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.
You've heard of democracy, but have you heard of an ostracon?
I hadn't. This is from a kids book about ancient Greece.
Maybe we should bring back the ostracon?
I hadn't. This is from a kids book about ancient Greece.
Maybe we should bring back the ostracon?
November 5, 2025 at 5:48 AM
You've heard of democracy, but have you heard of an ostracon?
I hadn't. This is from a kids book about ancient Greece.
Maybe we should bring back the ostracon?
I hadn't. This is from a kids book about ancient Greece.
Maybe we should bring back the ostracon?
Given how on-campus IT “services” have evolved in the last 15 years, I constantly find it astonishing that eduroam works. Anywhere. I haven’t looked into why or how it works, but I am guessing it’s one of these:
October 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Given how on-campus IT “services” have evolved in the last 15 years, I constantly find it astonishing that eduroam works. Anywhere. I haven’t looked into why or how it works, but I am guessing it’s one of these:
There's even instructions for running the telescope left on the whiteboard :)
September 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
There's even instructions for running the telescope left on the whiteboard :)
August 23, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Pretty relatable stuff over at The Age
August 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Pretty relatable stuff over at The Age
This is one for the Pacific Islanders
May 3, 2025 at 10:57 AM
This is one for the Pacific Islanders
I returned to the scene of the “crime”. Who can feel safe with this sort of stuff going on right outside our doors?
April 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I returned to the scene of the “crime”. Who can feel safe with this sort of stuff going on right outside our doors?
Cool change has passed Laverton now. Should be in Melbourne by about 17:40. Yay 😅
February 13, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Cool change has passed Laverton now. Should be in Melbourne by about 17:40. Yay 😅
Finally, the change has almost made it to Melbourne. Maybe another 1.5 hours?
December 16, 2024 at 7:18 AM
Finally, the change has almost made it to Melbourne. Maybe another 1.5 hours?
Truly saddened – but unsurprised – by this news about charges to Australians publishing in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
They want $5k per paper? They're dreaming. I've published 102 papers in MNRAS. At $5k a pop, that's the same as hiring an actual researcher for 3 years!
🔭🧪
They want $5k per paper? They're dreaming. I've published 102 papers in MNRAS. At $5k a pop, that's the same as hiring an actual researcher for 3 years!
🔭🧪
November 23, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Truly saddened – but unsurprised – by this news about charges to Australians publishing in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
They want $5k per paper? They're dreaming. I've published 102 papers in MNRAS. At $5k a pop, that's the same as hiring an actual researcher for 3 years!
🔭🧪
They want $5k per paper? They're dreaming. I've published 102 papers in MNRAS. At $5k a pop, that's the same as hiring an actual researcher for 3 years!
🔭🧪
Melbourne's been a lot today 😜
November 17, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Melbourne's been a lot today 😜
I’m hiring!
Come and work with me at @Swinburne in Melbourne on a 3-year postdoc in precision astronomical spectroscopy as part of COMBS – the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science.
AAS Job Register: aas.org/jobregister/...
🔭🧪
Come and work with me at @Swinburne in Melbourne on a 3-year postdoc in precision astronomical spectroscopy as part of COMBS – the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science.
AAS Job Register: aas.org/jobregister/...
🔭🧪
October 24, 2024 at 3:55 AM
I’m hiring!
Come and work with me at @Swinburne in Melbourne on a 3-year postdoc in precision astronomical spectroscopy as part of COMBS – the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science.
AAS Job Register: aas.org/jobregister/...
🔭🧪
Come and work with me at @Swinburne in Melbourne on a 3-year postdoc in precision astronomical spectroscopy as part of COMBS – the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science.
AAS Job Register: aas.org/jobregister/...
🔭🧪
We've opened applications for summer internships in our new ARC Centre of Excellence, COMBS.
2nd & 3rd year students can be part of a COMBS research project for 6–8 weeks (paid at $750 per week).
Apply by Friday 20th September here: combs.org.au/summerintern...
2nd & 3rd year students can be part of a COMBS research project for 6–8 weeks (paid at $750 per week).
Apply by Friday 20th September here: combs.org.au/summerintern...
August 30, 2024 at 3:43 AM
We've opened applications for summer internships in our new ARC Centre of Excellence, COMBS.
2nd & 3rd year students can be part of a COMBS research project for 6–8 weeks (paid at $750 per week).
Apply by Friday 20th September here: combs.org.au/summerintern...
2nd & 3rd year students can be part of a COMBS research project for 6–8 weeks (paid at $750 per week).
Apply by Friday 20th September here: combs.org.au/summerintern...
Maybe her performance was a sort of protest? The authors (she is lead) She sounds angry & worried in the intro to this article.
bsky.app/profile/incr...
bsky.app/profile/incr...
August 10, 2024 at 8:15 AM
Maybe her performance was a sort of protest? The authors (she is lead) She sounds angry & worried in the intro to this article.
bsky.app/profile/incr...
bsky.app/profile/incr...
Phew. A lot of work, but definitely less than in previous years. Thank goodness the application form has been simplified. (It could be further simplified – especially the budget.)
Now, reviewers: please be kind 😀
Now, reviewers: please be kind 😀
June 4, 2024 at 1:48 AM
Phew. A lot of work, but definitely less than in previous years. Thank goodness the application form has been simplified. (It could be further simplified – especially the budget.)
Now, reviewers: please be kind 😀
Now, reviewers: please be kind 😀
Not the best #Aurora photo you’ll see, but it’s mine.
From the darkest alley I could find near my place in urban #Melbourne.
🔭🧪
From the darkest alley I could find near my place in urban #Melbourne.
🔭🧪
May 11, 2024 at 11:26 AM
Not the best #Aurora photo you’ll see, but it’s mine.
From the darkest alley I could find near my place in urban #Melbourne.
🔭🧪
From the darkest alley I could find near my place in urban #Melbourne.
🔭🧪
I thought it was common knowledge in Melbourne, but apparently some need a reminder – specifically the person getting irate at my child & I for cycling home from school on the footpath:
Here's the law👇
Don't like it? I'm afraid I can't help you🤷♂️
From www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-r...
Here's the law👇
Don't like it? I'm afraid I can't help you🤷♂️
From www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-r...
April 29, 2024 at 7:55 AM
I thought it was common knowledge in Melbourne, but apparently some need a reminder – specifically the person getting irate at my child & I for cycling home from school on the footpath:
Here's the law👇
Don't like it? I'm afraid I can't help you🤷♂️
From www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-r...
Here's the law👇
Don't like it? I'm afraid I can't help you🤷♂️
From www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-r...
Awesome front cover of Nature for a fascinating result led by Fan Liu at Monash, Swinburne & ASTRO-3D.
We found compelling evidence that some planets like our Sun have "eaten" up planetary material, leaving a distinct chemical imprint revealed by high-precision spectroscopy.
🔭🧪
We found compelling evidence that some planets like our Sun have "eaten" up planetary material, leaving a distinct chemical imprint revealed by high-precision spectroscopy.
🔭🧪
March 20, 2024 at 10:47 PM
Awesome front cover of Nature for a fascinating result led by Fan Liu at Monash, Swinburne & ASTRO-3D.
We found compelling evidence that some planets like our Sun have "eaten" up planetary material, leaving a distinct chemical imprint revealed by high-precision spectroscopy.
🔭🧪
We found compelling evidence that some planets like our Sun have "eaten" up planetary material, leaving a distinct chemical imprint revealed by high-precision spectroscopy.
🔭🧪
Totally normal weather
February 13, 2024 at 5:11 AM
Totally normal weather
Bean*ettes*??
Crunchy *and* tender??
Crunchy *and* tender??
December 2, 2023 at 6:38 AM
Bean*ettes*??
Crunchy *and* tender??
Crunchy *and* tender??
Mike Merrifield @astromikemerri.bsky.social posted these on twitter about it. Only one side of his conversation, but maybe indicates it's muddled, but that needs clarifying. Absolutely has to be changed.
August 17, 2023 at 11:51 AM
Mike Merrifield @astromikemerri.bsky.social posted these on twitter about it. Only one side of his conversation, but maybe indicates it's muddled, but that needs clarifying. Absolutely has to be changed.