Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
@drsurekhadavies.bsky.social
Historian of science, art, ideas.🗃
Words: Smithsonian, LA Times, TLS, Aeon, Nature, Science, Reactor.
Buy HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY now: https://www.surekhadavies.org/humans-a-monstrous-history
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/surekhadavies?tag=bluesky
Words: Smithsonian, LA Times, TLS, Aeon, Nature, Science, Reactor.
Buy HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY now: https://www.surekhadavies.org/humans-a-monstrous-history
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/surekhadavies?tag=bluesky
Pinned
Humans: A Monstrous History is a year old today! Here’s a 🧵 of some spinoff writings and interviews.
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #HAMH
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🧪💙📚 🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #HAMH
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
February 19, 2026 at 4:44 AM
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
British response to the film about Melania Trump: If they were screening it for free at the bottom of my garden I'd shut the curtains.
January 30, 2026 at 8:30 PM
British response to the film about Melania Trump: If they were screening it for free at the bottom of my garden I'd shut the curtains.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage.
I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong.
Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole.
Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you...
(Photos AP)
I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong.
Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole.
Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you...
(Photos AP)
February 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM
15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage.
I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong.
Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole.
Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you...
(Photos AP)
I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong.
Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole.
Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you...
(Photos AP)
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
I think the people of this country have had enough of tax-exile billionaires.
February 12, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I think the people of this country have had enough of tax-exile billionaires.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Worth checking out the article just for the image of Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map.
New byline in @latimes.com on what a late medieval/Renaissance map has to do with politics today.
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: What 'America' meant before 1776, and who 'Americans' are today
The label is often wielded now to exclude brown people, but these two continents have been a melting pot since long before the U.S. was founded.
www.latimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Worth checking out the article just for the image of Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
'More than 60% of the global increase in synchronous fire weather days can be attributed to climate change from the burning of coal, oil & natural gas'.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Study finds global increase in hot, dry days ideal for wildfires
Dangerous days have nearly tripled in past 45 years – and increase largely driven by human-made warming
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 5:47 AM
'More than 60% of the global increase in synchronous fire weather days can be attributed to climate change from the burning of coal, oil & natural gas'.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
all the doubters who thought substack couldn’t find a business model must be feeling PRETTY SILLY now that they’ve partnered with THE upscale predatory gambling application 😏
Substack, as expected, escalates toward hyper-disinfo.
Remember, folks: The tech bros tearing down our country are the major forces behind this monstrosity.
Choose your future wisely.
Remember, folks: The tech bros tearing down our country are the major forces behind this monstrosity.
Choose your future wisely.
February 19, 2026 at 5:48 AM
all the doubters who thought substack couldn’t find a business model must be feeling PRETTY SILLY now that they’ve partnered with THE upscale predatory gambling application 😏
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Rather than ascribing agency to machines that are built by other humans getting rich off of doing that, we should ascribe the agency to those humans and talk about what they're doing via their companies: stealing data, killing the environment, exploiting labor, and deceiving the public.
February 19, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Rather than ascribing agency to machines that are built by other humans getting rich off of doing that, we should ascribe the agency to those humans and talk about what they're doing via their companies: stealing data, killing the environment, exploiting labor, and deceiving the public.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
I'm gonna repeat my comment.
Talking about nonexistent "super intelligent" machines is like talking about the Cookie Monster rather than corporations creating real things causing harm. A non existent machine god bringing apocalypse or utopia is a framing that is harmful. Period.
Talking about nonexistent "super intelligent" machines is like talking about the Cookie Monster rather than corporations creating real things causing harm. A non existent machine god bringing apocalypse or utopia is a framing that is harmful. Period.
February 19, 2026 at 3:19 AM
I'm gonna repeat my comment.
Talking about nonexistent "super intelligent" machines is like talking about the Cookie Monster rather than corporations creating real things causing harm. A non existent machine god bringing apocalypse or utopia is a framing that is harmful. Period.
Talking about nonexistent "super intelligent" machines is like talking about the Cookie Monster rather than corporations creating real things causing harm. A non existent machine god bringing apocalypse or utopia is a framing that is harmful. Period.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Normalize laughing derisively in men's faces when they deserve it.
February 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Normalize laughing derisively in men's faces when they deserve it.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
If you like bluegrass music, you might check out the Clements Brothers. They have a kickstarter campaign for their second album. I heard them live, close up, in 2014, during a magical summer in Cambridge, MA (they were part of the Lonely Heartstring Band then).
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS MAKE A SECOND ALBUM!
Help us get this record made! We've got this thing in the air but need your help to stick the landing. You know the deal :)
www.kickstarter.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:05 PM
If you like bluegrass music, you might check out the Clements Brothers. They have a kickstarter campaign for their second album. I heard them live, close up, in 2014, during a magical summer in Cambridge, MA (they were part of the Lonely Heartstring Band then).
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
Yeah man, it’s called anything that can be useful and make my bills go down instead of a thing that can’t do anything without my help and doubles my electricity bill
Yeah man, it’s called anything that can be useful and make my bills go down instead of a thing that can’t do anything without my help and doubles my electricity bill
February 18, 2026 at 12:59 PM
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
Yeah man, it’s called anything that can be useful and make my bills go down instead of a thing that can’t do anything without my help and doubles my electricity bill
Yeah man, it’s called anything that can be useful and make my bills go down instead of a thing that can’t do anything without my help and doubles my electricity bill
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
The fact that so many billionaire Californians are each dedicating tens of millions of dollars to fighting a proposed wealth tax — rather than using those funds to pay the tax — demonstrates just how much play money they have and evidences the extent of their delusional entitlement
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The fact that so many billionaire Californians are each dedicating tens of millions of dollars to fighting a proposed wealth tax — rather than using those funds to pay the tax — demonstrates just how much play money they have and evidences the extent of their delusional entitlement
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
'America before 1776' must surely mean the founding of Los Angeles here? 😁
New byline in @latimes.com on what a late medieval/Renaissance map has to do with politics today.
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: What 'America' meant before 1776, and who 'Americans' are today
The label is often wielded now to exclude brown people, but these two continents have been a melting pot since long before the U.S. was founded.
www.latimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:22 PM
'America before 1776' must surely mean the founding of Los Angeles here? 😁
🇬🇧 Larry the cat celebrates 15 years as Downing Street's chief mouser
The UK's most famous feline, Larry the cat, marks 15 years as the country's chief mouser patrolling the corridors of power of 10 Downing Street.
The UK's most famous feline, Larry the cat, marks 15 years as the country's chief mouser patrolling the corridors of power of 10 Downing Street.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Shout out to everyone doing science communication for the greater good while some of the biggest names in science were conspiring to spread white supremacy and misogyny. Maybe don’t invite those people to your festivals anymore though?
February 18, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Shout out to everyone doing science communication for the greater good while some of the biggest names in science were conspiring to spread white supremacy and misogyny. Maybe don’t invite those people to your festivals anymore though?
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Phenomenal list of 2025 nonfiction - Edgar Gomez, Caro de Robertis, Melissa Febos, Yiyun Li, Imani Perry, Andrea Long Chu and so many more greats! electricliterature.com/electric-lit...
Electric Lit’s Best Nonfiction of 2025 - Electric Literature
Books by Edgar Gomez, Maris Kreizman, and Zefyr Lisowski are among the year's most celebrated nonfiction
electricliterature.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Phenomenal list of 2025 nonfiction - Edgar Gomez, Caro de Robertis, Melissa Febos, Yiyun Li, Imani Perry, Andrea Long Chu and so many more greats! electricliterature.com/electric-lit...
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
The AI "caricature" trend has been very distressing to genuine caricaturists like my husband @tealcartoons.bsky.social. We've been discussing how to reconnect with people & remind them what human-made art looks like. He just started a YT channel. Please subscribe, share & delight in real caricature!
I *finally* completed the Saturday Night Live commission. Here's a very short video to prove it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhU...
#caricature #art
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhU...
#caricature #art
Live from New York...!
YouTube video by Face Ache
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 AM
The AI "caricature" trend has been very distressing to genuine caricaturists like my husband @tealcartoons.bsky.social. We've been discussing how to reconnect with people & remind them what human-made art looks like. He just started a YT channel. Please subscribe, share & delight in real caricature!
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
*endless screaming*
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
PMC COVlD Report, Week of Feb 16, 2026 (U.S.)
14 states are still experiencing High/Very High COVlD levels amid a lingering 12th wave.
Minnesota may be at an all-time high.
THREAD 1 of 4 🧵
14 states are still experiencing High/Very High COVlD levels amid a lingering 12th wave.
Minnesota may be at an all-time high.
THREAD 1 of 4 🧵
February 16, 2026 at 4:02 PM
*endless screaming*
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
I am the first winner in the A Monkey with Cymbals theatre company's writing competition. You can read my ghost story via this link: www.amonkeywithcymbals.co.uk/writing-comp...
The show haunted Shadows is well worth seeing - very atmospheric and eerie! Check the website for tour dates in April.
The show haunted Shadows is well worth seeing - very atmospheric and eerie! Check the website for tour dates in April.
February 14, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I am the first winner in the A Monkey with Cymbals theatre company's writing competition. You can read my ghost story via this link: www.amonkeywithcymbals.co.uk/writing-comp...
The show haunted Shadows is well worth seeing - very atmospheric and eerie! Check the website for tour dates in April.
The show haunted Shadows is well worth seeing - very atmospheric and eerie! Check the website for tour dates in April.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
SOS save the #bbcworldservice
‘Perhaps Britain’s greatest gift to the world”in the 20th century’: Kofi Annan.
Money runs out in 7 weeks. No plan.
Pls lobby MPs Yvette Cooper, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer John Healey
Please Email:
fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
‘Perhaps Britain’s greatest gift to the world”in the 20th century’: Kofi Annan.
Money runs out in 7 weeks. No plan.
Pls lobby MPs Yvette Cooper, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer John Healey
Please Email:
fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
February 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
SOS save the #bbcworldservice
‘Perhaps Britain’s greatest gift to the world”in the 20th century’: Kofi Annan.
Money runs out in 7 weeks. No plan.
Pls lobby MPs Yvette Cooper, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer John Healey
Please Email:
fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
‘Perhaps Britain’s greatest gift to the world”in the 20th century’: Kofi Annan.
Money runs out in 7 weeks. No plan.
Pls lobby MPs Yvette Cooper, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer John Healey
Please Email:
fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
My book about Britain ends with a memory.
Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world.
The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.
Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world.
The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:58 PM
My book about Britain ends with a memory.
Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world.
The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.
Of the first time I ever worked at Broadcasting House as a guest commentator, what that meant to me, and what the BBC means for 🇬🇧’s place in the world.
The idea that the World Service could end is awful, and frankly embarrassing for the British Government.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
The only things the rest of the world likes about the United States are the NBA and Black music. Here's why we must uphold English-Scots-Irish culture.
February 16, 2026 at 6:41 PM
The only things the rest of the world likes about the United States are the NBA and Black music. Here's why we must uphold English-Scots-Irish culture.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
New byline in @latimes.com on what a late medieval/Renaissance map has to do with politics today.
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: What 'America' meant before 1776, and who 'Americans' are today
The label is often wielded now to exclude brown people, but these two continents have been a melting pot since long before the U.S. was founded.
www.latimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:08 AM
New byline in @latimes.com on what a late medieval/Renaissance map has to do with politics today.
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
🗃 #maps #cartography #histsci #medieval #renaissance #earlymodern
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...