Ed Hagen
@edhagen.net
Professor of Anthropology at Washington State University. Faculty page: https://anthro.vancouver.wsu.edu/people/hagen/
Views expressed are my own and do not reflect those of my employer or other organizations I'm affiliated with.
Views expressed are my own and do not reflect those of my employer or other organizations I'm affiliated with.
"Racial hereditarian research remains unjustified and harmful: A reply to Woodley et al. (2025a, b)" 🧪
Today is the day! Our reply to the two concurrent critiques (from the same set of authors) is now published in the journal Intelligence 🧵 1/
November 12, 2025 at 6:32 PM
"Racial hereditarian research remains unjustified and harmful: A reply to Woodley et al. (2025a, b)" 🧪
I think this might be the first observed instance of lethal coalition aggression in bonobos, albeit within-group rather than between-group 🧪 #BioAnth
1/2 Lethal violence in bonobos
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I think this might be the first observed instance of lethal coalition aggression in bonobos, albeit within-group rather than between-group 🧪 #BioAnth
In the long-running Nativism-Empiricism debate, have the impressive successes of AI based on blank slate-ish connectionist architectures dealt a knock-out blow for Empiricism? Is it game over for Nativism? @oldjerryfodor.bsky.social gently pushes back 🧪 philpapers.org/archive/KARA...
November 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
In the long-running Nativism-Empiricism debate, have the impressive successes of AI based on blank slate-ish connectionist architectures dealt a knock-out blow for Empiricism? Is it game over for Nativism? @oldjerryfodor.bsky.social gently pushes back 🧪 philpapers.org/archive/KARA...
Everything you wanted to know about adult sex ratios (ASR) but were afraid to ask 🧪 #bioanth: www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Adult sex ratios: causes of variation and implications for animal and human societies - Communications Biology
A detailed Review across animal and human societies provides insight on the causes and consequences of adult sex ratio skew.
www.nature.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Everything you wanted to know about adult sex ratios (ASR) but were afraid to ask 🧪 #bioanth: www.nature.com/articles/s42...
If Schrödinger's classic 'What Is Life?' is important to you, grab this book (free for 1 more day?). It's short, and although it throws shade on the genetic program concept ('m still a fan), it provides lots of interesting context and a fair assessment of the impact of What is Life? 🧪
My little book on Schrödinger's famous classic 'What Is Life?' is out! Offering the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the book's origins, reception, impact, and legacy, it uncovers Schrödinger's motivations in writing it, and shows how it has shaped our current understanding of the cell
<i>What Is Life?</i> Revisited
Cambridge Core - Philosophy: General Interest - <i>What Is Life?</i> Revisited
www.cambridge.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
If Schrödinger's classic 'What Is Life?' is important to you, grab this book (free for 1 more day?). It's short, and although it throws shade on the genetic program concept ('m still a fan), it provides lots of interesting context and a fair assessment of the impact of What is Life? 🧪
Me, decoding CMC-encoded dates in a 1996 DHS survey #rstats 🧪
WTF, no household child was born in 1916 and no mother was born in 2063
Footnote on p. 195 of an old DHS report:
"The beginning of the year 2053 in the Nepali calendar roughly corresponds to 15th April 1996 in the Western calendar..."
WTF, no household child was born in 1916 and no mother was born in 2063
Footnote on p. 195 of an old DHS report:
"The beginning of the year 2053 in the Nepali calendar roughly corresponds to 15th April 1996 in the Western calendar..."
October 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Me, decoding CMC-encoded dates in a 1996 DHS survey #rstats 🧪
WTF, no household child was born in 1916 and no mother was born in 2063
Footnote on p. 195 of an old DHS report:
"The beginning of the year 2053 in the Nepali calendar roughly corresponds to 15th April 1996 in the Western calendar..."
WTF, no household child was born in 1916 and no mother was born in 2063
Footnote on p. 195 of an old DHS report:
"The beginning of the year 2053 in the Nepali calendar roughly corresponds to 15th April 1996 in the Western calendar..."
I'm starting to explore {simDAG}, a nifty #rstats package that has a nice API for specifying DAGs and then simulating data from them: robindenz1.github.io/simDAG/
Simulate Data from a DAG and Associated Node Information
Simulate complex data from a given directed acyclic graph and information about each individual node. Root nodes are simply sampled from the specified distribution. Child Nodes are simulated according...
robindenz1.github.io
October 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I'm starting to explore {simDAG}, a nifty #rstats package that has a nice API for specifying DAGs and then simulating data from them: robindenz1.github.io/simDAG/
DIY soda maker. You need to buy 3 things:
1. A 5 lb CO2 tank. Mine cost $100 from a local beer-brewing supply store, which will swap empties for filled units for $20.
5 lb -> 100-150 liters -> $0.13-$0.20/liter vs. $1/liter for store-bought vs. $0.50/liter for sodastream.
1. A 5 lb CO2 tank. Mine cost $100 from a local beer-brewing supply store, which will swap empties for filled units for $20.
5 lb -> 100-150 liters -> $0.13-$0.20/liter vs. $1/liter for store-bought vs. $0.50/liter for sodastream.
October 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
DIY soda maker. You need to buy 3 things:
1. A 5 lb CO2 tank. Mine cost $100 from a local beer-brewing supply store, which will swap empties for filled units for $20.
5 lb -> 100-150 liters -> $0.13-$0.20/liter vs. $1/liter for store-bought vs. $0.50/liter for sodastream.
1. A 5 lb CO2 tank. Mine cost $100 from a local beer-brewing supply store, which will swap empties for filled units for $20.
5 lb -> 100-150 liters -> $0.13-$0.20/liter vs. $1/liter for store-bought vs. $0.50/liter for sodastream.
Great thread on the discovery that a rare mutation in FOXP2 disrupts language, with an appearance by Steve Pinker. Subsequent research showed that FOXP2, a transcription factor, is highly conserved, yet acquired 2 amino acid substitutions in the human lineage. 🧪 #BioAnth
Twenty-four years ago today, our paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” was published: www.nature.com/articles/350....
A personal thread about the ups & downs of the journey we took to get to that point....1/n
🗣️🧬🧪
A personal thread about the ups & downs of the journey we took to get to that point....1/n
🗣️🧬🧪
October 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Great thread on the discovery that a rare mutation in FOXP2 disrupts language, with an appearance by Steve Pinker. Subsequent research showed that FOXP2, a transcription factor, is highly conserved, yet acquired 2 amino acid substitutions in the human lineage. 🧪 #BioAnth
"Now I talk to the popular kids and they treat me like a normal person because their frontal lobes are finally catching up to my frontal lobes...."
- teen daughter
- teen daughter
September 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
"Now I talk to the popular kids and they treat me like a normal person because their frontal lobes are finally catching up to my frontal lobes...."
- teen daughter
- teen daughter
TIL that the "Krebs" of Krebs and Davies was the son of "Krebs" of the Krebs cycle:
John Krebs on growing up with a famous father (and not naming his daughters Hans).
September 23, 2025 at 1:53 AM
TIL that the "Krebs" of Krebs and Davies was the son of "Krebs" of the Krebs cycle:
Reposted by Ed Hagen
#HBES2026 abstract submissions are live! More exciting details to come soon.
Arrive early for @ces2026.bsky.social
@humbehevosoc.bsky.social
Arrive early for @ces2026.bsky.social
@humbehevosoc.bsky.social
We’re delighted to share that the 37th annual Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference (HBES2026) website is now live!
#HBES2026
#HBES2026
September 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
#HBES2026 abstract submissions are live! More exciting details to come soon.
Arrive early for @ces2026.bsky.social
@humbehevosoc.bsky.social
Arrive early for @ces2026.bsky.social
@humbehevosoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Hagen
It's happening! And HBES will directly follow and overlap with CES, including a joint plenary to unite these two stellar scientific communities...don't we all love economies of scale.
Do you happen to know anything about that cool logo?
Do you happen to know anything about that cool logo?
The count down starts for #CESRabat! Follow @ces2026.bsky.social and join us May 11-13 next year for an exciting meeting in Rabat, Morocco.
Massive thanks to the #CESRabat organising committee:
Sarah Alami (co-chair)
Mathieu Charbonneau (co-chair)
Zachary Garfield
Edmond Seabright
Massive thanks to the #CESRabat organising committee:
Sarah Alami (co-chair)
Mathieu Charbonneau (co-chair)
Zachary Garfield
Edmond Seabright
September 14, 2025 at 10:04 AM
It's happening! And HBES will directly follow and overlap with CES, including a joint plenary to unite these two stellar scientific communities...don't we all love economies of scale.
Do you happen to know anything about that cool logo?
Do you happen to know anything about that cool logo?
Reposted by Ed Hagen
📝 Writing Wednesday! Ph.D. Candidate Michael Gaffney first-authored an article on on how children communicate their needs through crying. This research was recently published in Human Nature, and his photo taken in Utila, Honduras made the cover image! Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
September 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
📝 Writing Wednesday! Ph.D. Candidate Michael Gaffney first-authored an article on on how children communicate their needs through crying. This research was recently published in Human Nature, and his photo taken in Utila, Honduras made the cover image! Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A fun 15 minute talk by evolutionary anthropologist David Samson putting human sleep in context with that of other great apes, primates, and other species 🧪 #BioAnth www.youtube.com/watch?v=joHF...
The Mystery of Primate Sleep
YouTube video by David R. Samson
www.youtube.com
August 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A fun 15 minute talk by evolutionary anthropologist David Samson putting human sleep in context with that of other great apes, primates, and other species 🧪 #BioAnth www.youtube.com/watch?v=joHF...
Reposted by Ed Hagen
Some thoughts on how preferences for #leaders change with our environments:
Leaders for the World We Think We Live In | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ecol...
#LeadSciSky #EvPsych #CultEvol #socialpsyc #BehSci 🧪 @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @psychologytoday.com
Leaders for the World We Think We Live In | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ecol...
#LeadSciSky #EvPsych #CultEvol #socialpsyc #BehSci 🧪 @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @psychologytoday.com
Leaders for the World We Think We Live In
Why do we trust steady hands in some contexts and risk-takers in others? Evolutionary theory reveals how environments shape our shifting choices of leaders.
www.psychologytoday.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Some thoughts on how preferences for #leaders change with our environments:
Leaders for the World We Think We Live In | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ecol...
#LeadSciSky #EvPsych #CultEvol #socialpsyc #BehSci 🧪 @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @psychologytoday.com
Leaders for the World We Think We Live In | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ecol...
#LeadSciSky #EvPsych #CultEvol #socialpsyc #BehSci 🧪 @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @psychologytoday.com
My review of Sex is a Spectrum, by Agustín Fuentes 🧪 #BioAnth blog.edhagen.net/posts/2025-0...
Review of Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary by Agustín Fuentes – Grasshoppermouse
Blog posts and talk slides
blog.edhagen.net
August 23, 2025 at 1:25 AM
My review of Sex is a Spectrum, by Agustín Fuentes 🧪 #BioAnth blog.edhagen.net/posts/2025-0...
Reposted by Ed Hagen
This week, Drugs, Delusions, and Depression with @edhagen.net A wild ride!
youtu.be/fWawIyNAjTc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7srpz...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
youtu.be/fWawIyNAjTc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7srpz...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Drugs, Delusions, and Depression with Ed Hagen
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
August 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This week, Drugs, Delusions, and Depression with @edhagen.net A wild ride!
youtu.be/fWawIyNAjTc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7srpz...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
youtu.be/fWawIyNAjTc
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7srpz...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
TIL that sequences from XX males and XY females were instrumental in tracking down SRY, the sex-determining region on the Y-chromosome. From the key paper, Sinclair et al. (1990) 🧪 nature.com/articles/346...
August 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
TIL that sequences from XX males and XY females were instrumental in tracking down SRY, the sex-determining region on the Y-chromosome. From the key paper, Sinclair et al. (1990) 🧪 nature.com/articles/346...
August 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I hoped a fully-featured #rstats ggplot-based heatmap package would show up one day. {ggalign} might be it. It's basically {patchwork} on steroids 🧪 yunuuuu.github.io/ggalign/
August 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I hoped a fully-featured #rstats ggplot-based heatmap package would show up one day. {ggalign} might be it. It's basically {patchwork} on steroids 🧪 yunuuuu.github.io/ggalign/
I love how easy it is to setup parallel processing on your local machine when using the #rstats {targets} package: books.ropensci.org/targets/crew...
August 5, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I love how easy it is to setup parallel processing on your local machine when using the #rstats {targets} package: books.ropensci.org/targets/crew...
My plot of @thefireorg.bsky.social data. Early on, campus deplatforming was more from the right, then more from the left, & now equalizing at a high level.
Attacks on scholars were rare until 10 years ago, then increased by both sides, w/ a recent steep drop of attacks from the left 🧪 #AcademicSky
Attacks on scholars were rare until 10 years ago, then increased by both sides, w/ a recent steep drop of attacks from the left 🧪 #AcademicSky
July 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
My plot of @thefireorg.bsky.social data. Early on, campus deplatforming was more from the right, then more from the left, & now equalizing at a high level.
Attacks on scholars were rare until 10 years ago, then increased by both sides, w/ a recent steep drop of attacks from the left 🧪 #AcademicSky
Attacks on scholars were rare until 10 years ago, then increased by both sides, w/ a recent steep drop of attacks from the left 🧪 #AcademicSky
TIL two interesting things about horizontal gene transfer (HGT), typically conceptualized as bacterial sex 🧪:
1. It's often driven by mobile (selfish) genetic elements, and therefore might be more akin to infection than sex: cell.com/trends/genet...
1. It's often driven by mobile (selfish) genetic elements, and therefore might be more akin to infection than sex: cell.com/trends/genet...
Why do mobile genetic elements transfer DNA of their hosts?
The prokaryote world is replete with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) – self-replicating
entities that can move within and between their hosts. Many MGEs not only transfer
their own DNA to new hosts but...
cell.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
TIL two interesting things about horizontal gene transfer (HGT), typically conceptualized as bacterial sex 🧪:
1. It's often driven by mobile (selfish) genetic elements, and therefore might be more akin to infection than sex: cell.com/trends/genet...
1. It's often driven by mobile (selfish) genetic elements, and therefore might be more akin to infection than sex: cell.com/trends/genet...
If you're kicking the tires on the just-released version of the #rstats package {purrr}, which features built-in parallel processing... www.tidyverse.org/blog/2025/07...
...be sure to read this github issue, which explains how to pass in your helper functions: github.com/tidyverse/pu...
...be sure to read this github issue, which explains how to pass in your helper functions: github.com/tidyverse/pu...
Parallel processing in purrr 1.1.0
The functional programming toolkit for R gains new capabilities for parallel processing and distributed computing using mirai.
www.tidyverse.org
July 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
If you're kicking the tires on the just-released version of the #rstats package {purrr}, which features built-in parallel processing... www.tidyverse.org/blog/2025/07...
...be sure to read this github issue, which explains how to pass in your helper functions: github.com/tidyverse/pu...
...be sure to read this github issue, which explains how to pass in your helper functions: github.com/tidyverse/pu...