jomaksic
@jomaksic.bsky.social
PhD @UZH human evolutionary ecology group | cognitive archaeology & neuroscience of Paleolithic crafts | @nccrlanguage.bsky.social
Reposted by jomaksic
Super proud of this fabulous team for challenging old comparative frameworks and rethinking what makes language language.
Read more in the thread below 👇 or here 📖😊: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Read more in the thread below 👇 or here 📖😊: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
November 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Super proud of this fabulous team for challenging old comparative frameworks and rethinking what makes language language.
Read more in the thread below 👇 or here 📖😊: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Read more in the thread below 👇 or here 📖😊: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by jomaksic
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials - Nature Human Behaviour
Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for orangutans to acquire varied diets.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Reposted by jomaksic
The project about how indigenous navigators find their way across the Pacific Ocean, in which our researcher @pfvelasco.bsky.social participates, is in the New York Times.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The project about how indigenous navigators find their way across the Pacific Ocean, in which our researcher @pfvelasco.bsky.social participates, is in the New York Times.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
Reposted by jomaksic
How do humans keep inventing tools and technologies that no single person could create alone?
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
October 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
How do humans keep inventing tools and technologies that no single person could create alone?
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Our new preprint, led by
@anilyaman.bsky.social & @ts-brain.bsky.social
shows that semantic knowledge guides innovation and drives cultural evolution. 🧠📘 arxiv.org/abs/2510.12837
Reposted by jomaksic
How to quantify the impact of AI on long-run cultural evolution? Published today, I give it a go!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
September 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
How to quantify the impact of AI on long-run cultural evolution? Published today, I give it a go!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
400+ years of strategic dynamics in the game of Go (Baduk/Weiqi), from feudalism to AlphaGo!
Reposted by jomaksic
Integrating and interpreting brain maps | doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
Imaging and recording technologies make it possible to map multiple biological features of the brain. How can these features be conceptually integrated into a coherent understanding of brain structure and function? ⤵️
Imaging and recording technologies make it possible to map multiple biological features of the brain. How can these features be conceptually integrated into a coherent understanding of brain structure and function? ⤵️
August 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Integrating and interpreting brain maps | doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
Imaging and recording technologies make it possible to map multiple biological features of the brain. How can these features be conceptually integrated into a coherent understanding of brain structure and function? ⤵️
Imaging and recording technologies make it possible to map multiple biological features of the brain. How can these features be conceptually integrated into a coherent understanding of brain structure and function? ⤵️
Reposted by jomaksic
“[This]finding challenges the notion of a strictly human-specific Arcuate Fasciculus morphology and suggests that language-related neural specialisation in humans likely evolved through gradual evolutionary strengthening of a pre-existing connection, rather than arising de novo” 🧪🧠 👇
May 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
“[This]finding challenges the notion of a strictly human-specific Arcuate Fasciculus morphology and suggests that language-related neural specialisation in humans likely evolved through gradual evolutionary strengthening of a pre-existing connection, rather than arising de novo” 🧪🧠 👇
Reposted by jomaksic
How are humans able to make sense of time? Not with special biology but with “time tools”—ideas, practices, and artifacts that render time more concrete.
My new paper explores this vast, varied toolkit—one that makes use of knots, nuts, hands, flowers, mountains, shadows, and much more.
(link 👇)
My new paper explores this vast, varied toolkit—one that makes use of knots, nuts, hands, flowers, mountains, shadows, and much more.
(link 👇)
May 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
How are humans able to make sense of time? Not with special biology but with “time tools”—ideas, practices, and artifacts that render time more concrete.
My new paper explores this vast, varied toolkit—one that makes use of knots, nuts, hands, flowers, mountains, shadows, and much more.
(link 👇)
My new paper explores this vast, varied toolkit—one that makes use of knots, nuts, hands, flowers, mountains, shadows, and much more.
(link 👇)
Reposted by jomaksic
Ever wondered what life is like for a crow or magpie? Check out our new paper on corvid consciousness
doi.org/10.1007/s100...
doi.org/10.1007/s100...
Dimensions of corvid consciousness - Animal Cognition
Corvids have long been a target of public fascination and of scientific attention, particularly in the study of animal minds. Using Birch et al.’s (2020) 5-dimensional framework for animal consciousne...
doi.org
May 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Ever wondered what life is like for a crow or magpie? Check out our new paper on corvid consciousness
doi.org/10.1007/s100...
doi.org/10.1007/s100...
Reposted by jomaksic
New Paper Alert: Why do chimpanzees have large tool kits? with @taichimpproject.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
We found that like humans, chimpanzees seek social learning opportunities throughout their first decade of life, particularly for tool use.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
We found that like humans, chimpanzees seek social learning opportunities throughout their first decade of life, particularly for tool use.
Social tolerance and role model diversity increase tool use learning opportunities across chimpanzee ontogeny - Communications Biology
Social attention patterns suggest that wild chimpanzees learn from their mothers but also from many other tolerant group members across protracted development. This likely enables chimpanzees to learn...
www.nature.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
New Paper Alert: Why do chimpanzees have large tool kits? with @taichimpproject.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
We found that like humans, chimpanzees seek social learning opportunities throughout their first decade of life, particularly for tool use.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
We found that like humans, chimpanzees seek social learning opportunities throughout their first decade of life, particularly for tool use.
Reposted by jomaksic
Cumulative culture was long treated as the defining difference between human and non-human culture. In this lovely new article, Eli (also my PhD student) reviews new research suggesting that cultural open-endedness is a better candidate for what makes us special.
Hello, Bluesky! Pleased to share that my first public-press article, on the shifting debate over what makes human culture unique, was published today in @us.theconversation.com. I review recent literature suggesting that cultural open-endedness, not cumulative culture, is our true defining trait.
Humans aren’t the only animals with complex culture − but researchers point to one feature that makes ours unique
Animals can learn from each other, maintaining their cultures for long periods of time. What sets people apart may be the uniquely open-ended ways we invent new ideas and share and build on them.
theconversation.com
March 19, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Cumulative culture was long treated as the defining difference between human and non-human culture. In this lovely new article, Eli (also my PhD student) reviews new research suggesting that cultural open-endedness is a better candidate for what makes us special.
Reposted by jomaksic
I’m heartbroken to hear that Kanzi has passed away. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent with this smart, rambunctious, sweet bonobo. There will never be another Kanzi. Sending love to all who loved him.
❤️🧪
📷: ACCI
❤️🧪
📷: ACCI
March 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I’m heartbroken to hear that Kanzi has passed away. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent with this smart, rambunctious, sweet bonobo. There will never be another Kanzi. Sending love to all who loved him.
❤️🧪
📷: ACCI
❤️🧪
📷: ACCI
Reposted by jomaksic
👨🎤COSMOS strikes back🌠! This time in Tokyo 🇯🇵 with a fantastic new program designed to teach computational modeling of social phenomena. As always, it's free to attend & we will offer travel stipends to ensure diverse attendance. For details visit 👉 cosmossummerschool.github.io/application/ pls share🙏
March 12, 2025 at 12:54 PM
👨🎤COSMOS strikes back🌠! This time in Tokyo 🇯🇵 with a fantastic new program designed to teach computational modeling of social phenomena. As always, it's free to attend & we will offer travel stipends to ensure diverse attendance. For details visit 👉 cosmossummerschool.github.io/application/ pls share🙏
Reposted by jomaksic
We are please to release Transmissions Ep 1, featuring Dr Cristina Moya @hyperadapthyrax.bsky.social in conversation with Feryl Badiani @ferylbadiani.bsky.social
Cristina and Feryl chat about Cristina's work in Peru and discuss CE in human and non-human societies:
youtu.be/2otT0PkhPkw?...
Cristina and Feryl chat about Cristina's work in Peru and discuss CE in human and non-human societies:
youtu.be/2otT0PkhPkw?...
Transmissions Episode 1 with Dr Cristina Moya
YouTube video by Cultural Evolution Society
youtu.be
March 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
We are please to release Transmissions Ep 1, featuring Dr Cristina Moya @hyperadapthyrax.bsky.social in conversation with Feryl Badiani @ferylbadiani.bsky.social
Cristina and Feryl chat about Cristina's work in Peru and discuss CE in human and non-human societies:
youtu.be/2otT0PkhPkw?...
Cristina and Feryl chat about Cristina's work in Peru and discuss CE in human and non-human societies:
youtu.be/2otT0PkhPkw?...
Reposted by jomaksic
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fresh out of the oven… New discovery from the Olduvai Gorge Archaeology Project led by I. de la Torre and J. Njau in collaboration with Maasai people and local collaborators in Tanzania. @csic.es @pacea.bsky.social @univbordeaux.bsky.social @cnrsecologie.bsky.social
Fresh out of the oven… New discovery from the Olduvai Gorge Archaeology Project led by I. de la Torre and J. Njau in collaboration with Maasai people and local collaborators in Tanzania. @csic.es @pacea.bsky.social @univbordeaux.bsky.social @cnrsecologie.bsky.social
Systematic bone tool production at 1.5 million years ago - Nature
Bone tools shaped by knapping found within Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania precede any other evidence of systematic bone tool production by more than 1 million years.
www.nature.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fresh out of the oven… New discovery from the Olduvai Gorge Archaeology Project led by I. de la Torre and J. Njau in collaboration with Maasai people and local collaborators in Tanzania. @csic.es @pacea.bsky.social @univbordeaux.bsky.social @cnrsecologie.bsky.social
Fresh out of the oven… New discovery from the Olduvai Gorge Archaeology Project led by I. de la Torre and J. Njau in collaboration with Maasai people and local collaborators in Tanzania. @csic.es @pacea.bsky.social @univbordeaux.bsky.social @cnrsecologie.bsky.social
Reposted by jomaksic
"Bone-related behaviours of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)" Chimpanzees spontaneously using bones ... as tools. That study (led by Alba Notes Rodrigo) is probably going to become more widely read soon, so let me quickly link that study here:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Bone-related behaviours of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) during two excavating experiments - Primates
After stone tools, bone tools are the most abundant artefact type in the Early Pleistocene archaeological record. That said, they are still relatively scarce, which limits our understanding of the beh...
link.springer.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
"Bone-related behaviours of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)" Chimpanzees spontaneously using bones ... as tools. That study (led by Alba Notes Rodrigo) is probably going to become more widely read soon, so let me quickly link that study here:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by jomaksic
📢 Join the 7th annual meeting of the Society for the Cognitive Science of Culture ( #SCSC ) on the 28-29th of April at the University of #Zurich! Registration and abstract submission are now open until the 28th of February.
More information:
culturalcogsci.org/AnnualMeetin...
More information:
culturalcogsci.org/AnnualMeetin...
February 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
📢 Join the 7th annual meeting of the Society for the Cognitive Science of Culture ( #SCSC ) on the 28-29th of April at the University of #Zurich! Registration and abstract submission are now open until the 28th of February.
More information:
culturalcogsci.org/AnnualMeetin...
More information:
culturalcogsci.org/AnnualMeetin...
Reposted by jomaksic
🌳 I’m excited to announce that we have published our paper outlining our protocol for training primates to forage in virtual environments! Out now #openaccess
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 16, 2024 at 5:16 PM
🌳 I’m excited to announce that we have published our paper outlining our protocol for training primates to forage in virtual environments! Out now #openaccess
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by jomaksic
1/4 A study of the psychoacoustics (including fMRI) of the sounds of ehecachichtli, the Aztec death whistles.
The brain reacts as it does to screams and alarms, but also as if trying to make sense of them.
(paper) https://buff.ly/3V0t64K
The brain reacts as it does to screams and alarms, but also as if trying to make sense of them.
(paper) https://buff.ly/3V0t64K
November 19, 2024 at 6:52 PM
1/4 A study of the psychoacoustics (including fMRI) of the sounds of ehecachichtli, the Aztec death whistles.
The brain reacts as it does to screams and alarms, but also as if trying to make sense of them.
(paper) https://buff.ly/3V0t64K
The brain reacts as it does to screams and alarms, but also as if trying to make sense of them.
(paper) https://buff.ly/3V0t64K
Reposted by jomaksic
I'm over the moon to finally be able to share my paper 'Death-feigning, animal concepts, and the use of empirical case studies in animal cognition' (co-written with @ldanon.bsky.social), out now in @thebjps.bsky.social. Perfect timing, too, as I can now write a thread on it! 🤩🧵👇
Death-feigning, animal concepts, and the use of empirical case studies in animal cognition | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science: Vol 0, No ja
www.journals.uchicago.edu
November 11, 2024 at 10:17 AM
I'm over the moon to finally be able to share my paper 'Death-feigning, animal concepts, and the use of empirical case studies in animal cognition' (co-written with @ldanon.bsky.social), out now in @thebjps.bsky.social. Perfect timing, too, as I can now write a thread on it! 🤩🧵👇
Reposted by jomaksic
This was a labour of love. Co-written with Giulia Palazzolo. Since the field consists of disconnected pockets of intense research, I think this is likely the most complete and systematic overview of the philosophy of animal communication literature to date.
plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
Animal Communication (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
plato.stanford.edu
October 23, 2024 at 4:25 PM
This was a labour of love. Co-written with Giulia Palazzolo. Since the field consists of disconnected pockets of intense research, I think this is likely the most complete and systematic overview of the philosophy of animal communication literature to date.
plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
Reposted by jomaksic
showing you my collection of exotic dirts
October 29, 2024 at 12:02 AM
showing you my collection of exotic dirts
Reposted by jomaksic
Every autumn, Swedish bramblings descend from the mountains to overwinter in the beech forests of the south.
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October 28, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Every autumn, Swedish bramblings descend from the mountains to overwinter in the beech forests of the south.
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