Prof. Michael Fuhrer
@michaelsfuhrer.bsky.social
Epidemic epistemic trespassing. Knows a lot about graphene.
Monash Uni. Directed fleet.org.au. Fellow @scienceacademy.bsky.social.
Plays bass for www.instagram.com/push_the_trigger
Bird photos at www.flickr.com/photos/off-world
Monash Uni. Directed fleet.org.au. Fellow @scienceacademy.bsky.social.
Plays bass for www.instagram.com/push_the_trigger
Bird photos at www.flickr.com/photos/off-world
Pinned
Part III of this deeply unpopular series! 😴💤💀
How has the music industry changed with streaming?
Last time, I looked at the distribution of revenue in the streaming industry. It’s profoundly unequal.
Today I'll argue that, unequal as it is, things are far better now than just a few years ago!
1/
How has the music industry changed with streaming?
Last time, I looked at the distribution of revenue in the streaming industry. It’s profoundly unequal.
Today I'll argue that, unequal as it is, things are far better now than just a few years ago!
1/
As someone who came of age cycling in the '80's, lived through the USENET rec.bicycles.* era, met my wife at a Critical Mass ride in San Francisco, it was fascinating to watch this absolutely excoriating debunking of the all too prevalent vehicular-cycling "wisdom" from that era.
I choose to blame most of the deaths of people on bikes in North America on John Forester.
Horrible legacy that we still cannot escape from. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPd...
Horrible legacy that we still cannot escape from. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPd...
This is Why Cycling is Dangerous in America
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:30 AM
As someone who came of age cycling in the '80's, lived through the USENET rec.bicycles.* era, met my wife at a Critical Mass ride in San Francisco, it was fascinating to watch this absolutely excoriating debunking of the all too prevalent vehicular-cycling "wisdom" from that era.
WellKiwis has wrapped up their respiratory virus surveillance this year in Wellington, NZ.
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
WellKiwis has wrapped up their respiratory virus surveillance this year in Wellington, NZ.
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
EIGHT Senate Democrats have voted to advance the funding measure so far after the deal was reached:
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
EIGHT Senate Democrats have voted to advance the funding measure so far after the deal was reached:
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
US friends, please call your senators today. I just called mine. Tell them they must keep the ACA subsidy.
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
US friends, please call your senators today. I just called mine. Tell them they must keep the ACA subsidy.
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
"Validate With Simulated Truth: A first habit is to test whether an analytical pipeline can recover known conditions."
Very good advice below. So much COVID nonsense (e.g. 'immunological dark matter') basically came down to a non-identifiable model that hadn't been properly tested.
Very good advice below. So much COVID nonsense (e.g. 'immunological dark matter') basically came down to a non-identifiable model that hadn't been properly tested.
Modelling Like an Experimentalist
Dahlin et al. (2024) apply experimental thinking to a model of mosquito-borne disease transmissions.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
"Validate With Simulated Truth: A first habit is to test whether an analytical pipeline can recover known conditions."
Very good advice below. So much COVID nonsense (e.g. 'immunological dark matter') basically came down to a non-identifiable model that hadn't been properly tested.
Very good advice below. So much COVID nonsense (e.g. 'immunological dark matter') basically came down to a non-identifiable model that hadn't been properly tested.
For my N. Hemisphere friends:
This weekend would be an absolutely brilliant time to get your flu and covid shots. You will get a massive protective antibody surge right as holiday socializing is ramping up flu and covid activity.
15 minutes at the pharmacy could save you a week of misery.
This weekend would be an absolutely brilliant time to get your flu and covid shots. You will get a massive protective antibody surge right as holiday socializing is ramping up flu and covid activity.
15 minutes at the pharmacy could save you a week of misery.
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
For my N. Hemisphere friends:
This weekend would be an absolutely brilliant time to get your flu and covid shots. You will get a massive protective antibody surge right as holiday socializing is ramping up flu and covid activity.
15 minutes at the pharmacy could save you a week of misery.
This weekend would be an absolutely brilliant time to get your flu and covid shots. You will get a massive protective antibody surge right as holiday socializing is ramping up flu and covid activity.
15 minutes at the pharmacy could save you a week of misery.
The US will not be a free country unless everyone involved in this atrocity, all the way down, is in prison. As at Nuremberg, "just following orders" is not exculpatory.
The central tenet of the opposition, stated daily, must be: What you are doing is wrong. You will lose, and you will go to jail.
The central tenet of the opposition, stated daily, must be: What you are doing is wrong. You will lose, and you will go to jail.
Her husband told her that detainees at Broadview had to get up at 5am to get in line for one bathroom. He often peed himself. One time he had to wait until 2pm to use the bathroom. You could only use the bathroom once a day. He said the agents would beat you if you used the bathroom on yourself.
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The US will not be a free country unless everyone involved in this atrocity, all the way down, is in prison. As at Nuremberg, "just following orders" is not exculpatory.
The central tenet of the opposition, stated daily, must be: What you are doing is wrong. You will lose, and you will go to jail.
The central tenet of the opposition, stated daily, must be: What you are doing is wrong. You will lose, and you will go to jail.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
Her husband told her that detainees at Broadview had to get up at 5am to get in line for one bathroom. He often peed himself. One time he had to wait until 2pm to use the bathroom. You could only use the bathroom once a day. He said the agents would beat you if you used the bathroom on yourself.
November 7, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Her husband told her that detainees at Broadview had to get up at 5am to get in line for one bathroom. He often peed himself. One time he had to wait until 2pm to use the bathroom. You could only use the bathroom once a day. He said the agents would beat you if you used the bathroom on yourself.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
A very interesting comparison here.
2025 vs 2023 for my state of NSW. Testing for COVID-19 and influenza has not changed substantially that I'm aware of in this time.
The labs generally test for both on any swabs taken. The ratio of COVID-19:Flu
2025 - 0.49
2023 - 2.97 (!)
2025 vs 2023 for my state of NSW. Testing for COVID-19 and influenza has not changed substantially that I'm aware of in this time.
The labs generally test for both on any swabs taken. The ratio of COVID-19:Flu
2025 - 0.49
2023 - 2.97 (!)
November 6, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A very interesting comparison here.
2025 vs 2023 for my state of NSW. Testing for COVID-19 and influenza has not changed substantially that I'm aware of in this time.
The labs generally test for both on any swabs taken. The ratio of COVID-19:Flu
2025 - 0.49
2023 - 2.97 (!)
2025 vs 2023 for my state of NSW. Testing for COVID-19 and influenza has not changed substantially that I'm aware of in this time.
The labs generally test for both on any swabs taken. The ratio of COVID-19:Flu
2025 - 0.49
2023 - 2.97 (!)
Yes.
Steve Bannon: If we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison, myself included.
November 7, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Yes.
This breaks all the rules of "good" bird photography and the result is brilliant. I can't stop looking at it. Great to see something with fresh eyes.
Noticing #Nature (the right way up this time 😊 ) Looking down and Looking up with this charming Mute Swan in #NorthShields #UrbanNature
November 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
This breaks all the rules of "good" bird photography and the result is brilliant. I can't stop looking at it. Great to see something with fresh eyes.
We have very strong evidence that vaccines for Covid-19, influenza, and RSV continue to be safe and effective.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026 | NEJM
Changes in the vaccine advisory process in the United States have disrupted immunization
guidance, which reinforces the need for independent evidence review to inform decisions
regarding immunizati...
www.nejm.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM
We have very strong evidence that vaccines for Covid-19, influenza, and RSV continue to be safe and effective.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
The healthy vaccinee effect runs deeper than we may think
What this full national Danish study shows is that a huge effect remains even after correcting for age, sex, comorbidity, medical visits and place of residence
The "unvaccinated by choice" test less (and die earlier)
1/
What this full national Danish study shows is that a huge effect remains even after correcting for age, sex, comorbidity, medical visits and place of residence
The "unvaccinated by choice" test less (and die earlier)
1/
November 2, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The healthy vaccinee effect runs deeper than we may think
What this full national Danish study shows is that a huge effect remains even after correcting for age, sex, comorbidity, medical visits and place of residence
The "unvaccinated by choice" test less (and die earlier)
1/
What this full national Danish study shows is that a huge effect remains even after correcting for age, sex, comorbidity, medical visits and place of residence
The "unvaccinated by choice" test less (and die earlier)
1/
This one keeps me up at night.
Six months ago I wrote this post about “the next terrorist attack.” I republish it now (lightly updated) because my fear of this scenario has recently grown much greater.
snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-t...
snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-t...
The Next Terrorist Attack
And What Comes After (Updated)
snyder.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:52 PM
This one keeps me up at night.
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
Can you take a quarter cup of composite sewage, simply ask ‘what’s in there?’, and find out all of the pathogens circulating in that community?
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Untargeted longitudinal ultra deep metagenomic sequencing of wastewater provides a comprehensive readout of expected and unexpected viral pathogens
Wastewater surveillance has become a powerful tool to monitor circulating viruses at a community level. Currently, most wastewater surveillance efforts use target-based approaches such as quantitative...
www.medrxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Can you take a quarter cup of composite sewage, simply ask ‘what’s in there?’, and find out all of the pathogens circulating in that community?
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
This debut EP from Labyrinthine Oceans hits a sweet spot for me in the grunge-emo-shoegaze indie thing happening now. Have a listen.
[If this isn't your cup of tea, or even if it is, QT and tell us what new artist has recently struck your fancy!]
labyrinthineoceans.bandcamp.com/album/everyo...
[If this isn't your cup of tea, or even if it is, QT and tell us what new artist has recently struck your fancy!]
labyrinthineoceans.bandcamp.com/album/everyo...
everyone was alive, by labyrinthine oceans
5 track album
labyrinthineoceans.bandcamp.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This debut EP from Labyrinthine Oceans hits a sweet spot for me in the grunge-emo-shoegaze indie thing happening now. Have a listen.
[If this isn't your cup of tea, or even if it is, QT and tell us what new artist has recently struck your fancy!]
labyrinthineoceans.bandcamp.com/album/everyo...
[If this isn't your cup of tea, or even if it is, QT and tell us what new artist has recently struck your fancy!]
labyrinthineoceans.bandcamp.com/album/everyo...
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
so @matteowong.bsky.social & I wrote on data centers: arguably the most important buildings in the world & are, in a way, holding the economy hostage. Byzantine financial instruments, private equity, depreciating tech, hype, $trillion valuations. it’s all there. an ai crash prob starts here.
Here’s How the AI Crash Happens
The U.S. is becoming an Nvidia-state.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
so @matteowong.bsky.social & I wrote on data centers: arguably the most important buildings in the world & are, in a way, holding the economy hostage. Byzantine financial instruments, private equity, depreciating tech, hype, $trillion valuations. it’s all there. an ai crash prob starts here.
Important study in Science today.
Infectious disease suppressed during pandemic did rebound afterwards (due to immunity debt) but, the net impact was negative (net disease burden reduced).
➡️Avoiding infectious disease is a good thing!
1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Infectious disease suppressed during pandemic did rebound afterwards (due to immunity debt) but, the net impact was negative (net disease burden reduced).
➡️Avoiding infectious disease is a good thing!
1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Collateral effects of COVID-19 pandemic control on the US infectious disease landscape
Using data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disease surveillance systems, we sought to quantify the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possibilit...
www.science.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Important study in Science today.
Infectious disease suppressed during pandemic did rebound afterwards (due to immunity debt) but, the net impact was negative (net disease burden reduced).
➡️Avoiding infectious disease is a good thing!
1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Infectious disease suppressed during pandemic did rebound afterwards (due to immunity debt) but, the net impact was negative (net disease burden reduced).
➡️Avoiding infectious disease is a good thing!
1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has quietly noted a grim milestone today; more deaths due to influenza than due to Covid-19 were recorded in August (and also so far in September) in Australia this year, first time since March 2020.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
October 30, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has quietly noted a grim milestone today; more deaths due to influenza than due to Covid-19 were recorded in August (and also so far in September) in Australia this year, first time since March 2020.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
Leslie provides an excellent illustration here. In 1988 when this picture was taken, AIDS was known to be caused by HIV, a retrovirus, which weakens the immune system. Activists were lobbying the gov't and public to focus resources and attention on finding treatments and a cure.
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I wonder what AIDS activists had to say about the government killing them through inaction and the world's scientists having to be pushed ceaselessly for decades to develop treatment.
October 29, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Leslie provides an excellent illustration here. In 1988 when this picture was taken, AIDS was known to be caused by HIV, a retrovirus, which weakens the immune system. Activists were lobbying the gov't and public to focus resources and attention on finding treatments and a cure.
1/
1/
This model is producing simply implausible results.
For example, emergency department visits for *all* respiratory disease are at historic lows (lower then the same month in 2016-2019). (Note: this does not depend on covid-19 testing!)
1/
www.kflaphi.ca/viral-respir...
For example, emergency department visits for *all* respiratory disease are at historic lows (lower then the same month in 2016-2019). (Note: this does not depend on covid-19 testing!)
1/
www.kflaphi.ca/viral-respir...
October 29, 2025 at 3:59 AM
This model is producing simply implausible results.
For example, emergency department visits for *all* respiratory disease are at historic lows (lower then the same month in 2016-2019). (Note: this does not depend on covid-19 testing!)
1/
www.kflaphi.ca/viral-respir...
For example, emergency department visits for *all* respiratory disease are at historic lows (lower then the same month in 2016-2019). (Note: this does not depend on covid-19 testing!)
1/
www.kflaphi.ca/viral-respir...
Reposted by Prof. Michael Fuhrer
The UC Regents finally released the “settlement agreement” the Trump administration proposed in August. It’s a doozy.
UC alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, donors—and all citizens of California:
Now is the time to let the UC Regents know you do not want them to sign this bad deal.
UC alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, donors—and all citizens of California:
Now is the time to let the UC Regents know you do not want them to sign this bad deal.
October 25, 2025 at 6:53 AM
The UC Regents finally released the “settlement agreement” the Trump administration proposed in August. It’s a doozy.
UC alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, donors—and all citizens of California:
Now is the time to let the UC Regents know you do not want them to sign this bad deal.
UC alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, donors—and all citizens of California:
Now is the time to let the UC Regents know you do not want them to sign this bad deal.