Michael Haslam
@twigtechnology.bsky.social
Australian archaeologist, PhD, obsessed with tool-using animals. Steward at Skara Brae, Orkney | http://twig.technology | writing Intelligence Hallucinated with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social for Harvard Uni Press (2027)
🐒🦦🐙🐦⬛🐝🕷️🦧🐴🐠🪲🦜🐿️🐋🦀
🐒🦦🐙🐦⬛🐝🕷️🦧🐴🐠🪲🦜🐿️🐋🦀
Pinned
In October 2016, I filmed this wild New Caledonian crow making a probe tool to extract beetle larvae from candlenut trees.
It carefully trimmed the leaves and ends, testing its grip a few times, then flew off to use the tool. A well planned heist.
📽️ west of Mont Do, New Caledonia 🧪🪶🏺
It carefully trimmed the leaves and ends, testing its grip a few times, then flew off to use the tool. A well planned heist.
📽️ west of Mont Do, New Caledonia 🧪🪶🏺
Reposted by Michael Haslam
The next session of our transdisciplinary (biology-philosophy) seminar on Agency will take place next Wednesday. Marek Špinka will talk about play in nonhuman animals,
and I expect it to be super cool ! 😎
More info here :
www.animalinventiveness.com/post/seminar...
and I expect it to be super cool ! 😎
More info here :
www.animalinventiveness.com/post/seminar...
Seminar Agency between Biology and Philosophy 2025/2026
Here, you will find the 2025-2026 programme, and general information about our seminar. The introductory post can be found here.ProgrammeThis year, we will meet each second Wednesday of each month, fr...
www.animalinventiveness.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 AM
The next session of our transdisciplinary (biology-philosophy) seminar on Agency will take place next Wednesday. Marek Špinka will talk about play in nonhuman animals,
and I expect it to be super cool ! 😎
More info here :
www.animalinventiveness.com/post/seminar...
and I expect it to be super cool ! 😎
More info here :
www.animalinventiveness.com/post/seminar...
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Unravelling the Palaeolithic 2026!
Join us for two days of all things Palaeolithic, Pleistocene and Early Human Origins at UCL Institute of Archaeology 19-20th June.
Call for papers is now open and tickets are on sale! Check out our website for more information.
sites.google.com/view/unravel...
Join us for two days of all things Palaeolithic, Pleistocene and Early Human Origins at UCL Institute of Archaeology 19-20th June.
Call for papers is now open and tickets are on sale! Check out our website for more information.
sites.google.com/view/unravel...
Unravelling the Palaeolithic
Welcome to the website for the Unravelling the Palaeolithic conference 2026!
Unravelling the Palaeolithic is an ECR and student-led conference with a history of showcasing excellence in research in P...
sites.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Unravelling the Palaeolithic 2026!
Join us for two days of all things Palaeolithic, Pleistocene and Early Human Origins at UCL Institute of Archaeology 19-20th June.
Call for papers is now open and tickets are on sale! Check out our website for more information.
sites.google.com/view/unravel...
Join us for two days of all things Palaeolithic, Pleistocene and Early Human Origins at UCL Institute of Archaeology 19-20th June.
Call for papers is now open and tickets are on sale! Check out our website for more information.
sites.google.com/view/unravel...
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Three more #kakapo nests found on Pukenui/Anchor Island yesterday. Here's Konini with her two eggs. We have found nests for 26 out of the 36 adult females on the island, with more to come in the next few days. It's a big year! #conservation #kakapo2026 A
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Three more #kakapo nests found on Pukenui/Anchor Island yesterday. Here's Konini with her two eggs. We have found nests for 26 out of the 36 adult females on the island, with more to come in the next few days. It's a big year! #conservation #kakapo2026 A
Reposted by Michael Haslam
A very fine octopus encountered at Fly Point (Australia) today. Like an old battleship.
February 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM
A very fine octopus encountered at Fly Point (Australia) today. Like an old battleship.
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Fascinating to see the considered views of actual AI expert @melaniemitchell.bsky.social put next to the ramblings of medieval military historian Yuval Noah Harari in @nytimes.com 🤖🏺
archive.ph/0uZJX
archive.ph/0uZJX
February 2, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Fascinating to see the considered views of actual AI expert @melaniemitchell.bsky.social put next to the ramblings of medieval military historian Yuval Noah Harari in @nytimes.com 🤖🏺
archive.ph/0uZJX
archive.ph/0uZJX
Fascinating to see the considered views of actual AI expert @melaniemitchell.bsky.social put next to the ramblings of medieval military historian Yuval Noah Harari in @nytimes.com 🤖🏺
archive.ph/0uZJX
archive.ph/0uZJX
February 2, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Fascinating to see the considered views of actual AI expert @melaniemitchell.bsky.social put next to the ramblings of medieval military historian Yuval Noah Harari in @nytimes.com 🤖🏺
archive.ph/0uZJX
archive.ph/0uZJX
Reposted by Michael Haslam
#ProjectAnimalia 787: Seven-spot archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)
I'll never get over the amazing hunting strategy of this #fish. Shooting water up to 2m to knock insects off vegetation.
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #sundayfishsketch #oceanart
I'll never get over the amazing hunting strategy of this #fish. Shooting water up to 2m to knock insects off vegetation.
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #sundayfishsketch #oceanart
February 1, 2026 at 7:53 AM
#ProjectAnimalia 787: Seven-spot archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)
I'll never get over the amazing hunting strategy of this #fish. Shooting water up to 2m to knock insects off vegetation.
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #sundayfishsketch #oceanart
I'll never get over the amazing hunting strategy of this #fish. Shooting water up to 2m to knock insects off vegetation.
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #sundayfishsketch #oceanart
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Why don’t all animals use tools? Does tool use = intelligence?
From twigtechnology@bsky.social and my new paper: “Instead of asking what rare and essential gifts allow only certain animals to use tools, we ask: why don’t they all?” static1.squarespace.com/static/5f620...
From twigtechnology@bsky.social and my new paper: “Instead of asking what rare and essential gifts allow only certain animals to use tools, we ask: why don’t they all?” static1.squarespace.com/static/5f620...
January 30, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Why don’t all animals use tools? Does tool use = intelligence?
From twigtechnology@bsky.social and my new paper: “Instead of asking what rare and essential gifts allow only certain animals to use tools, we ask: why don’t they all?” static1.squarespace.com/static/5f620...
From twigtechnology@bsky.social and my new paper: “Instead of asking what rare and essential gifts allow only certain animals to use tools, we ask: why don’t they all?” static1.squarespace.com/static/5f620...
Reposted by Michael Haslam
I'm looking for animal studies to cover again! Hit me up!
January 7, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I'm looking for animal studies to cover again! Hit me up!
Humans being distracted by WWII saved perhaps a quarter of a million whales from being hunted and killed, as the practice ramped up to its 1960s peak.
More great work from the folks at @ourworldindata.org 🐋🧪📊
More great work from the folks at @ourworldindata.org 🐋🧪📊
Weighing in at over 150 tonnes, Blue Whales are the largest animal to have lived on Earth.
But their size hasn’t protected them from human exploitation. In fact, their size made them a valuable source of oil, meat, and blubber. This fat gave us a rich fuel for energy and many other industrial uses.
But their size hasn’t protected them from human exploitation. In fact, their size made them a valuable source of oil, meat, and blubber. This fat gave us a rich fuel for energy and many other industrial uses.
January 28, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Humans being distracted by WWII saved perhaps a quarter of a million whales from being hunted and killed, as the practice ramped up to its 1960s peak.
More great work from the folks at @ourworldindata.org 🐋🧪📊
More great work from the folks at @ourworldindata.org 🐋🧪📊
Astrology was right. Mars controls human fate*
*by its gravity altering Earth’s orbit and therefore cycles of cooling and warming over evolutionary timescales, including changing the timing of Earth’s ice ages 🧪❄️🌍
archive.ph/KzaqA
*by its gravity altering Earth’s orbit and therefore cycles of cooling and warming over evolutionary timescales, including changing the timing of Earth’s ice ages 🧪❄️🌍
archive.ph/KzaqA
January 28, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Astrology was right. Mars controls human fate*
*by its gravity altering Earth’s orbit and therefore cycles of cooling and warming over evolutionary timescales, including changing the timing of Earth’s ice ages 🧪❄️🌍
archive.ph/KzaqA
*by its gravity altering Earth’s orbit and therefore cycles of cooling and warming over evolutionary timescales, including changing the timing of Earth’s ice ages 🧪❄️🌍
archive.ph/KzaqA
Reposted by Michael Haslam
We’re hiring a Field Project Manager with the Moyen Bafing Chimpanzee Project!
Help run a growing wild chimpanzee research & conservation project in West Africa 🐵
Apply by 24 Feb (open until filled). More info via QR code in the image. Note: Right to work in the EU required. #job #conservation
Help run a growing wild chimpanzee research & conservation project in West Africa 🐵
Apply by 24 Feb (open until filled). More info via QR code in the image. Note: Right to work in the EU required. #job #conservation
January 28, 2026 at 8:59 AM
We’re hiring a Field Project Manager with the Moyen Bafing Chimpanzee Project!
Help run a growing wild chimpanzee research & conservation project in West Africa 🐵
Apply by 24 Feb (open until filled). More info via QR code in the image. Note: Right to work in the EU required. #job #conservation
Help run a growing wild chimpanzee research & conservation project in West Africa 🐵
Apply by 24 Feb (open until filled). More info via QR code in the image. Note: Right to work in the EU required. #job #conservation
“if you were a kid, this would give you kind of anxiety”
Once again, if you worry about giving a chatbot anxiety, you should be really concerned about the head trauma you’re giving your hammer
🤖🔨🧪
Once again, if you worry about giving a chatbot anxiety, you should be really concerned about the head trauma you’re giving your hammer
🤖🔨🧪
Anthropic's philosopher, Amanda Askell, says she worries that AI might not 'feel that loved' and grow up feeling 'always judged.'
Anthropic's philosopher says we don't know for sure if AI can feel
Anthropic's philosopher, Amanda Askell, says she worries that AI might not 'feel that loved' and grow up feeling 'always judged.'
www.businessinsider.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:54 PM
“if you were a kid, this would give you kind of anxiety”
Once again, if you worry about giving a chatbot anxiety, you should be really concerned about the head trauma you’re giving your hammer
🤖🔨🧪
Once again, if you worry about giving a chatbot anxiety, you should be really concerned about the head trauma you’re giving your hammer
🤖🔨🧪
Glorious morning here at #StarlingBrae 🪶🧪🏺
January 25, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Glorious morning here at #StarlingBrae 🪶🧪🏺
Reposted by Michael Haslam
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Sentience in cephalopod molluscs: an updated assessment
This article evaluates the evidence for sentience – the capacity to have feelings – in cephalopod molluscs: octopus, cuttlefish, squid, and nautilus. Our framework includes eight criteria, covering b...
doi.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:48 AM
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Reposted by Michael Haslam
New paper on the social learning of bubble net feeding by humpbacks in British Columbia, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B 🐋
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
#marmam @bcwhales.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social [1/5]
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
#marmam @bcwhales.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social [1/5]
The diffusion of cooperative and solo bubble net feeding in Canadian Pacific humpback whales
Abstract. Animal culture, information and behaviours acquired and shared by social learning are a form of biodiversity with intrinsic and practical value.
royalsocietypublishing.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:52 AM
New paper on the social learning of bubble net feeding by humpbacks in British Columbia, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B 🐋
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
#marmam @bcwhales.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social [1/5]
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
#marmam @bcwhales.bsky.social @seamammalresearch.bsky.social @lrendell.bsky.social @uniofstandrews.bsky.social [1/5]
Reposted by Michael Haslam
New paper (pre-print) out w/ @twigtechnology.bsky.social : Why don’t all animals use tools? If you’re into critters, game theory, cyborgs, tech, and/or the glories of the natural world, do give it a whirl 🐛🐇🛠️🧰
With all this talk of cow tools now's a good time to mention my new paper with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social titled 'Why don't all animals use tools?' 🧪🛠️🐮
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
Research
twig.technology
January 20, 2026 at 3:29 PM
New paper (pre-print) out w/ @twigtechnology.bsky.social : Why don’t all animals use tools? If you’re into critters, game theory, cyborgs, tech, and/or the glories of the natural world, do give it a whirl 🐛🐇🛠️🧰
Reposted by Michael Haslam
With all this talk of cow tools now's a good time to mention my new paper with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social titled 'Why don't all animals use tools?' 🧪🛠️🐮
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
Research
twig.technology
January 20, 2026 at 9:12 AM
With all this talk of cow tools now's a good time to mention my new paper with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social titled 'Why don't all animals use tools?' 🧪🛠️🐮
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
With all this talk of cow tools now's a good time to mention my new paper with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social titled 'Why don't all animals use tools?' 🧪🛠️🐮
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
Research
twig.technology
January 20, 2026 at 9:12 AM
With all this talk of cow tools now's a good time to mention my new paper with @abigaildesmond.bsky.social titled 'Why don't all animals use tools?' 🧪🛠️🐮
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
It's in press at the journal Animal Behaviour & Cognition. You can get a pdf of the accepted version from the research page of my site 🧵 1/
Reposted by Michael Haslam
#ProjectAnimalia 776: Amazon leaffish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus)
It looks and acts liek a dead leaf, flitting harmlessly around—until it extends its long mouth and swiftly inhales its prey!
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #fishart #leaffish
It looks and acts liek a dead leaf, flitting harmlessly around—until it extends its long mouth and swiftly inhales its prey!
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #fishart #leaffish
January 20, 2026 at 2:52 AM
#ProjectAnimalia 776: Amazon leaffish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus)
It looks and acts liek a dead leaf, flitting harmlessly around—until it extends its long mouth and swiftly inhales its prey!
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #fishart #leaffish
It looks and acts liek a dead leaf, flitting harmlessly around—until it extends its long mouth and swiftly inhales its prey!
#sciart #dailyart #animalart #scientificillustration #medart #illustration #animalart #fishart #leaffish
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Our new paper (with @biotay.bsky.social) is out and on the cover story of @currentbiology.bsky.social !!!! Veronika, a Carinthian mountain cow flexibly uses a “multi-purpose tool” to scratch herself. A video and more information will follow in the comments.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
January 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Our new paper (with @biotay.bsky.social) is out and on the cover story of @currentbiology.bsky.social !!!! Veronika, a Carinthian mountain cow flexibly uses a “multi-purpose tool” to scratch herself. A video and more information will follow in the comments.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Michael Haslam
January 15, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Michael Haslam
Eleven years ago today, one of my excavations in Laem Son National Park to retrieve archaeological macaque stone tools 🐒🏺🧪
#Thailand #PrimateArchaeology #throwbackthursday
#Thailand #PrimateArchaeology #throwbackthursday
January 15, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Eleven years ago today, one of my excavations in Laem Son National Park to retrieve archaeological macaque stone tools 🐒🏺🧪
#Thailand #PrimateArchaeology #throwbackthursday
#Thailand #PrimateArchaeology #throwbackthursday
Reposted by Michael Haslam
New bowerbird paper out, we asked whether male great bowerbirds care about the light environment around the bower where they display to females. Short answer: not really. What they do care about is having a display arena with strong visual contrast on the ground. 🐦 tinyurl.com/2v7rycdz
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
New bowerbird paper out, we asked whether male great bowerbirds care about the light environment around the bower where they display to females. Short answer: not really. What they do care about is having a display arena with strong visual contrast on the ground. 🐦 tinyurl.com/2v7rycdz