Zach Cofran
@dizachster.bsky.social
Associate professor of Anthropology, HEAD (Human Evolution and Development) Lab @ Vassar College. Bones & brains. lawnchairanthropology.com
Walrus popping out of the water to say good evening
November 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Walrus popping out of the water to say good evening
Reposted by Zach Cofran
For #FossilFriday & in honor of @alinemghilardi.bsky.social & colleagues' fantastic discovery of a new Cretaceous pterosaur in Brazil in a dinosaur regurgitalite ("fossil vomit"), here's a diagram I made for my book 'Dinosaurs Without Bones' (2014) showing the physics of a puking brachiosaur. 🧪🦕🤮🪨
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
For #FossilFriday & in honor of @alinemghilardi.bsky.social & colleagues' fantastic discovery of a new Cretaceous pterosaur in Brazil in a dinosaur regurgitalite ("fossil vomit"), here's a diagram I made for my book 'Dinosaurs Without Bones' (2014) showing the physics of a puking brachiosaur. 🧪🦕🤮🪨
Reposted by Zach Cofran
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The emergence and diversification of dog morphology
Dogs exhibit an exceptional range of morphological diversity as a result of their long-term association with humans. Attempts to identify when dog morphological variation began to expand have been con...
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Fireable offenses for Harvard president: bad faith allegations over half a footnote in something published two decades ago.
Non-fireable offenses for Harvard president: being good buddies with the most notorious child sex trafficker in the country.
Non-fireable offenses for Harvard president: being good buddies with the most notorious child sex trafficker in the country.
Why hello there former US Treasury Secretary, president of Harvard, and director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers.
Sharing with alt so we can all bask in his hidden insights that we are NOT allowed to share.
And here's the source link:
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Sharing with alt so we can all bask in his hidden insights that we are NOT allowed to share.
And here's the source link:
oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Fireable offenses for Harvard president: bad faith allegations over half a footnote in something published two decades ago.
Non-fireable offenses for Harvard president: being good buddies with the most notorious child sex trafficker in the country.
Non-fireable offenses for Harvard president: being good buddies with the most notorious child sex trafficker in the country.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thanks to @archaeojake.bsky.social and the Penn State Anthropology department for letting me explore some ideas about the evolution and development of our quirky cousin Homo naledi
November 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Thanks to @archaeojake.bsky.social and the Penn State Anthropology department for letting me explore some ideas about the evolution and development of our quirky cousin Homo naledi
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Seems bad…
Our 2017 @nationalacademies.org report on “Human Genome Editing: Science, Ethics, and Governance" (www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/hum...) was designed to prevent exactly this kind of rogue science. One of the many reasons why we need industry-independent regulatory frameworks for emerging tech …
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Seems bad…
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Pinball model of development and reprogramming. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Pinball model of development and reprogramming. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Oops…“Principal components (PC) axes
identified by a PCA are not necessarily the most informative biologically. Nevertheless, paleoanthropologists frequently interpret proximity in PC space as indicative of morphological and thus evolutionary affinity or relatedness”
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
identified by a PCA are not necessarily the most informative biologically. Nevertheless, paleoanthropologists frequently interpret proximity in PC space as indicative of morphological and thus evolutionary affinity or relatedness”
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Principal Components Analysis fails to recover phylogenetic structure in hominins
Objectives Paleoanthropologists often utilize geometric morphometrics and principal components analysis (PCA) to interpret shape variation within the hominin fossil record. It is common practice to in...
www.biorxiv.org
November 8, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Oops…“Principal components (PC) axes
identified by a PCA are not necessarily the most informative biologically. Nevertheless, paleoanthropologists frequently interpret proximity in PC space as indicative of morphological and thus evolutionary affinity or relatedness”
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
identified by a PCA are not necessarily the most informative biologically. Nevertheless, paleoanthropologists frequently interpret proximity in PC space as indicative of morphological and thus evolutionary affinity or relatedness”
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Side by side headlines sum it up.
November 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Side by side headlines sum it up.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Chris Rufo/Ron DeSantis overhauled New College and made it "the most financially inefficient school in the university system"
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
New College of Florida shows soaring expenses as state targets 'woke waste'
A report by Florida DOGE found that Sarasota's New College is the most financially inefficient school in the university system.
www.heraldtribune.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Chris Rufo/Ron DeSantis overhauled New College and made it "the most financially inefficient school in the university system"
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
The absolute collapse of their stupid AI ruse — hopefully followed by a massive wave of tech regulation and imprisoning the politicians who enabled this — cannot come soon enough.
November 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The absolute collapse of their stupid AI ruse — hopefully followed by a massive wave of tech regulation and imprisoning the politicians who enabled this — cannot come soon enough.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
No it’s important to listen to this. Because then you understand that many of them will do ANYTHING to keep power. Remember Musk got involved in the 2024 election after saying to Tucker “if she wins” I am definitely going to prison.
So we need to move knowing that nothing is off the table for them.
So we need to move knowing that nothing is off the table for them.
Steve Bannon: If we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison, myself included.
November 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
No it’s important to listen to this. Because then you understand that many of them will do ANYTHING to keep power. Remember Musk got involved in the 2024 election after saying to Tucker “if she wins” I am definitely going to prison.
So we need to move knowing that nothing is off the table for them.
So we need to move knowing that nothing is off the table for them.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Zach Cofran
2.7 Mya Oldowan tools found in Koobi Fora! 🤩 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Early Oldowan technology thrived during Pliocene environmental change in the Turkana Basin, Kenya - Nature Communications
Here, the authors present archaeology of the Namorotukunan site in Kenya’s Turkana Basin that demonstrates adaptive shifts in hominin tool-making behaviour spanning 300,000 years and increasing enviro...
www.nature.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:51 PM
2.7 Mya Oldowan tools found in Koobi Fora! 🤩 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
🌿 Who are the #primates of #Gorongosa National Park? A group of researchers that includes #ICArEHB researchers S. Carvalho, J. d’Oliveira Coelho & R. Bobe explore this in their latest study.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/ajpa...
#Primatology #AfricanWildlife #AmericanJournalofBiologicalAnthropology
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/ajpa...
#Primatology #AfricanWildlife #AmericanJournalofBiologicalAnthropology
The Primates of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
This contribution is an introduction to and synthesis of the special issue of the AJBA on Primate Adaptations in a Highly Seasonal and Heterogeneous African Ecosystem. The eight research papers in th...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🌿 Who are the #primates of #Gorongosa National Park? A group of researchers that includes #ICArEHB researchers S. Carvalho, J. d’Oliveira Coelho & R. Bobe explore this in their latest study.
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/ajpa...
#Primatology #AfricanWildlife #AmericanJournalofBiologicalAnthropology
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/ajpa...
#Primatology #AfricanWildlife #AmericanJournalofBiologicalAnthropology
In ANTH 120 today we made footprints using different walking gaits, testing whether the 3.6 million year old footprints at Laetoli, Tanzania were made by hominins that walked like us today
(attempting to replicate this study: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...)
(attempting to replicate this study: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...)
November 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
In ANTH 120 today we made footprints using different walking gaits, testing whether the 3.6 million year old footprints at Laetoli, Tanzania were made by hominins that walked like us today
(attempting to replicate this study: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...)
(attempting to replicate this study: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...)
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Full Professorship(s) in Archaeology - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at School of Culture and Society - Department of Heritage Studies, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Reposted by Zach Cofran
⚠️Just a quick reminder, there are a few days left to apply for these two positions in #palaeoproteomics.
I'm hiring!⭐ As part of the DFF Sapere Aude-funded project MiddleEarth, I am looking for 1 postdoctoral researcher and 1 research assistant.
November 4, 2025 at 7:13 AM
⚠️Just a quick reminder, there are a few days left to apply for these two positions in #palaeoproteomics.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
I think these centrists should stop wasting everyone’s time, join the GOP, and try to make a decent center-right party out of that.
The lessons the centrists are going to take away from NYC is that against a socialist Dem, between an independent Dem sore loser and an eccentric Republican, they need to line up behind the Republican
November 5, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I think these centrists should stop wasting everyone’s time, join the GOP, and try to make a decent center-right party out of that.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Savor this moment, friends.
They couldn’t buy their way to a win. They couldn’t racist their way to a win. There are more of us than them, and we fucking beat them. And we can keep beating them.
They couldn’t buy their way to a win. They couldn’t racist their way to a win. There are more of us than them, and we fucking beat them. And we can keep beating them.
November 5, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Savor this moment, friends.
They couldn’t buy their way to a win. They couldn’t racist their way to a win. There are more of us than them, and we fucking beat them. And we can keep beating them.
They couldn’t buy their way to a win. They couldn’t racist their way to a win. There are more of us than them, and we fucking beat them. And we can keep beating them.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Two #Postdoc opportunities in the Pontzer Lab at Duke
-Human Ecology, Energetics, and Climate
-Population Ecology Aging, and Health Network (PECAHN
Check it out and spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30783
-Human Ecology, Energetics, and Climate
-Population Ecology Aging, and Health Network (PECAHN
Check it out and spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30783
Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology
Job #AJO30783, Postdoctoral Associate, Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, US
academicjobsonline.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Two #Postdoc opportunities in the Pontzer Lab at Duke
-Human Ecology, Energetics, and Climate
-Population Ecology Aging, and Health Network (PECAHN
Check it out and spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30783
-Human Ecology, Energetics, and Climate
-Population Ecology Aging, and Health Network (PECAHN
Check it out and spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30783
Reposted by Zach Cofran
I have shed tears repeatedly over this
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I have shed tears repeatedly over this
Reposted by Zach Cofran
Helping some of the most senior people see the next phase of their work and lives is such an urgent need across society. The challenge in academic life is much the same as in government. Moving to a new project and a new role is even more vital.
“Well, so why don’t you retire?” someone asked. “The member literally looked at us and goes, ‘Well, what would I do?’” nymag.com/intelligence...
November 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Helping some of the most senior people see the next phase of their work and lives is such an urgent need across society. The challenge in academic life is much the same as in government. Moving to a new project and a new role is even more vital.
Reposted by Zach Cofran
This is the same as using lawfare to prosecute the presidents political enemies, the same as Speaker Johnson refusing to swear in an elected Democrat, the same as Trump still claiming he won the 2020 election.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
MAGA's attempt to use the "insurrection clause" against Mamdani is absurd, but it's also a very deliberate statement of right-wing impunity, given that Trump actually did spark an insurrection but the Supreme Court ruled that he was not constitutionally ineligible to hold public office.
Exclusive | House Republicans exploring ways to prevent Mamdani from being sworn in as NYC mayor if he wins on Election Day
House Republicans are exploring ways to prevent Zohran Mamdani from ever being sworn in as mayor even if he prevails in Tuesday’s election by using the Constitution’s “insurrectio…
nypost.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
This is the same as using lawfare to prosecute the presidents political enemies, the same as Speaker Johnson refusing to swear in an elected Democrat, the same as Trump still claiming he won the 2020 election.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.