Joan Silk

Project NZ2026 is officially launched.

You may regret this...I'm on sabbatical in Spring 2027. Travel plans during my last sabbatical were rudely interrupted by COVID, and so I am really ready to take advantage of my chance to travel.

Some of us are only waiting for a vague invitation to prompt us to visit New Zealand.

My most sincere apologies to all echidnas. Good that we will have a new edition soon to correct our errors.

There I am. A tiny spot in the universe

At last I understand the difference between cladistic and evolutionary taxonomy.

This is a helpful review for those who study physiology, but less about effects of social context. Or for those who study social context, but know less about physiology.

If, by chance, we get to come back in another form, I think I would like to be a cockatoo.

Joe Henrich has won the Carty Award from the National Academy of Sciences: "Henrich’s fundamental contributions have transformed our understanding of how cultural evolutionary forces shape human behavior and psychology."
www.nasonline.org/award/john-j...

And, science is the product of individual labor and passion. The impact of funding cuts on scientists:https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00091-0?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20260122&utm_source=nature_etoc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CONR_41586_AWA1_GL_DTEC_054CI_TOC-260122

US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.

The data tell the story: US science is in crisis
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

YouTube video by Cultural Evolution Society Transmissions Episode 2 with Dr Sarah Matthew

Excited for the new Transmissions episode on ASU's Sarah Mathew on how human warfare evolved, and her fieldwork in Kenya.

Watch here:
youtu.be/eUqEcxf5uBQ?...

New Episodes monthly! Created by @ferylbadiani.bsky.social and @ahnisnaahsi.bsky.social

CC: @arizonastateuni.bsky.social

Thank you for your efforts to support the work of scientists across fields. It matters.

4.5 Degrees

Just in case you need a visual: xkcd.com/1379/

#GreatAdaptations The adaptive value of diversity www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagaz...

#GreatAdaptations Intransitive strategies in lizards www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagaz...

How exactly does this work? FEWER staff will get LESS outside help and this will REDUCE their workload. Color me skeptical. www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagaz...

Problems always arise when you rely entirely on a single metric for measuring complex phenomena. Many forms of information should be considered: impact factor, H-index, reliability of research, mentorship, commitment to improvement of the scientific process, and service to the academic community.

#GreatAdaptations Because we all need a bit of levity these days.

#GreatAdaptations This is clearly a very early April Fool's joke

The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.

My bet is 2026 is going to look much worse. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

It wasn't hard to see this coming, but even so it's hard to accept. Anyone know whether other divisions were affected?

Happy that you are getting credit (and coverage) for your important work. And great to see your generosity in acknowledging the work of others.

#GreatAdaptations Sadly males may be able to impress females, but not see them.

#GreatAdaptations Lethal intergroup aggression in chimpanzees has adaptive benefits (for the victors) www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1...

#GreatAdaptations New data from a species that keeps teaching us more about how females hold their own in reproductive conflicts with males.

In Memoriam Jane B. Lancaster (1935–2025), a Pioneer in Anthropology Click on the article title to read more.

Hard to think of a better epitaph for a scientist than this: “She inspired us to see the world with both rigor and heart”

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

A better or more appropriate epitaph.

So very sad and so very unnecessary.

The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond