Brandon Keim
@brandonkeim.bsky.social
Journalist. Writes about nature & animals, usually through a lens of science. 📖 MEET THE NEIGHBORS: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World. 🦝 enthusiast.
🌎 bio.site/brandonkeim
📗 wwnorton.com/books/9781324007081
📰 brandonkeim.substack.com
🌎 bio.site/brandonkeim
📗 wwnorton.com/books/9781324007081
📰 brandonkeim.substack.com
Pinned
Brandon Keim
@brandonkeim.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Hi! An introduction 🍻
I'm a science journalist who writes mostly about nature and animals.
My latest book is Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World. It's about the science of animal intelligence, the idea of animal personhood, and our relations to nature.
🌎💚🦝
I'm a science journalist who writes mostly about nature and animals.
My latest book is Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World. It's about the science of animal intelligence, the idea of animal personhood, and our relations to nature.
🌎💚🦝
"Neither restoring the pre-Trump status quo, nor further attempts to reconcile the human rights of patients with the property claims of investors will suffice. Reforms must, instead, decommercialise insurance and care provision."
— @awgaffney.bsky.social et al. in
@thelancet.com
— @awgaffney.bsky.social et al. in
@thelancet.com
From a new @thelancet.com article today entitled "Health care in the USA: money has become the mission" www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
October 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
"Neither restoring the pre-Trump status quo, nor further attempts to reconcile the human rights of patients with the property claims of investors will suffice. Reforms must, instead, decommercialise insurance and care provision."
— @awgaffney.bsky.social et al. in
@thelancet.com
— @awgaffney.bsky.social et al. in
@thelancet.com
Reposted by Brandon Keim
"The protocol taught us that technology can be based on human values like ethics and morality. It showed that voluntary compliance works when all parties benefit."
On robots.txt.
www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
On robots.txt.
www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
Obituary: Farewell to robots.txt (1994-2025)
The voluntary compliance protocol that civilized the internet has departed, bids Henning Fries farewell.
www.heise.de
October 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
"The protocol taught us that technology can be based on human values like ethics and morality. It showed that voluntary compliance works when all parties benefit."
On robots.txt.
www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
On robots.txt.
www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Please join me at the Vine Virtual Book Club to discuss my book, 2025: The Year of Topsy, on Sunday, October 26, at Noon (LA) or 3 pm (NY) or 7 pm (London). Please register to confirm your attendance and receive a free PDF of my book. vinesanctuary.org/vine-book-cl...
October 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Please join me at the Vine Virtual Book Club to discuss my book, 2025: The Year of Topsy, on Sunday, October 26, at Noon (LA) or 3 pm (NY) or 7 pm (London). Please register to confirm your attendance and receive a free PDF of my book. vinesanctuary.org/vine-book-cl...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Worth hearing again. Or for the first time:
Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator
YouTube video by Charlie Chaplin
youtu.be
October 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Worth hearing again. Or for the first time:
Worth hearing again. Or for the first time:
Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator
YouTube video by Charlie Chaplin
youtu.be
October 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Worth hearing again. Or for the first time:
Reposted by Brandon Keim
In which I look at animal research for The New York Times and find some surprising answers.
Opinion | Can Trump End This Impossibly Cruel Practice?
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM
In which I look at animal research for The New York Times and find some surprising answers.
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Recent interview on Knowing Animals w @joshmilburn.bsky.social. We discuss my new paper on children's moral circles, coauthored w @juliamarshall.bsky.social @karrineldner.bsky.social @luciuscaviola.bsky.social
Podcast: knowinganimals.libsyn.com/episode-240-...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Podcast: knowinganimals.libsyn.com/episode-240-...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Recent interview on Knowing Animals w @joshmilburn.bsky.social. We discuss my new paper on children's moral circles, coauthored w @juliamarshall.bsky.social @karrineldner.bsky.social @luciuscaviola.bsky.social
Podcast: knowinganimals.libsyn.com/episode-240-...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Podcast: knowinganimals.libsyn.com/episode-240-...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
"I stopped eating meat some 50 years ago," wrote Jane Goodall, "when I looked at the pork chop on my plate and thought: this represents fear, pain, death."
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
October 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"I stopped eating meat some 50 years ago," wrote Jane Goodall, "when I looked at the pork chop on my plate and thought: this represents fear, pain, death."
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
"By focusing on abstract, far-future scenarios, [proponents of AI accelerationism] ignore tangible harms caused by technology in the present, including algorithmic bias, worker exploitation, and systemic discrimination." www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The paradox of AI accelerationism and the promise of public interest AI
Over the past 3 years, the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) development should be accelerated without restraint to drive radical societal change—a phenomenon known as AI accelerationism—has gain...
www.science.org
October 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM
"By focusing on abstract, far-future scenarios, [proponents of AI accelerationism] ignore tangible harms caused by technology in the present, including algorithmic bias, worker exploitation, and systemic discrimination." www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"I stopped eating meat some 50 years ago," wrote Jane Goodall, "when I looked at the pork chop on my plate and thought: this represents fear, pain, death."
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
October 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"I stopped eating meat some 50 years ago," wrote Jane Goodall, "when I looked at the pork chop on my plate and thought: this represents fear, pain, death."
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Best as I can tell, not one obituary or article on her passing mentions this fact. It's worth knowing. news.janegoodall.org/2017/04/28/w...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
"AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations"
September 29, 2025 at 8:03 PM
"AI is the asbestos we are shoveling into the walls of our society and our descendants will be digging it out for generations"
Reposted by Brandon Keim
#AI is transforming the lives of animals at speed, but these huge impacts are going unchecked.
Isabella Logothetis, Spencer Jury @birchlse.bsky.social @lsephilosophy.bsky.social argue more must be done to make sure AI works for, not against the interests of other species @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social.
Isabella Logothetis, Spencer Jury @birchlse.bsky.social @lsephilosophy.bsky.social argue more must be done to make sure AI works for, not against the interests of other species @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social.
Should you let AI train your dog? The lawless world of AI and animals
Artificial intelligence could transform our relationships with animals, but more must be done to make sure AI works for the interests of other species.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
#AI is transforming the lives of animals at speed, but these huge impacts are going unchecked.
Isabella Logothetis, Spencer Jury @birchlse.bsky.social @lsephilosophy.bsky.social argue more must be done to make sure AI works for, not against the interests of other species @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social.
Isabella Logothetis, Spencer Jury @birchlse.bsky.social @lsephilosophy.bsky.social argue more must be done to make sure AI works for, not against the interests of other species @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social.
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Here we propose adding an 11th criterion to UNESCO’s framework to protect animal cultures—habitat protection alone isn’t enough. Excited to collaborate with philosophers @merikatariina.bsky.social & @birchlse.bsky.social on this!
Message me for access ;-)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Message me for access ;-)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Protecting animal cultures as World Heritage - Nature Sustainability
It is becoming increasingly clear that animal cultures have intrinsic, irreplaceable value, and yet they are not adequately protected by preserving habitat. The time has come for UNESCO to explicitly protect non-human cultural heritage alongside human heritage.
www.nature.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Here we propose adding an 11th criterion to UNESCO’s framework to protect animal cultures—habitat protection alone isn’t enough. Excited to collaborate with philosophers @merikatariina.bsky.social & @birchlse.bsky.social on this!
Message me for access ;-)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Message me for access ;-)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A fun study on territorial, often-solitary wall lizards becoming more gregarious and easygoing in the cities where they thrive. Social tolerance begets success 🦎✌🏽
By @averymaune.bsky.social et al. in @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
By @averymaune.bsky.social et al. in @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
September 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A fun study on territorial, often-solitary wall lizards becoming more gregarious and easygoing in the cities where they thrive. Social tolerance begets success 🦎✌🏽
By @averymaune.bsky.social et al. in @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
By @averymaune.bsky.social et al. in @royalsocietypublishing.org: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Brandon Keim
People who know reptiles well say they don't only experience fleeting pains and pleasures, but also lasting emotional states: happiness & sadness, or at least good & bad moods.
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
Do Reptiles Have Moods, Too?
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:45 PM
People who know reptiles well say they don't only experience fleeting pains and pleasures, but also lasting emotional states: happiness & sadness, or at least good & bad moods.
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
People who know reptiles well say they don't only experience fleeting pains and pleasures, but also lasting emotional states: happiness & sadness, or at least good & bad moods.
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
Do Reptiles Have Moods, Too?
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:45 PM
People who know reptiles well say they don't only experience fleeting pains and pleasures, but also lasting emotional states: happiness & sadness, or at least good & bad moods.
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
But how do you show this in a scientific way?
My latest for @nytimes.com on a clever @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social study:
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Inspiring text about how seeing others with wonder invites us to understand them more deeply and treat them with greater care.
Hey, look! A piece on the connection between wonder, moral motivation, & justice for animals, published at @justiceeverywhere.bsky.social and based on my paper in @the-joap.bsky.social - justice-everywhere.org/general/usin...
Using wonder to achieve animal rights
In this post, Steve Cooke, (University of Leicester) discusses his article recently published in the Journal of Applied Philosophy on the experience of wonder as a route towards justice for nonhuma…
justice-everywhere.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Inspiring text about how seeing others with wonder invites us to understand them more deeply and treat them with greater care.
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Our paper on 🌱🦧ANIMAL MEDICINE🐜🍄 has been accepted for publication in Philosophy of Science!
You can find the accepted version here, open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
You can find the accepted version here, open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
August 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Our paper on 🌱🦧ANIMAL MEDICINE🐜🍄 has been accepted for publication in Philosophy of Science!
You can find the accepted version here, open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
You can find the accepted version here, open access: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I wish publications would have dedicated Nature sections rather than lumping the entire living world under Science or maybe Environment. IMHO this would be fabulously successful.
September 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I wish publications would have dedicated Nature sections rather than lumping the entire living world under Science or maybe Environment. IMHO this would be fabulously successful.
"There was something unusual about the beams: Sparkling white points of light spiraled slowly inside them, hundreds if not thousands, almost like confetti, but confetti wouldn’t have been visible from that distance. It also wouldn’t have risen. A few people said the lights made them think of souls."
The Birds of September 11
On 9/11, the Great Recession, and the Tribute in Light's avian rescue.
brandonkeim.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"There was something unusual about the beams: Sparkling white points of light spiraled slowly inside them, hundreds if not thousands, almost like confetti, but confetti wouldn’t have been visible from that distance. It also wouldn’t have risen. A few people said the lights made them think of souls."
Reposted by Brandon Keim
Thought experiment: If this happened now instead of the 1970s, would the turtles still be welcomed? Or would some people label them non-native and warn about their potential invasiveness?
After decades of research, scientists have concluded that California represents an expansion of the species' range--and that intrepid turtles began pushing north to these uncharted waters during a time when sea turtles were being slaughtered elsewhere.
Read more: www.biographic.com/go-north-you...
Read more: www.biographic.com/go-north-you...
Go North, Young Turtle
As eastern Pacific green sea turtles were being slaughtered in much of their range, an intrepid group of turtles pushed north into uncharted waters.
www.biographic.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Thought experiment: If this happened now instead of the 1970s, would the turtles still be welcomed? Or would some people label them non-native and warn about their potential invasiveness?
Thought experiment: If this happened now instead of the 1970s, would the turtles still be welcomed? Or would some people label them non-native and warn about their potential invasiveness?
After decades of research, scientists have concluded that California represents an expansion of the species' range--and that intrepid turtles began pushing north to these uncharted waters during a time when sea turtles were being slaughtered elsewhere.
Read more: www.biographic.com/go-north-you...
Read more: www.biographic.com/go-north-you...
Go North, Young Turtle
As eastern Pacific green sea turtles were being slaughtered in much of their range, an intrepid group of turtles pushed north into uncharted waters.
www.biographic.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Thought experiment: If this happened now instead of the 1970s, would the turtles still be welcomed? Or would some people label them non-native and warn about their potential invasiveness?