Roope Kaaronen
@roopekaaronen.net
Forager of information and mushrooms • Cognitive science, cultural evolution, cognitive anthropology • https://roopekaaronen.net • Kayaking, music, nature, photography
Pinned
Roope Kaaronen
@roopekaaronen.net
· Dec 4
I am delighted to share our latest piece of research:
‘A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation’.
This was long in the works and is by far the largest project I’ve led to date.
A thread:
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
‘A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation’.
This was long in the works and is by far the largest project I’ve led to date.
A thread:
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
New episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
February 2, 2026 at 4:55 PM
New episode, first of 2026!! 🎉🎙️
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
A deep dive into metaphor with @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Metaphors delight, provoke, captivate, shock, and galvanize us. What does it say about the human mind that we simply can't escape them—and frankly don't want to?
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
Wonderful Ice Age art!
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
February 1, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Wonderful Ice Age art!
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Sunset run on the sea.
I'll be kayaking this same route in two months.
Helsinki can be really nice at times.
I'll be kayaking this same route in two months.
Helsinki can be really nice at times.
February 1, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Sunset run on the sea.
I'll be kayaking this same route in two months.
Helsinki can be really nice at times.
I'll be kayaking this same route in two months.
Helsinki can be really nice at times.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
Music
Ink and coffee
Ink and coffee
January 31, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Music
Ink and coffee
Ink and coffee
Torille! 🇫🇮
Very happy to see our ice-fishing paper on the cover of @science.org this week! 🎣🎉
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Torille! 🇫🇮
About a year ago I spent an ~hour learning to tie my shoelace knots optimally with the Ian knot.
That'll save me approximately 5 seconds a day.
This means that in about a year I'll break even in my time investment.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O-x...
That'll save me approximately 5 seconds a day.
This means that in about a year I'll break even in my time investment.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O-x...
“Ian Knot” detailed tutorial – Professor Shoelace
YouTube video by ProfessorShoelace
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:03 AM
About a year ago I spent an ~hour learning to tie my shoelace knots optimally with the Ian knot.
That'll save me approximately 5 seconds a day.
This means that in about a year I'll break even in my time investment.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O-x...
That'll save me approximately 5 seconds a day.
This means that in about a year I'll break even in my time investment.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O-x...
One of my khipus-in-progress now hanging in my office.
It's definitely been fun to learn the ins and outs of the system. Honestly, more intuitive than expected (except for the nuances where scholars disagree).
It's definitely been fun to learn the ins and outs of the system. Honestly, more intuitive than expected (except for the nuances where scholars disagree).
January 30, 2026 at 8:49 AM
One of my khipus-in-progress now hanging in my office.
It's definitely been fun to learn the ins and outs of the system. Honestly, more intuitive than expected (except for the nuances where scholars disagree).
It's definitely been fun to learn the ins and outs of the system. Honestly, more intuitive than expected (except for the nuances where scholars disagree).
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
"Yksittäisellä yliopistolla on kannustin keventää tutkintoja sisällöllisesti niin, että tutkintoja valmistuu aikaisempaa enemmän ja nopeammin sen sijaan, että huomio olisi inhimillisen pääoman lisäämisessä eli koulutuksen laadullisissa kysymyksissä." suomenkuvalehti.fi/mielipide/sa...
Sami Moisio ja Hannu Vartiainen: Yliopistojen rahoitusmalli vaarantaa inhimillisen pääoman karttumisen
Rahoitusmallin logiikan ei pitäisi ole ristiriidassa Suomen kasvustrategian kanssa, kirjoittavat professorit Sami Moisio ja Hannu Vartiainen.
suomenkuvalehti.fi
January 30, 2026 at 5:44 AM
"Yksittäisellä yliopistolla on kannustin keventää tutkintoja sisällöllisesti niin, että tutkintoja valmistuu aikaisempaa enemmän ja nopeammin sen sijaan, että huomio olisi inhimillisen pääoman lisäämisessä eli koulutuksen laadullisissa kysymyksissä." suomenkuvalehti.fi/mielipide/sa...
The frozen sea in Helsinki.
Ten day forecast looks like we might be able to walk to the islands this February. Been a few years since the last time that was possible.
Ten day forecast looks like we might be able to walk to the islands this February. Been a few years since the last time that was possible.
January 29, 2026 at 9:48 AM
The frozen sea in Helsinki.
Ten day forecast looks like we might be able to walk to the islands this February. Been a few years since the last time that was possible.
Ten day forecast looks like we might be able to walk to the islands this February. Been a few years since the last time that was possible.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
January 22, 2026 at 11:59 AM
As a Finn, I oppose this proposition, as the Mercator projection makes Finland look Great Again. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
I am calling for a complete and total boycott of the Mercator projection in all news stories about Greenland until every member of the American public has seen this
January 20, 2026 at 1:39 PM
As a Finn, I oppose this proposition, as the Mercator projection makes Finland look Great Again. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
'The renowned Academy of Fine Arts Vienna today unexpectedly offered Donald Trump a place to study painting [...] In the past, the university didn't always give some promising intellectuals the chance they deserved, thus unnecessarily driving them into politics. "That should never happen again."'
Wiener Kunstakademie bietet Donald Trump Studienplatz an www.der-postillon.com/2026/01/wien...
Wiener Kunstakademie bietet Donald Trump Studienplatz an
Wien (dpo) - Die renommierte Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien hat Donald Trump heute überraschend einen Studienplatz für Malerei angeboten. Obwohl e
www.der-postillon.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:07 PM
'The renowned Academy of Fine Arts Vienna today unexpectedly offered Donald Trump a place to study painting [...] In the past, the university didn't always give some promising intellectuals the chance they deserved, thus unnecessarily driving them into politics. "That should never happen again."'
Finally got my hands on a rare 1931 book I've been looking for that contains some very relevant data.
Only problem is the book is a serious misprint that has a duplicate section ca. 100 pages long and completely omits the section I was interested in. Fantastic.
Only problem is the book is a serious misprint that has a duplicate section ca. 100 pages long and completely omits the section I was interested in. Fantastic.
January 20, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Finally got my hands on a rare 1931 book I've been looking for that contains some very relevant data.
Only problem is the book is a serious misprint that has a duplicate section ca. 100 pages long and completely omits the section I was interested in. Fantastic.
Only problem is the book is a serious misprint that has a duplicate section ca. 100 pages long and completely omits the section I was interested in. Fantastic.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
It's not an aggressive hand gesture sent from the distant past, but rather a comb with broken-off teeth from the eponymous Ertebølle shell midden.
Neergaard (1900) found the object itself to be 'probably the most charming of all the [Ertebølle] combs', but he is super underwhelmed by its decoration
Neergaard (1900) found the object itself to be 'probably the most charming of all the [Ertebølle] combs', but he is super underwhelmed by its decoration
January 19, 2026 at 1:19 PM
It's not an aggressive hand gesture sent from the distant past, but rather a comb with broken-off teeth from the eponymous Ertebølle shell midden.
Neergaard (1900) found the object itself to be 'probably the most charming of all the [Ertebølle] combs', but he is super underwhelmed by its decoration
Neergaard (1900) found the object itself to be 'probably the most charming of all the [Ertebølle] combs', but he is super underwhelmed by its decoration
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
The Nobel Peace Prize becoming so prestigious that wars are fought over a head of state coveting it is some real monkey paw stuff for Alfred Nobel.
January 19, 2026 at 8:47 AM
The Nobel Peace Prize becoming so prestigious that wars are fought over a head of state coveting it is some real monkey paw stuff for Alfred Nobel.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
Rabbit, Sweden, 15th century
January 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Rabbit, Sweden, 15th century
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
Been shouting to the wind since 2016 that Trump is not the disease, he is a symptom. A country that can elect someone like him even once is deeply ill and unserious.
The incredibly lukewarm Democratic response on Greenland is being noticed in Europe, incidentally.
Chuck Schumer not finding a stronger word than “quixotic” for Trump’s plan to seize Greenland has been name checked to me more than once.
Chuck Schumer not finding a stronger word than “quixotic” for Trump’s plan to seize Greenland has been name checked to me more than once.
But Americans who want to save the alliance with Europe must have no illusions about how bad a condition this transatlantic partnership is in.
January 19, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Been shouting to the wind since 2016 that Trump is not the disease, he is a symptom. A country that can elect someone like him even once is deeply ill and unserious.
We should be co-operating on unforeseen scales to solve some of the most pressing, difficult, existential challenges ever faced by our species.
And yet we are... here. On perhaps the dumbest timeline imaginable.
Surely any honest assessment of the situation concludes "this is the collapse path."
And yet we are... here. On perhaps the dumbest timeline imaginable.
Surely any honest assessment of the situation concludes "this is the collapse path."
Been said a million times, but Idiocracy can't hold a candle to this show.
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
January 19, 2026 at 11:48 AM
We should be co-operating on unforeseen scales to solve some of the most pressing, difficult, existential challenges ever faced by our species.
And yet we are... here. On perhaps the dumbest timeline imaginable.
Surely any honest assessment of the situation concludes "this is the collapse path."
And yet we are... here. On perhaps the dumbest timeline imaginable.
Surely any honest assessment of the situation concludes "this is the collapse path."
Been said a million times, but Idiocracy can't hold a candle to this show.
January 19, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Been said a million times, but Idiocracy can't hold a candle to this show.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 5:09 AM
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
The hitherto toughest test to Nordic solidarity is beginning.
Last time the Nordics failed to stick together, Norway and Denmark got occupied by nazi Germany and Finland invaded by the Soviet Union.
Last time the Nordics failed to stick together, Norway and Denmark got occupied by nazi Germany and Finland invaded by the Soviet Union.
Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed
US president said levies against eight nations would rise to 25% unless they support his acquisition of the island
www.ft.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:16 PM
The hitherto toughest test to Nordic solidarity is beginning.
Last time the Nordics failed to stick together, Norway and Denmark got occupied by nazi Germany and Finland invaded by the Soviet Union.
Last time the Nordics failed to stick together, Norway and Denmark got occupied by nazi Germany and Finland invaded by the Soviet Union.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
This isn’t an original observation but every time I read the news it’s ridiculous how much dumber the world is becoming.
Parodies like Idiocracy or The Dictator are not as dumb as the reality we’re living in today.
Parodies like Idiocracy or The Dictator are not as dumb as the reality we’re living in today.
January 17, 2026 at 6:17 PM
This isn’t an original observation but every time I read the news it’s ridiculous how much dumber the world is becoming.
Parodies like Idiocracy or The Dictator are not as dumb as the reality we’re living in today.
Parodies like Idiocracy or The Dictator are not as dumb as the reality we’re living in today.
For what it's worth, in my mind the US is more or less where Russia was ca. 2017.
As in, I want just about nothing to do with the country. Just a gut feeling, make of that what you wish.
As in, I want just about nothing to do with the country. Just a gut feeling, make of that what you wish.
New tariff just dropped.
Americans set to pay an additional 10% tax on all goods from Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
It starts in two weeks, rising to 25% by June.
(Aside: A trade war with one EU country is a trade war with the entire EU).
Americans set to pay an additional 10% tax on all goods from Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
It starts in two weeks, rising to 25% by June.
(Aside: A trade war with one EU country is a trade war with the entire EU).
January 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM
For what it's worth, in my mind the US is more or less where Russia was ca. 2017.
As in, I want just about nothing to do with the country. Just a gut feeling, make of that what you wish.
As in, I want just about nothing to do with the country. Just a gut feeling, make of that what you wish.
Reposted by Roope Kaaronen
Dating from around 1865, this hooded parka from the Aleutian Islands in southern Alaska is made from seal intestines, a naturally waterproof & windproof material. Both robust & decorative, these seal gut parkas would have been used daily to keep warm & dry in this harsh environment.
bit.ly/4oRZuCC
bit.ly/4oRZuCC
January 16, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Dating from around 1865, this hooded parka from the Aleutian Islands in southern Alaska is made from seal intestines, a naturally waterproof & windproof material. Both robust & decorative, these seal gut parkas would have been used daily to keep warm & dry in this harsh environment.
bit.ly/4oRZuCC
bit.ly/4oRZuCC
I read a lot of obscure books for my research.
Such as this 1955 PhD thesis, which looks like it hasn't been opened in decades (ever?): it still had the invitation card for the post-defense reception inside.
"RECEPTIE NA AFLOOP VAN DE PROMOTIE IN HET UNIVERSITEITSGEBOUW"
Such as this 1955 PhD thesis, which looks like it hasn't been opened in decades (ever?): it still had the invitation card for the post-defense reception inside.
"RECEPTIE NA AFLOOP VAN DE PROMOTIE IN HET UNIVERSITEITSGEBOUW"
January 15, 2026 at 9:56 AM
I read a lot of obscure books for my research.
Such as this 1955 PhD thesis, which looks like it hasn't been opened in decades (ever?): it still had the invitation card for the post-defense reception inside.
"RECEPTIE NA AFLOOP VAN DE PROMOTIE IN HET UNIVERSITEITSGEBOUW"
Such as this 1955 PhD thesis, which looks like it hasn't been opened in decades (ever?): it still had the invitation card for the post-defense reception inside.
"RECEPTIE NA AFLOOP VAN DE PROMOTIE IN HET UNIVERSITEITSGEBOUW"