Philipp Markolin
@philippmarkolin.bsky.social
Science blogger and communicator:
www.protagonist-science.com
Mein investigatives Buch über die Insider-Geschichte hinter der COVID-19 Ursprungskontroverse jetzt exklusiv auf Deutsch erhältlich:
www.lab-leak-fever.com
www.protagonist-science.com
Mein investigatives Buch über die Insider-Geschichte hinter der COVID-19 Ursprungskontroverse jetzt exklusiv auf Deutsch erhältlich:
www.lab-leak-fever.com
Hi @theatlantic.com , here is a little headline suggestion:
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Hi @theatlantic.com , here is a little headline suggestion:
Interesting preprint from @lorenzspreen.bsky.social's team using LLMs to classify misleading social media posts of German politicians by platform and party belonging.
Link here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Link here: osf.io/preprints/so...
November 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Interesting preprint from @lorenzspreen.bsky.social's team using LLMs to classify misleading social media posts of German politicians by platform and party belonging.
Link here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Link here: osf.io/preprints/so...
These profitable arrangements and networked anti-science / anti-reality aggression are not only bad for science; they are part of a larger story about undermining the epistemic integrity of democracy.
So I argue that scientists and other defenders of an evidence-based worldview need to get involved
So I argue that scientists and other defenders of an evidence-based worldview need to get involved
November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
These profitable arrangements and networked anti-science / anti-reality aggression are not only bad for science; they are part of a larger story about undermining the epistemic integrity of democracy.
So I argue that scientists and other defenders of an evidence-based worldview need to get involved
So I argue that scientists and other defenders of an evidence-based worldview need to get involved
Unfortunately, we have long moved beyond merchants of doubts where vested interests would just pay some scientists off to spread falsehoods.
Now we have a full blown participatory anti-science ecosystem that rewards its various participants; everybody gains when science loses.
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Now we have a full blown participatory anti-science ecosystem that rewards its various participants; everybody gains when science loses.
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November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Unfortunately, we have long moved beyond merchants of doubts where vested interests would just pay some scientists off to spread falsehoods.
Now we have a full blown participatory anti-science ecosystem that rewards its various participants; everybody gains when science loses.
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Now we have a full blown participatory anti-science ecosystem that rewards its various participants; everybody gains when science loses.
3/
I shared a few anecdotes from my book on how modern disinformation campaigns actually work;
How did an unknown Honk Kong postdoc become a rightwing media sensation? What role did she play? Who was behind it and what did they gain from it?
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How did an unknown Honk Kong postdoc become a rightwing media sensation? What role did she play? Who was behind it and what did they gain from it?
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November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I shared a few anecdotes from my book on how modern disinformation campaigns actually work;
How did an unknown Honk Kong postdoc become a rightwing media sensation? What role did she play? Who was behind it and what did they gain from it?
3/
How did an unknown Honk Kong postdoc become a rightwing media sensation? What role did she play? Who was behind it and what did they gain from it?
3/
On top of that, science is a myth buster; and many actors do not want their myths busted by contradictory evidence or scientific debunking.
They prefer to mislead audiences by selling doubt, ambiguity and confusion about science.
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They prefer to mislead audiences by selling doubt, ambiguity and confusion about science.
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November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
On top of that, science is a myth buster; and many actors do not want their myths busted by contradictory evidence or scientific debunking.
They prefer to mislead audiences by selling doubt, ambiguity and confusion about science.
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They prefer to mislead audiences by selling doubt, ambiguity and confusion about science.
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The playing field is not even, scientific information has to compete in an asymmetric environment with many forces working against it.
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November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The playing field is not even, scientific information has to compete in an asymmetric environment with many forces working against it.
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We need more cool takes anyways.
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM
We need more cool takes anyways.
Looking forward to the @mcid-unibe.bsky.social annual event.
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
November 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Looking forward to the @mcid-unibe.bsky.social annual event.
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
Masterclass in velocity hacking:
November 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Masterclass in velocity hacking:
Meanwhile in China:
- building cutting-edge research infrastructure
- populating the ecosystem with ever-more international scientists and programs for students
- offering gob-smacking financial incentives to recruit scientific expertise
They understand something fundamental about science.
- building cutting-edge research infrastructure
- populating the ecosystem with ever-more international scientists and programs for students
- offering gob-smacking financial incentives to recruit scientific expertise
They understand something fundamental about science.
November 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Meanwhile in China:
- building cutting-edge research infrastructure
- populating the ecosystem with ever-more international scientists and programs for students
- offering gob-smacking financial incentives to recruit scientific expertise
They understand something fundamental about science.
- building cutting-edge research infrastructure
- populating the ecosystem with ever-more international scientists and programs for students
- offering gob-smacking financial incentives to recruit scientific expertise
They understand something fundamental about science.
Good webinar from @lewan.bsky.social happening now.
Here a snapshot from what puts academics that want to resist autocratization into different personal risk buckets;
the higher the risk, the fewer the dissent options.
Learn more: www.protagonist-science.com/p/the-anti-a...
Here a snapshot from what puts academics that want to resist autocratization into different personal risk buckets;
the higher the risk, the fewer the dissent options.
Learn more: www.protagonist-science.com/p/the-anti-a...
November 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Good webinar from @lewan.bsky.social happening now.
Here a snapshot from what puts academics that want to resist autocratization into different personal risk buckets;
the higher the risk, the fewer the dissent options.
Learn more: www.protagonist-science.com/p/the-anti-a...
Here a snapshot from what puts academics that want to resist autocratization into different personal risk buckets;
the higher the risk, the fewer the dissent options.
Learn more: www.protagonist-science.com/p/the-anti-a...
Gotta love those friendly Canadian reviewers ❤️🔥
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Gotta love those friendly Canadian reviewers ❤️🔥
Oh, I think I do.
Bat ACE2's are quite diverse between bat species
The authors used bat cells from spanish R. ferrumequinum bats (blue); whereas BANAL viruses originally came from R. malayanus bats (red)
SC2 will most likely replicate in the "right" R.mal bat cell lines; see below:
Bat ACE2's are quite diverse between bat species
The authors used bat cells from spanish R. ferrumequinum bats (blue); whereas BANAL viruses originally came from R. malayanus bats (red)
SC2 will most likely replicate in the "right" R.mal bat cell lines; see below:
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Oh, I think I do.
Bat ACE2's are quite diverse between bat species
The authors used bat cells from spanish R. ferrumequinum bats (blue); whereas BANAL viruses originally came from R. malayanus bats (red)
SC2 will most likely replicate in the "right" R.mal bat cell lines; see below:
Bat ACE2's are quite diverse between bat species
The authors used bat cells from spanish R. ferrumequinum bats (blue); whereas BANAL viruses originally came from R. malayanus bats (red)
SC2 will most likely replicate in the "right" R.mal bat cell lines; see below:
But what I learned from many conversations is that there are good reasons for hope.
The current AI revolution presents not only a threat, but also an opportunity, to restore the foundations of democratic society in the digital age.
If we, the people, aim to seize it now.
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The current AI revolution presents not only a threat, but also an opportunity, to restore the foundations of democratic society in the digital age.
If we, the people, aim to seize it now.
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
But what I learned from many conversations is that there are good reasons for hope.
The current AI revolution presents not only a threat, but also an opportunity, to restore the foundations of democratic society in the digital age.
If we, the people, aim to seize it now.
14/
The current AI revolution presents not only a threat, but also an opportunity, to restore the foundations of democratic society in the digital age.
If we, the people, aim to seize it now.
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So that is the robber-mogul playbook.
If the tech moguls win their gambit, if they succeed at infrastructure capture, technological lock-in and public dispossession of our shared information ecosystem, we will have ceded more than we have bargained for 🔽
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If the tech moguls win their gambit, if they succeed at infrastructure capture, technological lock-in and public dispossession of our shared information ecosystem, we will have ceded more than we have bargained for 🔽
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
So that is the robber-mogul playbook.
If the tech moguls win their gambit, if they succeed at infrastructure capture, technological lock-in and public dispossession of our shared information ecosystem, we will have ceded more than we have bargained for 🔽
12/
If the tech moguls win their gambit, if they succeed at infrastructure capture, technological lock-in and public dispossession of our shared information ecosystem, we will have ceded more than we have bargained for 🔽
12/
Unfortunately, the AI infrastructure boom for these tech moguls isn’t about reaching AGI; winning against China, or unlocking productivity utopia and abundance for humanity.
As if any of these narcissistic wannabe sun-king egos would ever spare ambition for anybody but themselves
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As if any of these narcissistic wannabe sun-king egos would ever spare ambition for anybody but themselves
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Unfortunately, the AI infrastructure boom for these tech moguls isn’t about reaching AGI; winning against China, or unlocking productivity utopia and abundance for humanity.
As if any of these narcissistic wannabe sun-king egos would ever spare ambition for anybody but themselves
11/
As if any of these narcissistic wannabe sun-king egos would ever spare ambition for anybody but themselves
11/
Today’s AI arms race is best understood as a calculated corporate power grap: spend unprecedented sums on compute, secure strategic infrastructure along a vertical tech stack, use your investor billions to tighten the screws on society:
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Today’s AI arms race is best understood as a calculated corporate power grap: spend unprecedented sums on compute, secure strategic infrastructure along a vertical tech stack, use your investor billions to tighten the screws on society:
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Do I really have to point out the power differential when few will own and control the AI gatekeepers that generate the bulk of information flows at a time when billions depend on AI for cognitive navigation? Market monopoly would instill a much more powerful epistemic monopoly.
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Do I really have to point out the power differential when few will own and control the AI gatekeepers that generate the bulk of information flows at a time when billions depend on AI for cognitive navigation? Market monopoly would instill a much more powerful epistemic monopoly.
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But there is also something new: Owning the interface to reality
Historically, media theorists have warned that the medium shapes the message. Today, it is more like: Control the interface, control the story.
A subtler, more pervasive form of any previous censorship or propaganda system.
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Historically, media theorists have warned that the medium shapes the message. Today, it is more like: Control the interface, control the story.
A subtler, more pervasive form of any previous censorship or propaganda system.
9/
November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
But there is also something new: Owning the interface to reality
Historically, media theorists have warned that the medium shapes the message. Today, it is more like: Control the interface, control the story.
A subtler, more pervasive form of any previous censorship or propaganda system.
9/
Historically, media theorists have warned that the medium shapes the message. Today, it is more like: Control the interface, control the story.
A subtler, more pervasive form of any previous censorship or propaganda system.
9/
From enshittification to data colonialism, once users, creators, and institutions are locked in and have no real alternatives, the owners of the infrastructure can begin to systematically extract value from every layer of human activity.
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November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
From enshittification to data colonialism, once users, creators, and institutions are locked in and have no real alternatives, the owners of the infrastructure can begin to systematically extract value from every layer of human activity.
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Technological lock-in is key because it ensures dominance of tech-turned-AI giants for generations to come.
And we know that dominant firms face little pressure to improve quality, consumer protection, or maintain reasonable prices. Instead, once we are locked in, the real squeeze can start.
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And we know that dominant firms face little pressure to improve quality, consumer protection, or maintain reasonable prices. Instead, once we are locked in, the real squeeze can start.
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November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Technological lock-in is key because it ensures dominance of tech-turned-AI giants for generations to come.
And we know that dominant firms face little pressure to improve quality, consumer protection, or maintain reasonable prices. Instead, once we are locked in, the real squeeze can start.
7/
And we know that dominant firms face little pressure to improve quality, consumer protection, or maintain reasonable prices. Instead, once we are locked in, the real squeeze can start.
7/
Instead of owning just the bottlenecks of the digital economy, the companies now seek to build monopolies along a vertical value chain.
The business-model of AI hyperscalers is not innovation, productivity or reaching AGI, but achieving technological lock-in.
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The business-model of AI hyperscalers is not innovation, productivity or reaching AGI, but achieving technological lock-in.
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November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Instead of owning just the bottlenecks of the digital economy, the companies now seek to build monopolies along a vertical value chain.
The business-model of AI hyperscalers is not innovation, productivity or reaching AGI, but achieving technological lock-in.
6/
The business-model of AI hyperscalers is not innovation, productivity or reaching AGI, but achieving technological lock-in.
6/
Infrastructure capture refers to the consolidation of essential systems, such as transport, energy, communications, or now AI tech stacks, under the control of a small number of private actors.
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November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Infrastructure capture refers to the consolidation of essential systems, such as transport, energy, communications, or now AI tech stacks, under the control of a small number of private actors.
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I do worry about the current myths and justifications of why society should take on this risks.
And why they seem blind to the real problem:
Infrastructure capture by unaccountible big tech moguls
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And why they seem blind to the real problem:
Infrastructure capture by unaccountible big tech moguls
4/
November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I do worry about the current myths and justifications of why society should take on this risks.
And why they seem blind to the real problem:
Infrastructure capture by unaccountible big tech moguls
4/
And why they seem blind to the real problem:
Infrastructure capture by unaccountible big tech moguls
4/