Niles Eldredge
@nilese.bsky.social
Pinned
Niles Eldredge
@nilese.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Reflections on punctuated equilibria | Paleobiology | Cambridge Core
Reflections on punctuated equilibria
doi.org
It’s a pleasure to share my “Reflections on Punctuated Equilibria” paper out earlier this year. Looking forward to posting more, and conversing with the growing crowd of evolutionary-minded savants of all disciplines! doi.org/10.1017/pab....
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
"Men who sell machines that mimic people want us to become people who mimic machines. They want techno feudal subjects who will believe and do what they’re told. We, as people, are being strategically simplified. This is a fascist process."
organizingmythoughts.org/some-thought...
organizingmythoughts.org/some-thought...
Some Thoughts on Techno-Fascism From Socialism 2025
"This is the endgame of our isolation."
organizingmythoughts.org
July 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
"Men who sell machines that mimic people want us to become people who mimic machines. They want techno feudal subjects who will believe and do what they’re told. We, as people, are being strategically simplified. This is a fascist process."
organizingmythoughts.org/some-thought...
organizingmythoughts.org/some-thought...
Phase one of the ongoing human gaiacidal extinction pulse of the biosphere . Once again, pitifully few insects in my backyard….
Phylogenetic Evidence Supports the Effect of Traits on Late-Quaternary Megafauna Extinction in the Context of Human Activity onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... 🧪🌐
Phylogenetic Evidence Supports the Effect of Traits on Late‐Quaternary Megafauna Extinction in the Context of Human Activity
Aim The late-Quaternary extinctions, which affected primarily large mammals, are strongly connected to the migration of modern humans out of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia (the Palaeotropics),...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Phase one of the ongoing human gaiacidal extinction pulse of the biosphere . Once again, pitifully few insects in my backyard….
Cool Sergi!!!
Next July 14th, I will be at the @i2sysbio.es talking about our recent work about punctuated evolution in culture, technology, biology, and more. i2sysbio.es. @blaividiella.bsky.social @sduran-nebreda.bsky.social @andrejpaleo.bsky.social @nilese.bsky.social @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Cool Sergi!!!
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
🦏🦣🦌 LARGE paper alert!!! We tracked 60 million years of large herbivore evolution—over 3,000 fossil species—to uncover how ecosystems have changed and reorganized through time. What we found might help us understand the next big tipping point 🧵👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two major ecological shifts shaped 60 million years of ungulate faunal evolution - Nature Communications
Here, the authors analyze a fossil dataset spanning 60 million years to investigate ecological stability. Their network analysis identifies prolonged stability interrupted by two major functional tran...
www.nature.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
🦏🦣🦌 LARGE paper alert!!! We tracked 60 million years of large herbivore evolution—over 3,000 fossil species—to uncover how ecosystems have changed and reorganized through time. What we found might help us understand the next big tipping point 🧵👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
"Speciation and extinction are invoked in all predictions for paleontological patterns. What processes one chooses is less important than that the meanings are clearly stated. Thus, I introduce my arguments with reference to the phylogenetic trees in figure 1 (Vrba, 1993)".
June 1, 2025 at 1:19 PM
"Speciation and extinction are invoked in all predictions for paleontological patterns. What processes one chooses is less important than that the meanings are clearly stated. Thus, I introduce my arguments with reference to the phylogenetic trees in figure 1 (Vrba, 1993)".
Elisabeth Vrba obituary www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10..... My thanks to Georg Vrba, Elisabeth’s husband, for information and photos on her life and work in South Africa.
Elisabeth Vrba obituary
Published in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
May 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Elisabeth Vrba obituary www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10..... My thanks to Georg Vrba, Elisabeth’s husband, for information and photos on her life and work in South Africa.
I think this paper will be a tipping point in understanding the fundamental importance of punctuational change in all “evolutionary” domains—i.e. where evolution is seen as the fate of transmissible information
Douglas et al. shows that up to 99% of evolutionary change occur at branching points across genes, morphology, and language. A major step for punctuated evolution, aligning with our goal of a unified framework. @nilese.bsky.social @andrejpaleo.bsky.social #EvoBio #CultEvo doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Evolution is coupled with branching across many granularities of life | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Across many scales of life, the rate of evolutionary change is often accelerated at the time when one lineage splits into two. The emergence of novel protein function can be facilitated by gene duplication (neofunctionalization); rapid morphological ...
doi.org
May 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I think this paper will be a tipping point in understanding the fundamental importance of punctuational change in all “evolutionary” domains—i.e. where evolution is seen as the fate of transmissible information
This essay has the deep and simple ring of truth about it…..
“the reason why the climate crisis and civilisational collapse are upon us is that they are the most lucrative businesses that ever existed”
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
Laboured to Extinction: How We Became the Planet of the Working Zombies
As societies grew into increasingly complex economies, the need for specialised skills gave rise to specialised humans.
open.substack.com
May 21, 2025 at 11:26 AM
This essay has the deep and simple ring of truth about it…..
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
Your 'moment of doom' for May 2, 2025 ~10 Hiroshimas per second.
"New research reveals these warming zones are located near 40 degrees latitude in both hemispheres, creating a striking pattern that has emerged since 2005."
scienceblog.com/ocean-heat-b...
"New research reveals these warming zones are located near 40 degrees latitude in both hemispheres, creating a striking pattern that has emerged since 2005."
scienceblog.com/ocean-heat-b...
Ocean Heat Bands Reshape Global Climate Patterns
The world's oceans are heating in two distinct bands circling the globe, with potentially far-reaching implications for weather patterns and marine
scienceblog.com
May 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Your 'moment of doom' for May 2, 2025 ~10 Hiroshimas per second.
"New research reveals these warming zones are located near 40 degrees latitude in both hemispheres, creating a striking pattern that has emerged since 2005."
scienceblog.com/ocean-heat-b...
"New research reveals these warming zones are located near 40 degrees latitude in both hemispheres, creating a striking pattern that has emerged since 2005."
scienceblog.com/ocean-heat-b...
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
In case you hadn't noticed:
April 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
In case you hadn't noticed:
Great to see Ilya Tëmkin’s recent thinking on Hierarchy Theory—and on the newly reconstituted “Bretskyan Hierarchy.” Towards a “General Theory of Biology” indeed!
Great to see a new study in "Paleobiology" by Ilya Tëmkin further developing ideas of biological hierarchies in connection to geobiomes (described last year by us with N. Eldredge @nilese.bsky.social ).
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
🧪 #Paleobio ⚒️ #Geology #EvoBio #Macroecology
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
🧪 #Paleobio ⚒️ #Geology #EvoBio #Macroecology
March 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Great to see Ilya Tëmkin’s recent thinking on Hierarchy Theory—and on the newly reconstituted “Bretskyan Hierarchy.” Towards a “General Theory of Biology” indeed!
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
🔆 A great tribute to the brilliant Elisabeth Vrba
Palaeontologist who solved a problem that vexed Darwin
“I’m interested in pushing out the frontiers of science,
not sailing my boat through tranquil seas.”
Elisabeth Vrba (1942–2025) 🧪
By @nilese.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Palaeontologist who solved a problem that vexed Darwin
“I’m interested in pushing out the frontiers of science,
not sailing my boat through tranquil seas.”
Elisabeth Vrba (1942–2025) 🧪
By @nilese.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
March 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🔆 A great tribute to the brilliant Elisabeth Vrba
Palaeontologist who solved a problem that vexed Darwin
“I’m interested in pushing out the frontiers of science,
not sailing my boat through tranquil seas.”
Elisabeth Vrba (1942–2025) 🧪
By @nilese.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Palaeontologist who solved a problem that vexed Darwin
“I’m interested in pushing out the frontiers of science,
not sailing my boat through tranquil seas.”
Elisabeth Vrba (1942–2025) 🧪
By @nilese.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
Could not agree more @nilese.bsky.social An honor and privilege to have known and worked with this key figure in #macroevolution & #paleontology #palaeontology
I am deeply saddened to have learned of the death, on Feb 5, 2025, of Elisabeth Vrba—a fantastically creative scientist and a warm, wonderful human being. She leaves us a legacy of original macroevolutionary thinking that is still fresh and illuminating.
February 11, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Could not agree more @nilese.bsky.social An honor and privilege to have known and worked with this key figure in #macroevolution & #paleontology #palaeontology
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
World lost a second macroevolutionary musketeer — Elisabeth Vrba. R.I.P. Elisabeth the Great.
🧪 #Paleobio ⚒️ #Geology #EvoBio
🧪 #Paleobio ⚒️ #Geology #EvoBio
I am deeply saddened to have learned of the death, on Feb 5, 2025, of Elisabeth Vrba—a fantastically creative scientist and a warm, wonderful human being. She leaves us a legacy of original macroevolutionary thinking that is still fresh and illuminating.
February 11, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
Cool new article on the punctuational nature of metastasising cancer process!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
This study strengthens our conjectured universality of the punctuational change, so called 'punctuated evolution'.
cell.com/trends/ecolo...
doi.org/10.1111/pala...
🧪 #Paleobio #EvoBio
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
This study strengthens our conjectured universality of the punctuational change, so called 'punctuated evolution'.
cell.com/trends/ecolo...
doi.org/10.1111/pala...
🧪 #Paleobio #EvoBio
February 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Cool new article on the punctuational nature of metastasising cancer process!
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
This study strengthens our conjectured universality of the punctuational change, so called 'punctuated evolution'.
cell.com/trends/ecolo...
doi.org/10.1111/pala...
🧪 #Paleobio #EvoBio
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
This study strengthens our conjectured universality of the punctuational change, so called 'punctuated evolution'.
cell.com/trends/ecolo...
doi.org/10.1111/pala...
🧪 #Paleobio #EvoBio
I am deeply saddened to have learned of the death, on Feb 5, 2025, of Elisabeth Vrba—a fantastically creative scientist and a warm, wonderful human being. She leaves us a legacy of original macroevolutionary thinking that is still fresh and illuminating.
February 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I am deeply saddened to have learned of the death, on Feb 5, 2025, of Elisabeth Vrba—a fantastically creative scientist and a warm, wonderful human being. She leaves us a legacy of original macroevolutionary thinking that is still fresh and illuminating.
My letter to the Editor of the Cornell Sun in support of the Paleontological Research Institution: cornellsun.com/2025/01/31/l...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR | The Importance of the Paleontological Research Institution
I write today to urge a strengthening of support by Cornell University for the Paleontological Research Institution on Trumansburg Rd. in Ithaca. I have visited and delivered lectures at both institut...
cornellsun.com
January 31, 2025 at 10:46 PM
My letter to the Editor of the Cornell Sun in support of the Paleontological Research Institution: cornellsun.com/2025/01/31/l...
Herewith, designer Bruce Hannah’s “Polyhedral Coyote”, inspired by Chapter 9 on “Gould’s Polyhedron” and “Coywolf” evolution in our book “Macroevolutionaries”
January 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Herewith, designer Bruce Hannah’s “Polyhedral Coyote”, inspired by Chapter 9 on “Gould’s Polyhedron” and “Coywolf” evolution in our book “Macroevolutionaries”
So much for US global leadership in scientific and medical research apple.news/ABPTmNWizTkG...
White House pauses all federal grants and loans — Apple News Spotlight
The Trump administration continued its early blitz of policy changes and personnel moves. Here’s what to know.
apple.news
January 28, 2025 at 7:09 PM
So much for US global leadership in scientific and medical research apple.news/ABPTmNWizTkG...
Wish I could hear your talk Sergi!!!
Following two wild weeks completing my Spanish national grant, here I am working on the slides for a Tuesday talk @icarehb.bsky.social on punctuated evolution. cc: @blaividiella.bsky.social @nilese.bsky.social @andrejpaleo.bsky.social
January 28, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Wish I could hear your talk Sergi!!!
That was indeed fun..makes me want to go back and check out Ch 4 where we jump from Super Dave to David Hume with the greatest of ease…
Really enjoyed doing this podcast megaphone.link/NBNK5031522209 with @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social and @nilese.bsky.social on our new #macroevolution #paleontology #palaeontology book 📕 “Macroevolutionaries” from @columbiaup.bsky.social
Bruce Lieberman and Niles Eldredge, "Macroevolutionaries: Reflections on Natural History, Paleontology, and Stephen Jay Gould" (Columbia UP, 2024) by New Books in Science
An interview with Bruce Lieberman and Niles Eldredge
megaphone.link
January 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
That was indeed fun..makes me want to go back and check out Ch 4 where we jump from Super Dave to David Hume with the greatest of ease…
Looking forward to hearing more Sergi!!
I am thrilled to have been selected to share our ongoing research on punctuated evolution at this amazing symposium. See you there! #EvoBio #CultEvo @andrejpaleo.bsky.social @blaividiella.bsky.social @nilese.bsky.social @sduran-nebreda.bsky.social
📢 The Scientific Program for the #HEIRS Opening Symposium is out!
Early bird registration closing soon.
Join us to explore #ResearchSynthesis & collaboration in #HumanEvolution!
👉 heirs.icarehb.com/symposium-ou...
Early bird registration closing soon.
Join us to explore #ResearchSynthesis & collaboration in #HumanEvolution!
👉 heirs.icarehb.com/symposium-ou...
January 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Looking forward to hearing more Sergi!!
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
We finally have an explanation for 2023’s record-breaking temperatures
A decline in cloud cover means Earth is absorbing more solar radiation which could explain the 0.2°C of missing heat scientists are struggling to account for
www.newscientist.com/article/2458...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
A decline in cloud cover means Earth is absorbing more solar radiation which could explain the 0.2°C of missing heat scientists are struggling to account for
www.newscientist.com/article/2458...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
We finally have an explanation for 2023’s record-breaking temperatures
A decline in low-lying cloud cover means Earth is absorbing more solar radiation, which could explain 0.2°C of missing heat scientists have been struggling to account for
www.newscientist.com
December 5, 2024 at 10:20 PM
We finally have an explanation for 2023’s record-breaking temperatures
A decline in cloud cover means Earth is absorbing more solar radiation which could explain the 0.2°C of missing heat scientists are struggling to account for
www.newscientist.com/article/2458...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
A decline in cloud cover means Earth is absorbing more solar radiation which could explain the 0.2°C of missing heat scientists are struggling to account for
www.newscientist.com/article/2458...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Niles Eldredge
Do mass extinctions make life bounce back stronger?
What does not kill Gaia makes her stronger:
Impacts of external perturbations on biosphere evolution 🧪
academic.oup.com/mnras/articl...
Periods of stress risk extinction, they also create opportunities for evolutionary exploration
Sounds like PE
What does not kill Gaia makes her stronger:
Impacts of external perturbations on biosphere evolution 🧪
academic.oup.com/mnras/articl...
Periods of stress risk extinction, they also create opportunities for evolutionary exploration
Sounds like PE
December 5, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Do mass extinctions make life bounce back stronger?
What does not kill Gaia makes her stronger:
Impacts of external perturbations on biosphere evolution 🧪
academic.oup.com/mnras/articl...
Periods of stress risk extinction, they also create opportunities for evolutionary exploration
Sounds like PE
What does not kill Gaia makes her stronger:
Impacts of external perturbations on biosphere evolution 🧪
academic.oup.com/mnras/articl...
Periods of stress risk extinction, they also create opportunities for evolutionary exploration
Sounds like PE