Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
@fredrikjonsson.bsky.social
Historian at the University of Chicago. Co-editor of The Journal of Modern History. New book: Scarcity with Carl Wennerlind (Harvard 2023). Next: Britain's fossil transition 1760-1870 and, with Moritz von Brescius, The Long Acceleration 1500-1950.
Pinned
With @mbrescius.bsky.social I am very happy to announce the launch of a major new project in #Anthropocene history. The Long Acceleration brings together more than 20 scholars to consider the planetary emergency. Many thanks to Moritz and the Institute for European Global Studies for hosting us.
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Dawn is breaking
For a bit I forgot that the current political movement was won with a weak minority and is managed by annoying dorks who nobody likes who have terrible vibes. This video has 1.3 million likes and is a good reminder that better things are possible, even for those of us outside NYC. A good night!
November 5, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Dawn is breaking
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
JOB
Assistant Professor in the History of Knowledge Pre-1400,
University of Cambridge
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor in the History of Knowledge Pre-1400,
University of Cambridge
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor in History of Knowledge Pre-1400
Applications are invited for the position of Assistant Professor in History of Knowledge Pre-1400, in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge. Please note
www.cam.ac.uk
November 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
JOB
Assistant Professor in the History of Knowledge Pre-1400,
University of Cambridge
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor in the History of Knowledge Pre-1400,
University of Cambridge
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
🚨EXCLUSIVE🚨
Many things are changing before our eyes. Others are harder to see
Like the US economy
Americans are spending more 💲 recovering from disasters and preparing for the next one. 36% of US GDP growth since 2000 is related to climate disasters.
Welcome to the Disaster Industrial Complex 🎁🔗
Many things are changing before our eyes. Others are harder to see
Like the US economy
Americans are spending more 💲 recovering from disasters and preparing for the next one. 36% of US GDP growth since 2000 is related to climate disasters.
Welcome to the Disaster Industrial Complex 🎁🔗
Disaster Recovery Is an $8 Trillion Driver of US Growth
Investors are on the hunt for companies powering the disaster industrial complex, which are fueling US growth and outpacing the S&P 500
www.bloomberg.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
🚨EXCLUSIVE🚨
Many things are changing before our eyes. Others are harder to see
Like the US economy
Americans are spending more 💲 recovering from disasters and preparing for the next one. 36% of US GDP growth since 2000 is related to climate disasters.
Welcome to the Disaster Industrial Complex 🎁🔗
Many things are changing before our eyes. Others are harder to see
Like the US economy
Americans are spending more 💲 recovering from disasters and preparing for the next one. 36% of US GDP growth since 2000 is related to climate disasters.
Welcome to the Disaster Industrial Complex 🎁🔗
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
There's just a day to go until @manchesterup.bsky.social publish my latest book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London.
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
October 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
There's just a day to go until @manchesterup.bsky.social publish my latest book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London.
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
“what happens if we also reconnect with the mule? What can mules teach us about the black history of land and violence in the United States?”
A terrific piece of #envhist on mules, labor, and how “empire doesn’t always win” from @roguechieftan.bsky.social
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
A terrific piece of #envhist on mules, labor, and how “empire doesn’t always win” from @roguechieftan.bsky.social
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
Mule Power
Unpacking empires and diaspora in Mexico and the United States.
www.sciencehistory.org
October 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
“what happens if we also reconnect with the mule? What can mules teach us about the black history of land and violence in the United States?”
A terrific piece of #envhist on mules, labor, and how “empire doesn’t always win” from @roguechieftan.bsky.social
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
A terrific piece of #envhist on mules, labor, and how “empire doesn’t always win” from @roguechieftan.bsky.social
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Gripping video of the last 2 Slender-billed Curlews at www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/S.... I couldn't afford to join some mates who did a trip to Morocco to see them in 1992, 2 years before they disappeared. And last week, we declared the species extinct in our update to the IUCN Red List 😢
Slender-billed Curlew Declared Extinct
IUCN confirms the loss of a once-widespread Western Palearctic wader after three decades without a verified record
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Gripping video of the last 2 Slender-billed Curlews at www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/S.... I couldn't afford to join some mates who did a trip to Morocco to see them in 1992, 2 years before they disappeared. And last week, we declared the species extinct in our update to the IUCN Red List 😢
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Excellent article from @jamborg.bsky.social about "genetic" mercantilism. Highly recommended
'Mercantilisme animal. Contrebande de #races animales, diplomatie du mouton et #géopolitique du capital génétique dans la France du xviiie siècle'
par @jamborg.bsky.social (Uppsala)
👉 dx.doi.org/10.1017/ahss...
#skystorians #race #climate #merinos 🐑
par @jamborg.bsky.social (Uppsala)
👉 dx.doi.org/10.1017/ahss...
#skystorians #race #climate #merinos 🐑
September 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Excellent article from @jamborg.bsky.social about "genetic" mercantilism. Highly recommended
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
The Call for Papers for 'Talking Records: Pollution in the Archive', a symposium at The National Archives in London, 4 December 2025, is now open!
Submission deadline: Friday 19 Sept
See the CFP and details about bursaries for speakers here: orlo.uk/Z8StS
#envhum #envhist
Submission deadline: Friday 19 Sept
See the CFP and details about bursaries for speakers here: orlo.uk/Z8StS
#envhum #envhist
August 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The Call for Papers for 'Talking Records: Pollution in the Archive', a symposium at The National Archives in London, 4 December 2025, is now open!
Submission deadline: Friday 19 Sept
See the CFP and details about bursaries for speakers here: orlo.uk/Z8StS
#envhum #envhist
Submission deadline: Friday 19 Sept
See the CFP and details about bursaries for speakers here: orlo.uk/Z8StS
#envhum #envhist
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
For the last several months, I've been digging through endless scientific literature on what happens when pregnant mothers are exposed to plastic chemicals in their food, water, and everyday household products.
The result is this story.
I hope you'll take the time to read.
wapo.st/4g3ZoFc
The result is this story.
I hope you'll take the time to read.
wapo.st/4g3ZoFc
The health risks from plastics almost nobody knows about
Researchers have linked phthalates, chemicals found in plastics, to premature birth, infertility and ADHD.
wapo.st
September 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
For the last several months, I've been digging through endless scientific literature on what happens when pregnant mothers are exposed to plastic chemicals in their food, water, and everyday household products.
The result is this story.
I hope you'll take the time to read.
wapo.st/4g3ZoFc
The result is this story.
I hope you'll take the time to read.
wapo.st/4g3ZoFc
Nearly double Saudi reserves... God help us.
indiandefencereview.com/russia-uncov...
indiandefencereview.com/russia-uncov...
Russia Uncovers 511 Billion Barrels of Oil Beneath Antarctica: A Find That Could End the Continent’s Era of Peaceful Use
The 511 billion barrels reported is nearly double Saudi Arabia’s proven reserves and more than ten times the North Sea’s output over the last 50 years.
indiandefencereview.com
August 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Nearly double Saudi reserves... God help us.
indiandefencereview.com/russia-uncov...
indiandefencereview.com/russia-uncov...
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
I don't think we fully grasped yet how important solar will be as an energy source.
Great graph @carbonbrief.org based on @iea.org data.
Great graph @carbonbrief.org based on @iea.org data.
August 29, 2025 at 8:58 AM
I don't think we fully grasped yet how important solar will be as an energy source.
Great graph @carbonbrief.org based on @iea.org data.
Great graph @carbonbrief.org based on @iea.org data.
Please take a moment to join the class action!
There are tons of graphic novels, academic papers, film and TV scripts, & prose novels/nonfiction on the LibGen list Anthropic used.
As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how
Part 1: is your work in Libgen?
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how
Part 1: is your work in Libgen?
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Please take a moment to join the class action!
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
New data paper out: Ammonia doesn't often make the headlines – but it’s one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss and air pollution in Europe, harming ecosystems and our health. > 90% of it in Europe comes from one source: agricultural fertiliser and manure 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
New data paper out: Ammonia doesn't often make the headlines – but it’s one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss and air pollution in Europe, harming ecosystems and our health. > 90% of it in Europe comes from one source: agricultural fertiliser and manure 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Apropos of nothing, a reminder that German stock markets kept climbing in an almost uninterrupted fashion in the run-up to WW2. Investors are really, really bad at pricing serious institutional and political risks.
August 26, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Apropos of nothing, a reminder that German stock markets kept climbing in an almost uninterrupted fashion in the run-up to WW2. Investors are really, really bad at pricing serious institutional and political risks.
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
Do not trust AI or ChatGPT-5 to do the most basic things like labeling a picture of the hydrologic cycle. Here's what it gave me.
(Evaporation arrow pointing into the ground. Both surface water and the "ocean" labels underground. Transpiration arrow coming from the #water surface, not plants...]
(Evaporation arrow pointing into the ground. Both surface water and the "ocean" labels underground. Transpiration arrow coming from the #water surface, not plants...]
August 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Do not trust AI or ChatGPT-5 to do the most basic things like labeling a picture of the hydrologic cycle. Here's what it gave me.
(Evaporation arrow pointing into the ground. Both surface water and the "ocean" labels underground. Transpiration arrow coming from the #water surface, not plants...]
(Evaporation arrow pointing into the ground. Both surface water and the "ocean" labels underground. Transpiration arrow coming from the #water surface, not plants...]
With @mbrescius.bsky.social I am very happy to announce the launch of a major new project in #Anthropocene history. The Long Acceleration brings together more than 20 scholars to consider the planetary emergency. Many thanks to Moritz and the Institute for European Global Studies for hosting us.
August 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
With @mbrescius.bsky.social I am very happy to announce the launch of a major new project in #Anthropocene history. The Long Acceleration brings together more than 20 scholars to consider the planetary emergency. Many thanks to Moritz and the Institute for European Global Studies for hosting us.
For anyone in the environmental humanities thinking about biodiversity and habitability, be sure to read this excellent new article by @julianordblad.bsky.social.
Read "The Nature of Planetary Habitability: A Conceptual History of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services" from Environmental History and learn more about the history of biodiversity as a concept. Find it here: ow.ly/TpT750Wy4HR @envirohistory.bsky.social
August 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
For anyone in the environmental humanities thinking about biodiversity and habitability, be sure to read this excellent new article by @julianordblad.bsky.social.
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
“In the heart of Illinois, while researching wildlife disease, I made a discovery that stunned me: More than half of the raccoons I sampled were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas’ disease… It’s here, in the United States, spreading silently in wildlife.”
A ‘tropical’ disease is spreading in American wildlife
This neglected tropical disease is no longer confined to the tropics. It’s here, in the United States, spreading silently in wildlife.
www.statnews.com
August 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
“In the heart of Illinois, while researching wildlife disease, I made a discovery that stunned me: More than half of the raccoons I sampled were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas’ disease… It’s here, in the United States, spreading silently in wildlife.”
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
I for one welcome the clarity that the new AHA guidance on GenAI has brought to the debate.
American Idiot
“Generative AI tools offer significant opportunities to improve teaching and student learning.” Uh huh. The key question about the new American Historical Association guiding principles on th…
thesphinxblog.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I for one welcome the clarity that the new AHA guidance on GenAI has brought to the debate.
I don't usually curse on social media but this pathetic attempt to vindicate AI deserves salty language. What in Beelzebub's name is wrong with our professional association? I don't need AI to "sharpen my language"! Sheer anger and disgust will do the trick.
The AHA has published Guiding Principles for Artificial Intelligence in History Education, offering a disciplinary approach to AI that focuses on the specific needs and challenges of history educators. 🗃️
Guiding Principles for Artificial Intelligence in History Education
These 14 foundational principles are meant to assist educators and administrators in crafting AI policies suited to local circumstances and the specific needs of students.
www.historians.org
August 5, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I don't usually curse on social media but this pathetic attempt to vindicate AI deserves salty language. What in Beelzebub's name is wrong with our professional association? I don't need AI to "sharpen my language"! Sheer anger and disgust will do the trick.
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
College Lectureship and Fellowship in British History- University of Cambridge - Christ's College #skystorians 🗃️www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOE394/c...
College Lectureship and Fellowship in British History at University of Cambridge
Discover an exciting academic career path as a College Lectureship and Fellowship in British History at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!
www.jobs.ac.uk
August 5, 2025 at 6:48 AM
College Lectureship and Fellowship in British History- University of Cambridge - Christ's College #skystorians 🗃️www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOE394/c...
Reposted by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson
An energy revolution is underway in this century, though it’s unfolded in ways slow enough and technical enough for most people not to notice (and I assume it’s nowhere near finished). It is astonishing – a powerful solution to the climate crisis... [Wrote it a while ago; came out yesterday.]
The renewable energy revolution is a feat of technology | Rebecca Solnit
An energy revolution is underway in this century, though most people have not noticed it
www.theguardian.com
July 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
An energy revolution is underway in this century, though it’s unfolded in ways slow enough and technical enough for most people not to notice (and I assume it’s nowhere near finished). It is astonishing – a powerful solution to the climate crisis... [Wrote it a while ago; came out yesterday.]