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
Stunned to discover that this guy is an antisemite
February 1, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Stunned to discover that this guy is an antisemite
New academic email signature quote?
“Anyway, whatever you decide, here are my bank details.”
“Anyway, whatever you decide, here are my bank details.”
February 1, 2026 at 3:35 AM
New academic email signature quote?
“Anyway, whatever you decide, here are my bank details.”
“Anyway, whatever you decide, here are my bank details.”
Reposted by Michael Brown
This was a peaceful bike ride today in Portland, Oregon. And they ended up tear gassing kids.
February 1, 2026 at 3:29 AM
This was a peaceful bike ride today in Portland, Oregon. And they ended up tear gassing kids.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
![Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026.
_________________________________________________
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
[photo of Liam]
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73t3muu2pudsajp7a2fj3aly/bafkreigfz6fzbu65haq7nfqgaoe7m42gsaonpinpmaaptuzd5atkqvya4i@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Reposted by Michael Brown
1. Data centres in space ➡️ Lol 🤭
2. FCC is not a global authority — it approves spectrum usage
3. Exhibit no. 489 of one company caring for nothing more than its profit ambitions
4. Language in the filing is so try hard sci-fi. More lolz
5. We need a UNOOSA-level authority ASAP
6. Grifting.
2. FCC is not a global authority — it approves spectrum usage
3. Exhibit no. 489 of one company caring for nothing more than its profit ambitions
4. Language in the filing is so try hard sci-fi. More lolz
5. We need a UNOOSA-level authority ASAP
6. Grifting.
SpaceX Eyes 1 Million Satellites for Orbital Data Center Push
In a late Friday FCC filing, the company mentions deploying a staggering 'one million satellites' in orbits ranging from 500 kilometers to 2,000km.
au.pcmag.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:11 PM
1. Data centres in space ➡️ Lol 🤭
2. FCC is not a global authority — it approves spectrum usage
3. Exhibit no. 489 of one company caring for nothing more than its profit ambitions
4. Language in the filing is so try hard sci-fi. More lolz
5. We need a UNOOSA-level authority ASAP
6. Grifting.
2. FCC is not a global authority — it approves spectrum usage
3. Exhibit no. 489 of one company caring for nothing more than its profit ambitions
4. Language in the filing is so try hard sci-fi. More lolz
5. We need a UNOOSA-level authority ASAP
6. Grifting.
Reposted by Michael Brown
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Michael Brown
The group bike ride for Alex Pretti is about to depart in Minneapolis, stopping at his memorial, then Renee Good’s, and finishing at the VFW. If you can join, hop on anywhere. It’s a warm 17° & sunny!
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
January 31, 2026 at 7:41 PM
The group bike ride for Alex Pretti is about to depart in Minneapolis, stopping at his memorial, then Renee Good’s, and finishing at the VFW. If you can join, hop on anywhere. It’s a warm 17° & sunny!
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
Reposted by Michael Brown
Congratulations to Port Augusta AUSTRALIA
for recording the most Southern 50C (122F) in world climatic history.
It's one of the several world records being set in this unbelievable heat wave,
By far, the harshest the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen
More records on Saturday !
for recording the most Southern 50C (122F) in world climatic history.
It's one of the several world records being set in this unbelievable heat wave,
By far, the harshest the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen
More records on Saturday !
‼️That's CRAZY :50c again in AUSTRALIA
and on the Southern coast
The mother of all heat waves of the Southern Hemisphere is just getting wilder with these insane records:
50.0 Port Augusta
49.7 Tarcoola
49.6 Woomera
48.3 Coober Pedy
🌡️5 consecutive days >49C!
and more tomorrow
and on the Southern coast
The mother of all heat waves of the Southern Hemisphere is just getting wilder with these insane records:
50.0 Port Augusta
49.7 Tarcoola
49.6 Woomera
48.3 Coober Pedy
🌡️5 consecutive days >49C!
and more tomorrow
January 30, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Congratulations to Port Augusta AUSTRALIA
for recording the most Southern 50C (122F) in world climatic history.
It's one of the several world records being set in this unbelievable heat wave,
By far, the harshest the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen
More records on Saturday !
for recording the most Southern 50C (122F) in world climatic history.
It's one of the several world records being set in this unbelievable heat wave,
By far, the harshest the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen
More records on Saturday !
Reposted by Michael Brown
Arresting Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for informing the public sends a chilling message aimed at suppressing future reporting President Trump doesn’t like.
Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Arresting Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for informing the public sends a chilling message aimed at suppressing future reporting President Trump doesn’t like.
Reposted by Michael Brown
It might fuck up regional air travel, but helping the common folk who own Gulfstreams is obviously far more important
January 30, 2026 at 12:24 AM
It might fuck up regional air travel, but helping the common folk who own Gulfstreams is obviously far more important
Reposted by Michael Brown
The Pew poll, conducted Jan. 20-26, found majorities of all religious groups except white evangelicals disapprove of Trump. White evangelicals give him a net 69% approval, which is about the same as in 2019.
January 29, 2026 at 8:31 PM
The Pew poll, conducted Jan. 20-26, found majorities of all religious groups except white evangelicals disapprove of Trump. White evangelicals give him a net 69% approval, which is about the same as in 2019.
Reposted by Michael Brown
We’re just not a free country.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 AM
We’re just not a free country.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
Reposted by Michael Brown
“[Liam] keeps asking about that hat and that backpack that are in the picture,” the congressman said. “I think they took that from him.”
www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/u...
www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/u...
Rep. Joaquin Castro meets with the 5-year-old boy held with his father at a Texas detention facility | CNN
US Rep. Joaquin Castro met Wednesday with Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old Minnesota boy taken from his family’s suburban Minneapolis driveway last week after federal agents apprehended his father, t...
www.cnn.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:52 AM
“[Liam] keeps asking about that hat and that backpack that are in the picture,” the congressman said. “I think they took that from him.”
www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/u...
www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/u...
Reposted by Michael Brown
South Australia, this is getting crazy.
www.bom.gov.au/sa/observati...
www.bom.gov.au/sa/observati...
January 29, 2026 at 11:01 AM
South Australia, this is getting crazy.
www.bom.gov.au/sa/observati...
www.bom.gov.au/sa/observati...
Reposted by Michael Brown
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (...
ras.ac.uk
January 28, 2026 at 9:07 PM
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
This is getting ratioed hard, including by physicists.
Maths and physics are objective and humanities is subjective.
That's the difference.
That's the difference.
January 29, 2026 at 9:35 AM
This is getting ratioed hard, including by physicists.
Reposted by Michael Brown
A letter to the editors of the Washington Post, 28 January 2026, from ex-US Marine Gus Biggio, Wooster, Ohio. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
January 29, 2026 at 9:06 AM
A letter to the editors of the Washington Post, 28 January 2026, from ex-US Marine Gus Biggio, Wooster, Ohio. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Michael Brown
this may be controversial, but i think we should be much more skeptical of life advice offered up by people in their early twenties.
January 29, 2026 at 8:41 AM
this may be controversial, but i think we should be much more skeptical of life advice offered up by people in their early twenties.
Reposted by Michael Brown
Some people are questioning whether this is AI. One way to be certain is to geolocate the video, as AI still struggles to accurately recreate really world locations with enough fidelity to be successfully geolocated. The first question is what's the best information about where this was filmed?
News Movement posted this video of Alex Pretti on Jan 13, showing him spitting at ICE agents and kicking their taillight.
Now conservatives are suggesting this changes things.
That would mean they are suggesting he deserved to be target of an extrajudicial execution.
The video changes nothing.
Now conservatives are suggesting this changes things.
That would mean they are suggesting he deserved to be target of an extrajudicial execution.
The video changes nothing.
January 29, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Some people are questioning whether this is AI. One way to be certain is to geolocate the video, as AI still struggles to accurately recreate really world locations with enough fidelity to be successfully geolocated. The first question is what's the best information about where this was filmed?
Reposted by Michael Brown
NEW: Australia’s sovereign wealth fund now owns more than $100 million worth of shares in Palantir, a controversial tech company that’s powering the Trump administration’s anti-immigration efforts.
Revealed: Australia's $100 million investment in controversial surveillance giant Palantir
Australia's Future Fund drastically increased its stake in Palantir in the year since Donald Trump took office, according to its latest figures.
www.crikey.com.au
January 29, 2026 at 1:20 AM
NEW: Australia’s sovereign wealth fund now owns more than $100 million worth of shares in Palantir, a controversial tech company that’s powering the Trump administration’s anti-immigration efforts.
Pivot is such a curious word in the 21st Century. For example, did South Africa pivot from Apartheid to democracy?
Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics
High hopes for Optimus robot help company beat forecasts despite yearly revenue decline and flailing car business
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Pivot is such a curious word in the 21st Century. For example, did South Africa pivot from Apartheid to democracy?
Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Michael Brown
Think about it like this. This ICE agent was on camera and unmasked — fulfilling one of three "demands" Democratic leader Chuck Schumer just issued in order to agree to save Republicans and give DHS even more money.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
"You raise your voice, I erase your voice."
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
January 28, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Think about it like this. This ICE agent was on camera and unmasked — fulfilling one of three "demands" Democratic leader Chuck Schumer just issued in order to agree to save Republicans and give DHS even more money.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
And he was still threatening to kill someone.
Reposted by Michael Brown
"In north-west Victoria, Mildura experienced just six individual days above 45°C between 1946 and 2000.
This month there have been four already, and today another 45°C day is expected."
Welcome to The Future, kids.
This month there have been four already, and today another 45°C day is expected."
Welcome to The Future, kids.
a cartoon dog is sitting in front of a fire with the words " everything is fine " below him
ALT: a cartoon dog is sitting in front of a fire with the words " everything is fine " below him
media.tenor.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:20 AM
"In north-west Victoria, Mildura experienced just six individual days above 45°C between 1946 and 2000.
This month there have been four already, and today another 45°C day is expected."
Welcome to The Future, kids.
This month there have been four already, and today another 45°C day is expected."
Welcome to The Future, kids.