A leading website that monitored predatory open access journals has closed. This will make it harder to keep tabs on this corrosive force within science.
- Associate Professor in Astronomy, Monash University
Our changing view of the night sky tells us about our place on a spinning world, and about our voyage around the Sun.
There are a few red flags to look out for when reading about new scientific discoveries that can help you spot dodgy or unreliable work.
Donald Trump’s embrace of pseudoscience and its tactics is a disturbing development not just for science, but for the wider community.
Allegations of abuse within CSIRO’s astronomy division reveal how it can damage lives and careers. Much of this was hidden from view, including from friends and colleagues.
Galaxies are supposed to be the place where new stars are formed. So what causes some to stop this stellar production line?
It’s easy to attribute the wrong cause to a mysterious phenomenon. But science has some tools to help you avoid these attribution errors.
We take our understanding of the solar system for granted, but it took centuries to figure out. The original writings of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo and others show how they sparked a revolution.
Comment dégoûter le public de la science, et, encore plus fort, s’arranger pour se perdre soi-même dans sa démonstration laborieuse et jargoneuse ? Suivez les conseils de Michael J. I. Brown.
Some people love to pick holes in science fiction movies, such as Star Wars, especially when they stray from science fact. But does it really matter?
Science can be fascinating and exciting. But much science writing is dull and obscure. Here are some of the tricks scientists often use to suck the joy out of science.
Have you ever wondered what real scientists think of science fiction? Here’s a selection of top pics from those in the know.
Stargazing in your back yard or on a camping trip can amaze and inspire. If you’re thinking of buying a telescope, here are a few key things you should look out for.
General relativity challenges our intuitive conception of how space and time work, which might explain why it’s such a popular target for crank theorists.
If we want the Australian university sector to help fuel innovation, then we need to ensure the right researchers are being supported by our funding bodies, such as the Australian Research Council (ARC…
Why do predatory and vanity academic publishers and conferences exist? Why are they flourishing now? And what can they tell us about the failings of academia?
The recent claim that we might enter a mini ice age in 15 years is not only bad science, but it represents a failure of communication by both scientists and journalists.
Jim Carrey’s anti-vaccination tweets employ a number of techniques used by anti-science cranks. By understanding them, we can shield ourselves from well-intentioned but ill-informed voices.
After a failed mission to restock the International Space Station, the Russian Progress M-27M spacecraft is set to burn up as it spins back to Earth.
The big question now is whether the Russian cargo vessel will fall back to Earth or will it simply burn up on re-entry?
Astronomers from around the world identify their favourite images sent back to Earth by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Twenty-five years on and the Hubble Space Telescope is still taking some amazing images. But there have been a few glitches over the years, right from day one.
The pathway to academic success is not always about the number of papers you’ve published. Some have found that a sense of humour can be just as useful.
Scientists should study pseudoscience – see what the pseudoscientists are up to and perhaps (for a laugh) try a few pseudostudies themselves. Critically, scientists must learn what really distinguishes…
Astronomers world-wide are gearing up for what NASA calls a “once in a lifetime” event: the Comet Siding Spring will swing past Mars on its maiden voyage through the solar system in the early hours next…
Contact Michael for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Website
- X (formerly Twitter): @MJIBrown
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined
