Extinct blog
@extinctblog.bsky.social
Extinct, the philosophy of paleontology blog, publishes regular essays on the history and philosophy of the historical sciences (especially paleontology). http://www.extinctblog.org/ Max Dresow, managing editor: www.maxdresow.com
why is James Watson's Times Obit 20,000 words longgggg
to unnecessarily intellectualize this, it shows how much the public understanding of science is still organized by the concept of discovery. but that isn't the whole reason
to unnecessarily intellectualize this, it shows how much the public understanding of science is still organized by the concept of discovery. but that isn't the whole reason
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 PM
why is James Watson's Times Obit 20,000 words longgggg
to unnecessarily intellectualize this, it shows how much the public understanding of science is still organized by the concept of discovery. but that isn't the whole reason
to unnecessarily intellectualize this, it shows how much the public understanding of science is still organized by the concept of discovery. but that isn't the whole reason
I was just reading about the new documentary, The Marbles, and I thought it was time to repost this. It's an old post in which I ask whether some arguments developed for reuniting the Parthenon Marbles work for natural history specimens, like fossils...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2023...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2023...
From the Archive: Lords of Marble and the Spear — Extinct
In which Max asks what an argument for repatriating a fossil might look like in the absence of demonstrable illegality in the acquisition of that fossil
www.extinctblog.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I was just reading about the new documentary, The Marbles, and I thought it was time to repost this. It's an old post in which I ask whether some arguments developed for reuniting the Parthenon Marbles work for natural history specimens, like fossils...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2023...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2023...
Bluesky sleuths & Ediacaran enthusiasts! I need your help...
I found something very weird. It involves Reg Sprigg, discoverer of the Ediacaran fauna, who for 40 years complained about Nature rejecting his discovery announcement. But, the thing is ... (Read on!)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
I found something very weird. It involves Reg Sprigg, discoverer of the Ediacaran fauna, who for 40 years complained about Nature rejecting his discovery announcement. But, the thing is ... (Read on!)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
What the Actual Hell is Going On (Or, the Great Reg Sprigg Nature Letter "Rejection" Mystery...) — Extinct
In which Max blows your little mind
www.extinctblog.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Bluesky sleuths & Ediacaran enthusiasts! I need your help...
I found something very weird. It involves Reg Sprigg, discoverer of the Ediacaran fauna, who for 40 years complained about Nature rejecting his discovery announcement. But, the thing is ... (Read on!)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
I found something very weird. It involves Reg Sprigg, discoverer of the Ediacaran fauna, who for 40 years complained about Nature rejecting his discovery announcement. But, the thing is ... (Read on!)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
Some trilobite poetry for a lazy Sunday (of a rotten year, of a depressing decade). Courtesy of May Kendall, a satirist and radical sociological thinker, originally writing for Punch magazine
November 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Some trilobite poetry for a lazy Sunday (of a rotten year, of a depressing decade). Courtesy of May Kendall, a satirist and radical sociological thinker, originally writing for Punch magazine
Reposted by Extinct blog
Excited our paper "Are We in a 6th Mass Extinction?" accepted in 2022 is now out @ BJPS! It began as UROP project w/ undergrad Gloria, expanded to a COVID lockdown project w/ Phi-Geo group, Sect 5 became kernel Federica's dissert & Sect 7 Aja's dissertation. Read ⬇️
doi.org/10.1086/722107
#HPS ⚒️
doi.org/10.1086/722107
#HPS ⚒️
October 17, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Excited our paper "Are We in a 6th Mass Extinction?" accepted in 2022 is now out @ BJPS! It began as UROP project w/ undergrad Gloria, expanded to a COVID lockdown project w/ Phi-Geo group, Sect 5 became kernel Federica's dissert & Sect 7 Aja's dissertation. Read ⬇️
doi.org/10.1086/722107
#HPS ⚒️
doi.org/10.1086/722107
#HPS ⚒️
Reposted by Extinct blog
Reminder: the Handbook of the Historiography of the Earth and Environmental Sciences (Springer, 2024), ed. by Elena Aronova, @hallucigenia.bsky.social & Marco Tamborini, is #OpenAccess. Download the PDF here: link.springer.com/referencewor...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
October 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reminder: the Handbook of the Historiography of the Earth and Environmental Sciences (Springer, 2024), ed. by Elena Aronova, @hallucigenia.bsky.social & Marco Tamborini, is #OpenAccess. Download the PDF here: link.springer.com/referencewor...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
Reposted by Extinct blog
This week we welcome Prof. Steven Shapin to the pod!🎙️
We explore his journey through interdisciplinary spaces, revisit Leviathan and the Air-Pump 40 years on, and explore how credibility, trust and expertise are shaped by the fragmentation of expertise and (recent) political & cultural challenges
We explore his journey through interdisciplinary spaces, revisit Leviathan and the Air-Pump 40 years on, and explore how credibility, trust and expertise are shaped by the fragmentation of expertise and (recent) political & cultural challenges
S5 E11 - Steven Shapin on the Social Life of Scientific Knowledge
Podcast Episode · The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science · 19/10/2025 · 50m
podcasts.apple.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
This week we welcome Prof. Steven Shapin to the pod!🎙️
We explore his journey through interdisciplinary spaces, revisit Leviathan and the Air-Pump 40 years on, and explore how credibility, trust and expertise are shaped by the fragmentation of expertise and (recent) political & cultural challenges
We explore his journey through interdisciplinary spaces, revisit Leviathan and the Air-Pump 40 years on, and explore how credibility, trust and expertise are shaped by the fragmentation of expertise and (recent) political & cultural challenges
Reposted by Extinct blog
The Quarterly Review of Biology turns 100! We are celebrating our anniversary with free-to-read articles from the archives, through 2026. Learn more: ow.ly/xXli50X7Z5B
The Quarterly Review of Biology: QRB 100th Anniversary
ow.ly
October 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Extinct blog
A wonderful present arrived in the mail today: @melissacharenko.bsky.social's new book Climate by Proxy! #HPS
October 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A wonderful present arrived in the mail today: @melissacharenko.bsky.social's new book Climate by Proxy! #HPS
Reposted by Extinct blog
Physicists have long been enamored with “beautiful” models—but this seems to have changed in high-energy physics. In his new paper, Martin King argues that experimental contexts strongly determine the pursuitworthiness of “ugly models” 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philphysics #HPS
October 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Physicists have long been enamored with “beautiful” models—but this seems to have changed in high-energy physics. In his new paper, Martin King argues that experimental contexts strongly determine the pursuitworthiness of “ugly models” 👇📃 link.springer.com/article/10.1... #philsci #philphysics #HPS
Reposted by Extinct blog
Don’t miss our Annual Lecture Series with Angela Potochnik!
📅 Tomorrow, October 10th
⏰ 3:30pm EDT
📍 CL-1008
Title: "Causes Don’t Push"
Can't make the talk? Join on Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94976944388
#ALS #CenterPhilSci
📅 Tomorrow, October 10th
⏰ 3:30pm EDT
📍 CL-1008
Title: "Causes Don’t Push"
Can't make the talk? Join on Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94976944388
#ALS #CenterPhilSci
October 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Don’t miss our Annual Lecture Series with Angela Potochnik!
📅 Tomorrow, October 10th
⏰ 3:30pm EDT
📍 CL-1008
Title: "Causes Don’t Push"
Can't make the talk? Join on Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94976944388
#ALS #CenterPhilSci
📅 Tomorrow, October 10th
⏰ 3:30pm EDT
📍 CL-1008
Title: "Causes Don’t Push"
Can't make the talk? Join on Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94976944388
#ALS #CenterPhilSci
So, back in February I posted the first part of a reading list in the history of geology, intended mostly for people in philosophy and HPS who want to gain a footing in the subject. Here, 8 months later, is Part 2. (You can find the link to Part 1 within...)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
A History of Geology Reading List, Part 2 — Extinct
In which Max has finally completed his two-part reading list for people interested in learning more about the history of geology
www.extinctblog.org
October 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
So, back in February I posted the first part of a reading list in the history of geology, intended mostly for people in philosophy and HPS who want to gain a footing in the subject. Here, 8 months later, is Part 2. (You can find the link to Part 1 within...)
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
Reposted by Extinct blog
Call for papers: Ian Hacking and the Philosophy of Psychiatry. Deadline: 1st February 2026. Guest editors: Şerife Tekin and Jonathan Y. Tsou. Submit your work! think.taylorandfranc... #philsky #philpsy #philsci
Ian Hacking and the Philosophy of Psychiatry
Submit work that examines how Hacking’s historical and pragmatic approach to philosophy has reshaped inquiries into psychiatry.
think.taylorandfrancis.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Call for papers: Ian Hacking and the Philosophy of Psychiatry. Deadline: 1st February 2026. Guest editors: Şerife Tekin and Jonathan Y. Tsou. Submit your work! think.taylorandfranc... #philsky #philpsy #philsci
Reposted by Extinct blog
🎉 can’t wait to dig into this book - and to add it to my syllabus for philosophers-to-be. The glimpses I’ve seen are full of exciting ideas, and I’m sure the full thing is even richer. #sts #philsci
🙌 to @adrian-currie.bsky.social and @phieveigl.bsky.social for pulling this into existence
🙌 to @adrian-currie.bsky.social and @phieveigl.bsky.social for pulling this into existence
Book launch for “Methods in the Philosophy of Science: a user’s guide”. Ftf in Exeter and online on the 29th of Sept feat Sophie Veigl, Kerry McKenzie, Hasok Chang, and me. It should be fun! (the book will be open access in July, contact me in the meantime) www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai... #philsci
September 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
🎉 can’t wait to dig into this book - and to add it to my syllabus for philosophers-to-be. The glimpses I’ve seen are full of exciting ideas, and I’m sure the full thing is even richer. #sts #philsci
🙌 to @adrian-currie.bsky.social and @phieveigl.bsky.social for pulling this into existence
🙌 to @adrian-currie.bsky.social and @phieveigl.bsky.social for pulling this into existence
Reposted by Extinct blog
I had a rich and wide-ranging conversation w/ Professor Philip Kitcher for the podcast this week.
We discuss his intellectual journey, interventions in creationism, sociobiology & the genome project, his philosophical evolution, and vision for philosophy serving the common good. A real privilege.
We discuss his intellectual journey, interventions in creationism, sociobiology & the genome project, his philosophical evolution, and vision for philosophy serving the common good. A real privilege.
S5 E8 - Philip Kitcher on Philosophy for Science and the Common Good
Podcast Episode · The HPS Podcast - Conversations from History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science · 11/09/2025 · 48m
podcasts.apple.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I had a rich and wide-ranging conversation w/ Professor Philip Kitcher for the podcast this week.
We discuss his intellectual journey, interventions in creationism, sociobiology & the genome project, his philosophical evolution, and vision for philosophy serving the common good. A real privilege.
We discuss his intellectual journey, interventions in creationism, sociobiology & the genome project, his philosophical evolution, and vision for philosophy serving the common good. A real privilege.
Reposted by Extinct blog
Florentino Ameghino, the father of Argentinian paleontology, was born #OTD 1854. He became a national icon for his role in creating national science and culture. 🧪⚒️
wp.me/p3ihHu-Af #histsci
wp.me/p3ihHu-Af #histsci
Florentino Ameghino, the father of Argentinian paleontology.
Florentino Ameghino was born on September 18, 1854. He came from a family of Italian immigrants who settled in 1854 in the town of Lujan, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the extraction and exportati…
wp.me
September 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Florentino Ameghino, the father of Argentinian paleontology, was born #OTD 1854. He became a national icon for his role in creating national science and culture. 🧪⚒️
wp.me/p3ihHu-Af #histsci
wp.me/p3ihHu-Af #histsci
Reposted by Extinct blog
For Day 16 #sciArtSeptember prompt rift: my portrait of #geologist & oceanographic #cartographer Marie Tharp (1920-2006), whose pioneering, thorough & complete ocean floor maps with Bruce Heezen, made using realms of echo sounder data, revealed the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. 🐡⚒️🧪👩🏼🔬 #histsci
After studying
After studying
September 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM
For Day 16 #sciArtSeptember prompt rift: my portrait of #geologist & oceanographic #cartographer Marie Tharp (1920-2006), whose pioneering, thorough & complete ocean floor maps with Bruce Heezen, made using realms of echo sounder data, revealed the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. 🐡⚒️🧪👩🏼🔬 #histsci
After studying
After studying
Reposted by Extinct blog
CFP on Recent Work in Philosophy of the Historical Sciences special issue Revue Philosophique de Louvain. Abstract 500 words to charles.pence@uclouvain.be & daniel.swaim@marquette.edu, by October 1, 2025.
Accepted abstracts full papers due July 1, 2026
pencelab.be/en/events/rp...
#HPS #paleosky
Accepted abstracts full papers due July 1, 2026
pencelab.be/en/events/rp...
#HPS #paleosky
Call for Papers: Recent Work in the Philosophy of the Historical Sciences
pencelab.be
September 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
CFP on Recent Work in Philosophy of the Historical Sciences special issue Revue Philosophique de Louvain. Abstract 500 words to charles.pence@uclouvain.be & daniel.swaim@marquette.edu, by October 1, 2025.
Accepted abstracts full papers due July 1, 2026
pencelab.be/en/events/rp...
#HPS #paleosky
Accepted abstracts full papers due July 1, 2026
pencelab.be/en/events/rp...
#HPS #paleosky
Reposted by Extinct blog
Our International Postdoc Forum is a virtual seminar series for early career researchers to share their work w/commentary by MCPS community members. Excited to welcome @rosetrappes.bsky.social (University of Bergen, Norway) at 1215 CT Wed 24 Sept. Sign up for Zoom link. buff.ly/MSAXLgY
September 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Our International Postdoc Forum is a virtual seminar series for early career researchers to share their work w/commentary by MCPS community members. Excited to welcome @rosetrappes.bsky.social (University of Bergen, Norway) at 1215 CT Wed 24 Sept. Sign up for Zoom link. buff.ly/MSAXLgY
Reposted by Extinct blog
In a few weeks, I'll be starting a new role as Research Associate in Natural History Humanities at Cambridge, based at the @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social. As part of @camglamresearch.bsky.social, my project will be about 'Re-Excavating the Cambridge School of Geology, 1850–1914'.
September 15, 2025 at 7:16 AM
In a few weeks, I'll be starting a new role as Research Associate in Natural History Humanities at Cambridge, based at the @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social. As part of @camglamresearch.bsky.social, my project will be about 'Re-Excavating the Cambridge School of Geology, 1850–1914'.
Nice obit of Mark Norell in the NYT:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/s...
Mark Norell, Who Studied Link Between Dinosaurs and Birds, Dies at 68
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Nice obit of Mark Norell in the NYT:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/s...
Reposted by Extinct blog
Day 13 #SciArtSeptember prompt bottleneck, I’m interpreting literally with Japanese #geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi (1920-2007) 🧪🐡👩🏻🔬 #histsci who created tools that allowed her to make 1st measurements of CO2 in seawater, raised the alarm about nuclear fallout, tracing it in oceans & researched 🧵
September 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Day 13 #SciArtSeptember prompt bottleneck, I’m interpreting literally with Japanese #geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi (1920-2007) 🧪🐡👩🏻🔬 #histsci who created tools that allowed her to make 1st measurements of CO2 in seawater, raised the alarm about nuclear fallout, tracing it in oceans & researched 🧵
Reposted by Extinct blog
Annie Montague Alexander, naturalist & fossil hunter, died #OTD, 1950. She co-founded the museum of natural history of the University of California and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
wp.me/p3ihHu-1MU #WomeninSTEM #histsci
wp.me/p3ihHu-1MU #WomeninSTEM #histsci
September 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Annie Montague Alexander, naturalist & fossil hunter, died #OTD, 1950. She co-founded the museum of natural history of the University of California and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
wp.me/p3ihHu-1MU #WomeninSTEM #histsci
wp.me/p3ihHu-1MU #WomeninSTEM #histsci
For the 40th(!) installment of my "Problematica" series, I'm celebrating one of my favorite writers, Richard Fortey, who died this past May. Fortey wrote these beautiful bouncy sentences that REFUSE to leave your head. Here I've assembled a few of my favorites
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
For the love of Fortey — Extinct
Problematica #40: In which Max pays tribute to the late paleontologist Richard Fortey by assembling some of his favorite Fortey-an sentences
www.extinctblog.org
September 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
For the 40th(!) installment of my "Problematica" series, I'm celebrating one of my favorite writers, Richard Fortey, who died this past May. Fortey wrote these beautiful bouncy sentences that REFUSE to leave your head. Here I've assembled a few of my favorites
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
www.extinctblog.org/extinct/2025...
Reposted by Extinct blog
