Michael Murphy
@michaelmurphy.bsky.social
Professional astrophysicist, amateur human.
Science fan, renewables groupie, political malcontent.
Professor at Swinburne University of Technology. Opinions my own.
Science fan, renewables groupie, political malcontent.
Professor at Swinburne University of Technology. Opinions my own.
While we're on the topic of international students with families …
Far North Qld couple behind 'promising' type 1 diabetes treatment research at Johns Hopkins University
Iraqi-Australians behind 'promising' type 1 diabetes treatment research
A Far North Queensland couple who started their research journey in Cairns are part of a team behind "promising" early research on a new type 1 diabetes treatment.
www.abc.net.au
September 17, 2026 at 1:43 AM
While we're on the topic of international students with families …
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Thanks to someone who updated me through an Instagram DM, I was able to add an update on the current whereabouts of Yahoo Serious to my previous post on his life and his 1987 film Young Einstein.
cosmobiota.substack.com/p/young-eins...
cosmobiota.substack.com/p/young-eins...
Young Einstein and the Tragic Life of Yahoo Serious
I was inspired to begin my journey partly by a 1980s rock comedy film from an Australian creator who may now be in the direst of straits
cosmobiota.substack.com
September 11, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Thanks to someone who updated me through an Instagram DM, I was able to add an update on the current whereabouts of Yahoo Serious to my previous post on his life and his 1987 film Young Einstein.
cosmobiota.substack.com/p/young-eins...
cosmobiota.substack.com/p/young-eins...
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Coles cuts ties with controversial CIA-linked data giant Palantir www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
Coles cuts ties with controversial CIA-linked data giant Palantir
The 2024 deal handed the Peter Thiel-founded company 10 billion rows of data covering every store, shift and one of Australia’s largest workforces.
www.smh.com.au
September 4, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Coles cuts ties with controversial CIA-linked data giant Palantir www.smh.com.au/technology/c...
So, do I understand this correctly? The person with the least power, who actually cared enough about "the university" – not just ANU, but also the concept – to stand up, do the work, suffer the stress, be maligned by those "higher up" is, in the end, the only one who can hold their head high?
ANU apologises to academic who accused Julie Bishop and other executive members of misconduct
ANU 'unreservedly' apologises to academic who accused Julie Bishop of bullying
The Australian National University apologises to academic Liz Allen after she accused senior leadership within the institution of misconduct, including then-Chancellor Julie Bishop.
www.abc.net.au
August 25, 2026 at 1:50 AM
So, do I understand this correctly? The person with the least power, who actually cared enough about "the university" – not just ANU, but also the concept – to stand up, do the work, suffer the stress, be maligned by those "higher up" is, in the end, the only one who can hold their head high?
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Just remember it's wages *expectations* that the RBA is worried about. And poor Ampol had no choice but to charge higher prices and have profits go up 376%.
Good thing it only cost the govt $3.3bn to artificially lower petrol prices, no one else had any need of that money...
Good thing it only cost the govt $3.3bn to artificially lower petrol prices, no one else had any need of that money...
August 25, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Just remember it's wages *expectations* that the RBA is worried about. And poor Ampol had no choice but to charge higher prices and have profits go up 376%.
Good thing it only cost the govt $3.3bn to artificially lower petrol prices, no one else had any need of that money...
Good thing it only cost the govt $3.3bn to artificially lower petrol prices, no one else had any need of that money...
Reposted by Michael Murphy
ANU apologises to academic who accused Julie Bishop and other executive members of misconduct
ANU 'unreservedly' apologises to academic who accused Julie Bishop of bullying
The Australian National University apologises to academic Liz Allen after she accused senior leadership within the institution of misconduct, including then-Chancellor Julie Bishop.
www.abc.net.au
August 25, 2026 at 12:13 AM
ANU apologises to academic who accused Julie Bishop and other executive members of misconduct
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Panama Canal will be restricted to shipping because of El Niño plus Climate Change drought. Global trade implications to supply chains
maritime-executive.com/article/pana...
maritime-executive.com/article/pana...
Panama Canal Begins Reducing Daily Transits Due to Declining Water Levels
The Panama Canal Authority is expanding what it is calling “temporary modifications to the lock’s transit capacity” as the forecasts for a worsening d...
maritime-executive.com
August 21, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Panama Canal will be restricted to shipping because of El Niño plus Climate Change drought. Global trade implications to supply chains
maritime-executive.com/article/pana...
maritime-executive.com/article/pana...
Reposted by Michael Murphy
How the neighbourhood magpies be looking at me right now. 🌲🚵♂️🦅
August 17, 2026 at 11:07 PM
How the neighbourhood magpies be looking at me right now. 🌲🚵♂️🦅
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Any inconvenience or expense that people have experienced as a result of the ULEZ expansion scheme was for the sake of radically improving the lung health of children in London - and totally worth it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Children's stunted lungs show recovery in ultra low emission zone
Children's lung capacity caught up with their peers in less polluted areas once a clean air zone came in, a study shows.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 19, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Any inconvenience or expense that people have experienced as a result of the ULEZ expansion scheme was for the sake of radically improving the lung health of children in London - and totally worth it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Anyway, a reminder.
Fuel Tax Credits over the next 4 years will cost the Govt $47bn.
The savings from the cuts to the NDIS is $38bn.
Gillard in 2010: "Budgets are about choices, and you show what you value through the choices you make"
Indeed.
Fuel Tax Credits over the next 4 years will cost the Govt $47bn.
The savings from the cuts to the NDIS is $38bn.
Gillard in 2010: "Budgets are about choices, and you show what you value through the choices you make"
Indeed.
Why "social, economic and community participation" and "improved daily living skills"?
Because (according the legislation) they apparently don't "affect supports that are essential to a participant’s health, safety or continuous care needs"
Yep living skills are not essential to health or safety.
Because (according the legislation) they apparently don't "affect supports that are essential to a participant’s health, safety or continuous care needs"
Yep living skills are not essential to health or safety.
The govt has enabled any future Health Minister to gut support for "assistance with social, economic and community participation" and "improved daily living skills by "a percentage (lower than 100%)"
ie up to 99%
Some past Health Ministers: Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, Sussan Ley
Think on that.
ie up to 99%
Some past Health Ministers: Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, Sussan Ley
Think on that.
August 18, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Anyway, a reminder.
Fuel Tax Credits over the next 4 years will cost the Govt $47bn.
The savings from the cuts to the NDIS is $38bn.
Gillard in 2010: "Budgets are about choices, and you show what you value through the choices you make"
Indeed.
Fuel Tax Credits over the next 4 years will cost the Govt $47bn.
The savings from the cuts to the NDIS is $38bn.
Gillard in 2010: "Budgets are about choices, and you show what you value through the choices you make"
Indeed.
Reposted by Michael Murphy
I am a non-responder to the measles vaccine: no seroconversion. When you get immunised it helps protect me, because I am not protected by the vaccine
Not all Australians got a second measles booster - talk to your doctor if you are in one of those cohorts. Measles Kills, Let's eradicate it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lqh...
1.7 million Australians not protected against measles | ABC NEWS
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
www.youtube.com
August 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
I am a non-responder to the measles vaccine: no seroconversion. When you get immunised it helps protect me, because I am not protected by the vaccine
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Happy 10 year anniversary of the best mic drop on Twitter.
Hard to believe it’s been so long! Congrats @astrokatie.com
Hard to believe it’s been so long! Congrats @astrokatie.com
August 16, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Happy 10 year anniversary of the best mic drop on Twitter.
Hard to believe it’s been so long! Congrats @astrokatie.com
Hard to believe it’s been so long! Congrats @astrokatie.com
Reposted by Michael Murphy
41 years ago, Carl Sagan gave a clear and elegant explanation of the science behind global warming.
August 14, 2026 at 2:21 AM
41 years ago, Carl Sagan gave a clear and elegant explanation of the science behind global warming.
Reposted by Michael Murphy
‘Lauf’ and ‘minceur’: the words that made a 13-year-old from Melbourne a world Scrabble champion
‘Lauf’ and ‘minceur’: the words that made a 13-year-old from Melbourne a world Scrabble champion
Dineth Fernando – who moved to Australia with his family in February – says he just needed to ‘find the word and play – that’s all’
*
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Dineth Fernando’s first language isn’t English and he only arrived in Melbourne six months ago – but already he’s claimed an international Scrabble title with an Australian flag draped around his shoulders.
The 13-year-old won the 2026 world youth Scrabble championships in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi over the weekend, becoming the third Australian representative in the competition’s history to take out the prize. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 13, 2026 at 9:57 AM
‘Lauf’ and ‘minceur’: the words that made a 13-year-old from Melbourne a world Scrabble champion
Reposted by Michael Murphy
“A whistleblower at Cambridge University who alleged bullying of female staff inside the Institute of Astronomy has won a tribunal against his employer.”
This is hopefully a turning point in tackling problem of bullying in academia
theguardian.com/education/20...
This is hopefully a turning point in tackling problem of bullying in academia
theguardian.com/education/20...
University of Cambridge whistleblower who reported alleged bullying wins employment tribunal
Prof Wyn Evans, who raised concerns over treatment of female staff at Institute of Astronomy, was subject to ‘baseless’ investigation, judge rules
theguardian.com
August 13, 2026 at 11:33 AM
“A whistleblower at Cambridge University who alleged bullying of female staff inside the Institute of Astronomy has won a tribunal against his employer.”
This is hopefully a turning point in tackling problem of bullying in academia
theguardian.com/education/20...
This is hopefully a turning point in tackling problem of bullying in academia
theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Astronomers discover new type of cosmic object, 'black hole star'
Bizarre new astronomical object dubbed a 'black hole star'
The discovery of a new type of astrophysical object could take us closer to solving one of astronomy's biggest puzzles from the early universe.
www.abc.net.au
August 13, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Astronomers discover new type of cosmic object, 'black hole star'
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Black Hole Sun was right there
Astronomers discover new type of cosmic object, 'black hole star'
Bizarre new astronomical object dubbed a 'black hole star'
The discovery of a new type of astrophysical object could take us closer to solving one of astronomy's biggest puzzles from the early universe.
www.abc.net.au
August 13, 2026 at 5:57 AM
Black Hole Sun was right there
Reposted by Michael Murphy
Updated information for the @royalsociety.org‘s bio of their esteemed fellow. He’s an odd choice for an organisation that claims to promote science for the benefit of humanity.
The Lancet publishes the latest estimate of the impact of Elon Musk's DOGE cuts to USAID.
The headline conclusion
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030."
The headline conclusion
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030."
Evaluating the impact of two decades of USAID interventions and projecting the effects of defunding on mortality up to 2030: a retrospective impact evaluation and forecasting analysis
USAID funding has significantly contributed to the reduction in adult and child mortality
across low-income and middle-income countries over the past two decades. Our estimates
show that, unless the a...
www.thelancet.com
August 12, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Updated information for the @royalsociety.org‘s bio of their esteemed fellow. He’s an odd choice for an organisation that claims to promote science for the benefit of humanity.
Reposted by Michael Murphy
🌓🌎🌞 <-- lunar eclipse
🌎🌓🌞 <-- solar eclipse
🌎🌞🌗 <-- apocalypse
🌎🌓🌞 <-- solar eclipse
🌎🌞🌗 <-- apocalypse
October 14, 2023 at 11:48 AM
🌓🌎🌞 <-- lunar eclipse
🌎🌓🌞 <-- solar eclipse
🌎🌞🌗 <-- apocalypse
🌎🌓🌞 <-- solar eclipse
🌎🌞🌗 <-- apocalypse
Reposted by Michael Murphy
"The latest data from Denmark shows that 97% of vehicles bought by private buyers in the month of July were full battery electric." thedriven.io/2026/08/11/d... via Joshua S. Hill
Denmark joins Norway at EV pinnacle as 97 per cent of private buyers opt for electric cars in latest month
Denmark joins Norway at the pinnacle of EV adoption, with 97 per cent of private buyers opting for an electric car in the latest month.
thedriven.io
August 12, 2026 at 6:28 AM
"The latest data from Denmark shows that 97% of vehicles bought by private buyers in the month of July were full battery electric." thedriven.io/2026/08/11/d... via Joshua S. Hill
Reposted by Michael Murphy
"Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong." Great piece. I suspect Richard Jones (on Bsky?) will have views.
arxiv.org/abs/2608.00172
arxiv.org/abs/2608.00172
Discovery is not the opposite of application
Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong.
arxiv.org
August 10, 2026 at 9:30 AM
"Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong." Great piece. I suspect Richard Jones (on Bsky?) will have views.
arxiv.org/abs/2608.00172
arxiv.org/abs/2608.00172
Reposted by Michael Murphy
hot take: I would rather read your imperfect English in your own voice than perfect LLM English that makes all writing narratively the same
August 10, 2026 at 10:08 AM
hot take: I would rather read your imperfect English in your own voice than perfect LLM English that makes all writing narratively the same
Reposted by Michael Murphy
