Nostr notes by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him)

Hostile and violent attitudes toward women are the clearest ...

2026-08-24T20:09:30Z

Hostile and violent attitudes toward women are the clearest warning sign of violent extremism, a study has found.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-25/rising-misogyny-in-young-people/107053640?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

"A new study has found an estimated 1.7 million people are ...

2026-08-16T20:17:42Z

"A new study has found an estimated 1.7 million people are susceptible to catching #measles, according to 2019 data."

#Australia #VaccinesWork

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/measles-outbreak-risk-australians-not-protected/107031752?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Australia is rolling out a new defence against deadly bird flu. ...

2026-08-11T20:28:35Z

Australia is rolling out a new defence against deadly bird flu.

"The federal government says it has secured 1,500 vials of the vaccine, worth about $2 million.
"The doses vary depending in those vials of the size of the bird," Collins said."

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/bird-flu-vaccine-australia/dv77vnwkc?cid=newsapp:socialshare:other

“They’re marketing labels. They’re about making more money ...

2026-08-02T20:13:37Z

“They’re marketing labels. They’re about making more money for the chocolate companies,” she says. “They’re about tricking you into buying their product because you feel that it’s okay.”

"All these problems are driven by greed and ignorance,” she says.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/chocolate-industry-child-labour-in-ghana-despite-promises/106970782?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

“We knew this was going to happen in parts of the world which ...

2026-08-02T02:52:54Z

“We knew this was going to happen in parts of the world which aren’t necessarily in tune to these sorts of events,” she said.

“Why couldn’t we have adapted quicker and more effectively?”

-a question we now ask a lot, about a lot of things🙄

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-02/europe-fires-fingerprints-of-climate-change/106967040?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

RSV is causing the most hospitalisations, mainly in the young, in ...

2026-07-31T23:59:24Z

RSV is causing the most hospitalisations, mainly in the young, in Queensland this winter. Not flu, not COVID-19.
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/surveillance/reports/flu

Flu may not be peaking even if it looks like it is right ...

2026-07-28T22:19:45Z

Flu may not be peaking even if it looks like it is right now...and here's why

[from me in 2018 - but the point is still relevant]

https://virologydownunder.com/flu-may-not-be-peaking-even-if-it-looks-like-it-is-right-now-and-heres-why/

Mamdani floats arresting Netanyahu if he visits NYC for UN ...

2026-07-19T01:21:56Z

Mamdani floats arresting Netanyahu if he visits NYC for UN General Assembly

- yes please!!

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5976307-mamdani-floats-arresting-netanyahu-if-he-visits-nyc-for-un-general-assembly/

"What is unclear is how long skuas and giant petrels can ...

2026-07-05T20:36:56Z

"What is unclear is how long skuas and giant petrels can survive with the virus or how long it takes to incubate in them.

Generally, these migratory seabirds stay offshore when they come near Australia, as they can roost on the water."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-06-22/where-h5n1-bird-flu-might-land-next-in-australia/106823380?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

Happy Friday to all. #PeacefulMoment ...

2026-06-18T23:11:56Z

Happy Friday to all.
#PeacefulMoment

We need many more stories like this to normalise a change that ...

2026-05-27T21:00:10Z

We need many more stories like this to normalise a change that *is* happening

“Batteries have outgrown their initial niche role as a grid stability service and are now core infrastructure designed to store excess daytime electricity and release it in the evening”.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-28/australia-global-battery-leader-and-wa-leads-charge/106526042?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Version 12. Added in June (pink), which contains a randomly ...

2026-05-23T05:18:39Z

Version 12.
Added in June (pink), which contains a randomly chosen 42-day post-onset period from Case 2. As a guide. Added the new Dutch Case 12 - also from likely boat exposure. A few other things.
1️⃣/2️⃣

Inspired by an entirely different conversation, I set off to look ...

2026-04-14T12:31:36Z

Inspired by an entirely different conversation, I set off to look at age groupings over time among those testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. And it revealed an interesting set of patterns and more questions. Wanna have a look with me?

https://virologydownunder.com/age-and-covid-19-an-evolving-journey/

"Cancer risk aside, researchers found a range of other ...

2026-03-30T20:46:23Z

"Cancer risk aside, researchers found a range of other diseases could be attributable to vaping, and it could no longer be considered "safer than smoking.""

-definitive proof may take decades to gather. Don't take a clear risk while worrying on more proof.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2026-03-31/vaping-cancer-likely-to-cause-cancer-australian-research/106503804?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

"The intranasal LAIV will be available in Australia from ...

2026-03-19T00:06:13Z

"The intranasal LAIV will be available in Australia from 2026. It has been used safely and effectively in millions of children across the UK, USA and Canada"
🦠 LAIV-Live Attenuated #Influenza Virus.
🦠 Attenuated-weakened strains to train the immune system without illness
https://ncirs.org.au/influenza/influenza-vaccines-frequently-asked-questions-faqs

"No vaccines, no cure, and 'very dangerous'. Should ...

2026-01-29T11:00:25Z

"No vaccines, no cure, and 'very dangerous'. Should we be worried about Nipah virus?"

In Australia? Or most of the population of the world?
No.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/what-to-know-about-nipah-virus/vr8vui0hu?cid=newsapp:socialshare:other

Frikkin amazing stuff. h/t @npub102h…asup ...

2025-11-26T08:32:30Z

Frikkin amazing stuff.
h/t Auscandoc (npub102h…asup)

Woke is the new nerd, or geek. It's a badge of honour. Not at ...

2025-07-13T02:06:48Z

Woke is the new nerd, or geek.
It's a badge of honour. Not at all the insult you anger-filled fools think it is.
#ProudToBeWoke

What are rubber bullets? What other crowd control methods are ...

2025-06-10T07:50:37Z

What are rubber bullets? What other crowd control methods are used in the LA ICE protests?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-10/what-are-rubber-bullets-la-proest-crowd-control/105397828?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Bloody hell America. You're not okay. This is not okay. ...

2025-06-08T02:39:49Z

Bloody hell America. You're not okay. This is not okay.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/07/immigration-raids-los-angeles?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

For example in Canada.. ...

2025-06-07T03:39:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…tued
_________________________

For example in Canada..
https://theconversation.com/how-shading-crops-with-solar-panels-can-improve-farming-lower-food-costs-and-reduce-emissions-202094

I feel like we don't often get these positive stories, just ...

2025-06-07T03:27:46Z

I feel like we don't often get these positive stories, just negative ones.
But there are real upsides to "agrisolar" and "agrivoltaics" that we've known about for years.

Got any other links?

Solar And Agriculture Could Be Perfect Match.
[from Mar 2023]
https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news-resources/agrisolar#

A familiar vaccine-driven decrease in harmful measles-inflicted ...

2025-05-06T02:30:48Z

A familiar vaccine-driven decrease in harmful measles-inflicted disease (encephalitis).
It should blow every parent's mind that leaders would support making this graph a mirror image, fuelling #measles, its associated opportunistic infection-driven harms and the immune memory damage the virus causes.
From a 1977 paper, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347677807555

The CDC Has Been Gutted. -the scale of this is beyond stupid and ...

2025-04-01T20:37:55Z

The CDC Has Been Gutted.
-the scale of this is beyond stupid and it's execution beyond mean. This is an epically dumb own-goal that will cause far more harm than its paltry savings could ever offset.
https://www.wired.com/story/cdc-gutted-rif/

United States influenza: biggest season in 15 years of data The ...

2025-02-18T05:12:07Z

United States influenza: biggest season in 15 years of data

The United States has been suffering from many influenza virus infections. And it looks like those are translating into a "flunami" of hospitalisations, which has resulted in the US CDC classifying the 2024-2025 flu season as the highest severity season since 2017-2018, with flu hospitalisation rates at their highest in at least 15 years. High numbers of flu infections American clinical laboratory-confirmed…

https://virologydownunder.com/united-states-influenza-biggest-season-in-15-years-of-data/

The United States has been having one of its biggest influenza ...

2025-02-13T11:39:41Z

The United States has been having one of its biggest influenza (flu) years. Let's look at how this season's northern hemisphere flu vaccine, which most Americans most likely didn't seek out, matches up to the viruses that are around.

https://virologydownunder.com/the-us-2024-2025-flu-season-and-the-vaccine/

Happy #LunarNewYear! ...

2025-01-28T22:49:50Z

Happy #LunarNewYear!

A quick #influenza thread on data from the Chinese National ...

2025-01-22T02:31:08Z

A quick #influenza thread on data from the Chinese National Influenza Center, a WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on influenza.
Includes detections up to January 12th 2025.
#Flu

Unrequested opinion. 🟠 Australia already has laws & ...

2025-01-21T21:49:53Z

Unrequested opinion.
🟠 Australia already has laws & penalties for vandalism & racism. Enforce those better
🟠 Albo & advisors need to better rebut Dutton. "Existing laws address *all* forms of racism Mr Dutton"
🟠 F2f meeting of National Cabinet? Always good to get together & discuss in person

Mosquito-borne #dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis detected in ...

2025-01-17T06:40:58Z

Mosquito-borne #dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis detected in Queensland.
- #JEV likely imported from Southern Queensland, Goondiwindi. Eek.😬
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/mosquito-dengue-fever-japanese-encephalitis-cases-queensland/104828632

I looked into the messy media messaging around the latest surge ...

2025-01-06T22:18:48Z

I looked into the messy media messaging around the latest surge in cold weather respiratory illnesses in China. It looks like business as usual for a range of normal human disease-causing nasties, not a new scourge.
Masks could help, as could cleaner air.
https://virologydownunder.com/not-the-chinese-flu-label-thing-again-please/

And also... “the land required for solar panels alone to ...

2024-12-17T22:37:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…skca
_________________________

And also...
“the land required for solar panels alone to provide all global energy is … less than the current land footprint of fossil fuel infrastructure”.
Amazing.
Oh and also, also...
“But as far as sheep grazing goes, solar is really good.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jun/13/farmers-who-graze-sheep-under-solar-panels-say-it-improves-productivity-so-why-dont-we-do-it-more

"Ohhh we're losing all of our land to solar panel ...

2024-12-17T22:37:30Z

"Ohhh we're losing all of our land to solar panel farms... "
No. We're not. This is a lie. And it's meant to deceive us into sticking with fossil files for longer.
Excellent data-driven, graphics-based story from the Australian ABC at..
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-18/survey-of-the-worlds-solar-shows-global-boom/104006096

'It’s not the time to panic,” he says. “But this should ...

2024-11-21T22:14:28Z

'It’s not the time to panic,” he says. “But this should serve as a warning: this virus has the capacity to switch very quickly into a form that can cause severe disease.”'
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03805-4?s=09

In this version its because... "In crass terms, people have ...

2024-11-10T08:32:34Z

In this version its because...
"In crass terms, people have become more selfish."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/09/trump-victory-explanation-scrutiny

Bernie Sanders has a say. ...

2024-11-07T10:56:06Z

Bernie Sanders has a say.

I love it. Australia and New Zealand are outliers in the OECD for ...

2024-10-30T02:02:32Z

I love it.
Australia and New Zealand are outliers in the OECD for not having CDCs.
And yet had testing, tracing and quarantine (however imperfect) in place very early in the pandemic, through widespread collaboration, possibly saving thousands of lives.
Quite the outlier.

Australia’s pandemic plans were ‘grossly inadequate’, an ...

2024-10-29T04:51:07Z

Australia’s pandemic plans were ‘grossly inadequate’, an inquiry has found. What lessons can be learned?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/29/covid-inquiry-albanese-government-report-findings?CMP=share_btn_url

"He added the government would seek to have a new Centre for ...

2024-10-29T04:19:35Z

"He added the government would seek to have a new Centre for Disease Control, a national public health body which was a key Labor election promise, operational by January 2026."
#ACDC
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-29/covid-response-review-released/104531920?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

New construction at a military research site near Moscow reveals ...

2024-10-25T11:55:36Z

New construction at a military research site near Moscow reveals a specialized laboratory complex designed to research and handle deadly pathogens, experts say.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/interactive/2024/russia-biological-chemical-weapons-laboratory-expansion/

Really interesting & reinvigorating watching a few of the ...

2024-10-25T01:29:06Z

Really interesting & reinvigorating watching a few of the very active citizen political social media posters during our Queensland election campaign.
They have managed to harness something I've mentioned here a few times; the understanding that the algorithm repays comments/reposts with reach. Better engagement = views. Not just likes.
Truly *social* media.
In the science space, this lesson has yet to be learned (apart from few huge accounts). Misinformers **have** learned it.

The CO2 endproduct of all fossil fuel combustion is rendering the ...

2024-10-18T21:49:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…4kxa
_________________________

The CO2 endproduct of all fossil fuel combustion is rendering the one planet we have for us & our children's lifetimes, unlivable.
And be real about billionaire's shiny dreams of being mutiplanetary-right now the threat is to life *here*, *now*. Launches are adding to the threat

"And at the heart of Professor Howarth's finding was not ...

2024-10-18T21:47:59Z

"And at the heart of Professor Howarth's finding was not carbon but, rather, methane, a far more potent greenhouse gas"
-CO2
-CH4
-C2H6
-C3H8
It's all carbon. It's all fossil fuels. You can read about the slight differences here, but understand:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-19/gas-emissions-worse-than-coal-study-finds/104481570
1/2

"First Nations people are still dying prematurely and still ...

2024-10-14T00:40:20Z

"First Nations people are still dying prematurely and still being incarcerated at record levels. The stark statistics and reality remain unchanged. In fact, they are getting worse."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-14/voice-referendum-anniversary-linda-burney-set-record-straight/104467412

"Much of the very fabric of life on Earth is imperiled. We ...

2024-10-08T21:01:47Z

"Much of the very fabric of life on Earth is imperiled. We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis."

-this is *so much* more important anything else. And yet leaders continue to whore, war and ignore.

https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biae087/7808595

"Yes, intellectuals and scholars are paid to think deep ...

2024-08-24T13:37:05Z

"Yes, intellectuals and scholars are paid to think deep thoughts—but those thoughts are often owned by others. It is a great irony that society tends to look down on those who sell their bodies, but not on those who lease out their minds."
"Tress of the Emerald Sea" by Brandon Sanderson

And here's a free suggestion for anyone doing research into ...

2024-08-14T02:34:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…u53x
_________________________

And here's a free suggestion for anyone doing research into biomarkers for longCOVID. The thing we should be including in EVERY ONE of these studies is RT-PCR of faeces for SARS-CoV-2. There is a wealth of evidence that the virus can persist in the gut and multiple hints and suggestions that #longCOVID may be related to persistence. For the love of Mike, PLEASE test for persistent viral RNA production. So happy to be proven wrong, but for now, this is such a huge elephant in the room.

Psst - it's probably this one ...

2024-08-14T02:32:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…3amg
_________________________

Psst - it's probably this one https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M24-0737

Can anyone see the link to the research paper described by this ...

2024-08-14T02:31:40Z

Can anyone see the link to the research paper described by this story *in* this ABC News Australia (I htink they only have bot presence here) story?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-13/no-single-test-to-diagnose-long-covid/104213516

Nostr event nevent1qqsvzt5wx4msj2zx4yghshhyqxj8cf768p9xzln2ne09f4n3jx9wzsqzyrjpz8y4yj7zyc7c9395xd4a9c0qaxrv9n3edzd55x689jyjh0lazcp5vpy

2024-07-31T01:52:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…0qql
_________________________

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-31/pathway-clean-indoor-air-victoria-covid-pandemic-productivity/104155560

Nostr event nevent1qqsrjkzlx9ty96hzzkz506ed2v8zexpcla2vuwp59k05zc057dudveqzyrjpz8y4yj7zyc7c9395xd4a9c0qaxrv9n3edzd55x689jyjh0laze2m2kh

2024-07-31T01:52:37Z