sundogplanets.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 7h

This article by two astronomers details many of the points I just talked about and more, and just came out in The Conversation Australia, perfect timing: https://theconversation.com/a-us-startup-plans-to-deliver-sunlight-on-demand-after-dark-can-it-work-and-would-we-want-it-to-264323

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

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 7h

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...

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

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 8h

Every free speech warrior’s favourite word is “defamatory.”

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 1d

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 8h

If his information has been shared online this isn’t surprising.

I had a flight out of Newark cancelled once and I suspect that was due to a different Michael Brown trying to cancel his ticket and staff cancelling my ticket instead.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US anti-fascism expert blocked from flying to Spain at airport

Rutgers University professor who published book on antifa was informed at boarding gate that his trip was cancelled

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Michael Brown

The Onion @theonion.com · 9h

Israel Agrees To Go Back To Killing Palestinians On Less Frequent Basis

CAIRO—As part of a historic ceasefire agreement with Hamas following two years of war, the Israeli government reportedly agreed Thursday to go back to killing Palestinians on a less frequent basis. “I...

theonion.com

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Reposted by Michael Brown

CBS News @cbsnews.com · 11h

President Trump is going to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Friday morning for what the White House says is his "routine yearly checkup," just six months after undergoing what the White House at the time described as his "annual physical examination" at the same facility.

Trump to visit Walter Reed for "routine yearly checkup" 6 months after annual physical exam

President Trump's annual physical examination in April showed his vital statistics were all within normal limits.

cbsn.ws

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Reposted by Michael Brown

ClimateBook @climatebook.bsky.social · 10h

It's preposterous and tragic that there is no governance that can control this kind of deployment.

Prof. Sam Lawler @sundogplanets.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11h

It's becoming increasingly clear to me that Reflect Orbital's fucking stupid giant mirror satellite, with absolutely NOTHING useful to offer, which will cause countless safety issues, ecological disasters, and destroy the night sky, is going to launch.

A bunch of astronomers and I have sent out […]

Original post on mastodon.social

mastodon.social

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 3d

Startup Reflect Orbital aims to power solar farms at night by reflecting sunlight from about 4,000 satellites, has recently requested a license for a 2026 demo. But astronomers warn the bright objects could be “ruinous” to vital scientific research.

Plan to Reflect Sunlight to Power Solar Panels at Night Upsets Astronomers

Reflect Orbital aims to launch its first of a planned 4,000 satellites into orbit next year. Scientists worry that it would be “ruinous” for research.

bloom.bg

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 1d

But his DMs

Kevin Collins @kwcollins.bsky.social · 1d

Why is the President of the United States trying to communicate with the Attorney General about government business via direct messages on the social media site he owns?

And is a direct message on a privately owned social media site kind of like a private email server?

Sean O’Kane @seanokane.bsky.social · 1d

WSJ is reporting that the Truth Social post where Trump told Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey *really was supposed to be a private message*

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Shane Harris @shaneharris.bsky.social · 21h

WSJ reports that the Truth Social message Trump directed at Pam Bondi, about indicting Jim Comey, was meant to be a DM. Asked about the post, Bondi told senators, "I don’t think he said anything that he hasn’t said for years.” We might see that remark, among others, in Comey's motion to dismiss.

Inside the Justice Department Where the President Calls the Shots

The president has executed a wholesale transformation of the Justice Department, taking control in ways he could have only dreamed of in his first term.

www.wsj.com

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 21h

I am mentally inserting a giant kitten into this picture.

Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 21h

I am thinking of you because I am sad.

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 1d

erm, so 3D scans from the Scottish Maritime Museum (!!) have been used by the IDF to create animations of supposed terror sites, tunnels and bunkers they've destroyed (!!!) 🫠

Jack Sapoch @jacksapoch.bsky.social · 1d

As someone who works with satellite and 3D imagery, this project reinforced how crucial it is to question what’s rendered as truth.

Keep an eye out for some follow ups in different mediums looking ahead

Full story w/ @972mag.com via Oren Ziv:

www.972mag.com/israeli-army...

How a Scottish maritime museum ended up in Israel’s 3D propaganda

An analysis of dozens of Israeli army animations discovered digital assets sourced not from classified intelligence but commercial libraries and content creators.

www.972mag.com

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Andy Fleming @slackbastard.bsky.social · 1d

Solidarity with & ❤️ for Mark Bray.

#FCKNZS

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/n...

Rutgers Expert on Antifa Flees to Spain After Receiving Death Threats

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Dante Atkins @danteatkins.bsky.social · 1d

"We took freedom of speech away" is probably the most honest thing Trump has said or done in a long time

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 1d

To sustain his rage against "Antifa," Trump summons a team of proven fabulists and conspiracy theorists including the notorious inventor of the Pizzagate conspiracy.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

SORTOR: I took this flag from the man that was burning it in the street

TRUMP: Do you know who he is?

SORTOR: Oh yeah

TRUMP: So why don't you give it to Pam. Give it to the attorney general and we'll start prosecutions

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Matt Orion @orionjack.bsky.social · 1d

Every month, someone is innovating a new way to violate the Stringer Bell rule

David Ingram @davidingram.bsky.social · 1d

This detail about the Palisades arrest is wild:
While on the phone with 911, Rinderknecht allegedly typed a question into ChatGPT: “Are you at fault if a fire is lift because of your cigarettes,” according to the criminal complaint. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Uber driver accused of intentionally starting fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades

Authorities announced the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is suspected of setting a fire on New Year’s Eve that eventually became the Palisades fire.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 1d

I have not actually read the new climate obstruction book yet but my mate sent me this really excellent extract

www.routledge.com/Climate-Obst...

Corporate Ventriloquism

Corporate ventriloquism is a rhetorical process by which companies transmit messages through other entities, usually of their own creation, to construct and animate an alternative ethos, voice, or identity that advances their interests.

Some companies have used corporate ventriloquism to advance their agendas through support for community organizations.

Ventriloquism Companies may create front groups and information campaigns, but also leverage corporate social responsibility strategies that invest in community development. Such strategies have been used for decades as a means for industry actors to underscore their legitimacy and to shore up the perception that they are positive social contributors to the environments in which they operate.

Research has shown how extractive industries such as coal have invested heavily in local communities to sow solidarity and support for the industry.

Material investments such as parks, community centers, sponsored events (concerts, car shows, etc.), and museums are not only a means of winning support through material investment in communities (a form of philanthropy or bribery), but also of symbolically “branding” the community and of making it more difficult for the community to oppose industry goals.

Similarly, investor-owned utilities sponsor sports stadiums and museums—branding efforts that double as philanthropy—in their efforts to effectively blur the line between public and private interests.

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Benjamin Pope @benjaminpope.bsky.social · 1d

Appalling if so. A lawless destruction of critical facilities, institutions, and expertise that cannot easily be replaced.

Shea (she/her) @solarshea.bsky.social · 2d

Shared with permission from Carl Stahle, Retired, Vice President of Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center

Link in the document text: www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...

(Original LinkedIn post: www.linkedin.com/posts/carl-s...)

@roguenasa.altgov.info

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 1d

Horrific reporting from the AP on the Myanmar families watching their kids starve to death from Trump and Musk’s aid cuts apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 1d

Astronomical images with a good colour balance are much easier to create than 20-30 years ago. Quickly created small images of dozens of nearby elliptical galaxies using PanSTARRS data and python/astropy code, while using the provided zero points to get decent colours.

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Michael Brown @mjibrown.bsky.social · 2d

Sick Byrne.

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 2d

Oscar Issac looking at some kind of electronic tablet.

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Reposted by Michael Brown

Katie Tightpussy, Editor-In-Chief @katie.bzky.team · 2d

WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN

bluesky official posts from november 2024:

A number of artists and creators have made their home on Bluesky, and we hear their concerns with other platforms training on their data. We do not use any of your content to train generative AI, and have no intention of doing so.

Bluesky uses AI internally to assist in content moderation, which helps us triage posts and shield human moderators from harmful content. We also use AI in the Discover algorithmic feed to serve you posts that we think you’d like.

None of these are Gen AI systems trained on user content.

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