Michael D. Barton
@darwinsbulldog.bsky.social
Historian & Darwin aficionado. Editor, John Tyndall Correspondence Project. Father & advocate for connecting children to nature (natureplaysign.com). He/him/his. Portland, OR.
Pinned
"Freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of men’s minds, which follows from the advance of science." ~ Charles Darwin
Love how rough-skinned newts blend into the fallen fall foliage so well. Daughter spotted this one when she was crouched down collecting worm poop. Yes, worm poop! 🪱 💩
November 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Love how rough-skinned newts blend into the fallen fall foliage so well. Daughter spotted this one when she was crouched down collecting worm poop. Yes, worm poop! 🪱 💩
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
One of the incredible treasures we saw last week at the @nhm-london.bsky.social were some of Charles Darwin's actual pigeons - ones that factored into his formulation of Natural Selection, published in Origin of Species 166 years ago today. @tetrameryx.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
One of the incredible treasures we saw last week at the @nhm-london.bsky.social were some of Charles Darwin's actual pigeons - ones that factored into his formulation of Natural Selection, published in Origin of Species 166 years ago today. @tetrameryx.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Last year's design was a real hit, too!
Send season’s greetings to your friends and family with Charles Darwin and his mischievous Christmas birds 🪿🎄
We have 14 different humanist designs available to buy. All proceeds go to fund our work for a kinder, more rational society. 👇
Send season’s greetings to your friends and family with Charles Darwin and his mischievous Christmas birds 🪿🎄
We have 14 different humanist designs available to buy. All proceeds go to fund our work for a kinder, more rational society. 👇
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Last year's design was a real hit, too!
Send season’s greetings to your friends and family with Charles Darwin and his mischievous Christmas birds 🪿🎄
We have 14 different humanist designs available to buy. All proceeds go to fund our work for a kinder, more rational society. 👇
Send season’s greetings to your friends and family with Charles Darwin and his mischievous Christmas birds 🪿🎄
We have 14 different humanist designs available to buy. All proceeds go to fund our work for a kinder, more rational society. 👇
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Can't make it to Leeds? You can still watch the live stream of Jon Topham's Professorial Inaugural Lecture here: www.youtube.com/live/W1KQBZV...
We much look forward to seeing those us in person, and particularly all the attendees at the @bshsnews.bsky.social Postgraduate Conference! #histsci
We much look forward to seeing those us in person, and particularly all the attendees at the @bshsnews.bsky.social Postgraduate Conference! #histsci
Prof J. Topham - "Science and Religion from the Ground Up"
YouTube video by The British Society for the History of Science
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
The foreword by Janet Browne and Michael Neve made a strong impression on me.
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The foreword by Janet Browne and Michael Neve made a strong impression on me.
In the mail today: a copy of Gillen D'Arcy Wood's "The Wake of HMS Challenger" (@princetonupress.bsky.social, 2025) that I won for attending a webinar from the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science, which is now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4c...
November 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM
In the mail today: a copy of Gillen D'Arcy Wood's "The Wake of HMS Challenger" (@princetonupress.bsky.social, 2025) that I won for attending a webinar from the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science, which is now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4c...
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's landmark book 'On the Origin of Species' was first published. The work is one of the foundations of evolutionary biology, and one of the most important scientific works of the 19th century. #HistoryOfScience
November 24, 2025 at 9:07 AM
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's landmark book 'On the Origin of Species' was first published. The work is one of the foundations of evolutionary biology, and one of the most important scientific works of the 19th century. #HistoryOfScience
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
📖 Exciting reading for today, the anniversary of the publication of On The Origin Of Species:
The Darwin Online project has just released Darwin's address book, filled with unique insights not found anywhere else. It has been transcribed and is now readable at the link below!
buff.ly/uqYc9IL
The Darwin Online project has just released Darwin's address book, filled with unique insights not found anywhere else. It has been transcribed and is now readable at the link below!
buff.ly/uqYc9IL
November 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
📖 Exciting reading for today, the anniversary of the publication of On The Origin Of Species:
The Darwin Online project has just released Darwin's address book, filled with unique insights not found anywhere else. It has been transcribed and is now readable at the link below!
buff.ly/uqYc9IL
The Darwin Online project has just released Darwin's address book, filled with unique insights not found anywhere else. It has been transcribed and is now readable at the link below!
buff.ly/uqYc9IL
For this 166th anniv. of the publication of On the Origin of Species (1859), what was the 1st book you read about Charles Darwin? Mine: Charles Darwin: The Making of a Scientist by Roy A. Gallant (1972), c. 1995, when reading books abt dinosaurs (thanks, Jurassic Park) led me to books abt evolution.
November 24, 2025 at 10:17 PM
For this 166th anniv. of the publication of On the Origin of Species (1859), what was the 1st book you read about Charles Darwin? Mine: Charles Darwin: The Making of a Scientist by Roy A. Gallant (1972), c. 1995, when reading books abt dinosaurs (thanks, Jurassic Park) led me to books abt evolution.
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
I got to hold first edition Linnaeus and first edition Darwin today, nbd.
(Both jewels of the @mobotgarden.bsky.social library.)
(Both jewels of the @mobotgarden.bsky.social library.)
November 15, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I got to hold first edition Linnaeus and first edition Darwin today, nbd.
(Both jewels of the @mobotgarden.bsky.social library.)
(Both jewels of the @mobotgarden.bsky.social library.)
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Darwin’s publisher, John Murray, was usually quite generous about paying for maps, plates, and in-text images for D’s books, and D attended closely to his illustrations, so it’s surprising that the Origin featured only 1, a diagrammatic model of change through time.
🌱🐋🧪 #histSTM #evobio 🐡
🌱🐋🧪 #histSTM #evobio 🐡
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Some of the most important words ever written: 'Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.' – Charles Darwin, 'On the Origin of Species'. It was published #OnThisDay 1859.
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Some of the most important words ever written: 'Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.' – Charles Darwin, 'On the Origin of Species'. It was published #OnThisDay 1859.
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
#OTD in 1859 'On the Origin of Species' was published. We have a few different editions in the library @thembauk.bsky.social but we are privileged to be custodians of an early edition gifted to (a mystery) someone by Charles #Darwin himself
📖BS.15/D
📖BS.15/D
November 24, 2025 at 9:59 AM
#OTD in 1859 'On the Origin of Species' was published. We have a few different editions in the library @thembauk.bsky.social but we are privileged to be custodians of an early edition gifted to (a mystery) someone by Charles #Darwin himself
📖BS.15/D
📖BS.15/D
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
On the Origin of Species: landmark work published #OTD 1859 by Charles Darwin, influential English naturalist, geologist and pioneer of evolutionary theory.
Portrait 1830’s by George Richmond
Bodleian Library @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
@tomgauld.bsky.social | @newscientist.com
Portrait 1830’s by George Richmond
Bodleian Library @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
@tomgauld.bsky.social | @newscientist.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 AM
On the Origin of Species: landmark work published #OTD 1859 by Charles Darwin, influential English naturalist, geologist and pioneer of evolutionary theory.
Portrait 1830’s by George Richmond
Bodleian Library @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
@tomgauld.bsky.social | @newscientist.com
Portrait 1830’s by George Richmond
Bodleian Library @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
@tomgauld.bsky.social | @newscientist.com
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
On 24 November 1639 the British astronomers Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree became the first observers to record a transit of Venus. #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/a...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/a...
An important anniversary in the history of science.
The 24th of November is a very significant date in the history of science. On this date an event took place that would contribute to a major change in the way humanity viewed the world and its plac…
thonyc.wordpress.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 AM
On 24 November 1639 the British astronomers Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree became the first observers to record a transit of Venus. #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/a...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/a...
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Darwin's groundbreaking On the Origin of Species appeared #OTD in 1859 -- even though Darwin's publisher, John Murray, didn't accept evolution. A while back I wrote about their turbulent relationship, for @smithsonianmag.bsky.social: www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu... #science #history #histsci
Charles Darwin's Publisher Didn't Believe in Evolution, but Sold His Revolutionary Book Anyway
The famed naturalist and conservative stalwart John Murray III formed an unlikely alliance in popularizing a radical idea
www.smithsonianmag.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Darwin's groundbreaking On the Origin of Species appeared #OTD in 1859 -- even though Darwin's publisher, John Murray, didn't accept evolution. A while back I wrote about their turbulent relationship, for @smithsonianmag.bsky.social: www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu... #science #history #histsci
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
24-Nov: On this day in 1859 was published Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species‘. As revolutionary science books go, it’s a damn fine read. Here’s my retrospective review: friendsofdarwin.com/reviews/book... #histsci
Book review: ‘On the Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin (1st ed., 1859)
…or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
friendsofdarwin.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
24-Nov: On this day in 1859 was published Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species‘. As revolutionary science books go, it’s a damn fine read. Here’s my retrospective review: friendsofdarwin.com/reviews/book... #histsci
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
I can’t quite believe it’s been 16 years since we celebrated Origin’s 150th anniversary (and Darwin’s 200th birthday). One of these days I’ll make time to write about how my perspective has evolved since then (ba dum tsk), particularly around colonialism and the “great man of science” model.
24-Nov: On this day in 1859 was published Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species‘. As revolutionary science books go, it’s a damn fine read. Here’s my retrospective review: friendsofdarwin.com/reviews/book... #histsci
Book review: ‘On the Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin (1st ed., 1859)
…or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
friendsofdarwin.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I can’t quite believe it’s been 16 years since we celebrated Origin’s 150th anniversary (and Darwin’s 200th birthday). One of these days I’ll make time to write about how my perspective has evolved since then (ba dum tsk), particularly around colonialism and the “great man of science” model.
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
BREAKING:
Sen. Elissa Slotkin says police responded to her home tonight in response to a bomb threat. Slotkin wasn't at home at the time.
This is two days after Trump said Slotkin and other Democrats committed "seditious conspiracy, punishable by death."
Sen. Elissa Slotkin says police responded to her home tonight in response to a bomb threat. Slotkin wasn't at home at the time.
This is two days after Trump said Slotkin and other Democrats committed "seditious conspiracy, punishable by death."
November 22, 2025 at 2:30 AM
BREAKING:
Sen. Elissa Slotkin says police responded to her home tonight in response to a bomb threat. Slotkin wasn't at home at the time.
This is two days after Trump said Slotkin and other Democrats committed "seditious conspiracy, punishable by death."
Sen. Elissa Slotkin says police responded to her home tonight in response to a bomb threat. Slotkin wasn't at home at the time.
This is two days after Trump said Slotkin and other Democrats committed "seditious conspiracy, punishable by death."
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
This short from the Swiss animator Georges Schwizgebel titled ‘Darwin’s Notebook’ envisions the encounter of Charles Darwin with three Indigenous people on the Beagle, who were travelling back to their homelands in Terra del Fuego after being kidnapped to England in 1830
The story of the captives transported on the HMS Beagle with Darwin | Aeon Videos
An animated interpretation of the story of the Indigenous people kidnapped from Tierra del Fuego and brought to England in 1830
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This short from the Swiss animator Georges Schwizgebel titled ‘Darwin’s Notebook’ envisions the encounter of Charles Darwin with three Indigenous people on the Beagle, who were travelling back to their homelands in Terra del Fuego after being kidnapped to England in 1830
Great video from @pbseons.bsky.social about Darwin and his work on barnacles: www.youtube.com/watch?v=plYu...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
November 21, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Great video from @pbseons.bsky.social about Darwin and his work on barnacles: www.youtube.com/watch?v=plYu...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
Great video from @pbseons.bsky.social about Darwin's earthworm studies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEkb...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
November 21, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Great video from @pbseons.bsky.social about Darwin's earthworm studies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEkb...
#histsci #HPS
#histsci #HPS
Visited the @universitypress.cambridge.org bookshop in 2009 during the Darwin Bicentenary!
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Visited the @universitypress.cambridge.org bookshop in 2009 during the Darwin Bicentenary!
Reposted by Michael D. Barton
Hey fountain pen people. I have a Parker 75 pen of my dad’s, and it includes this metal jobby with a squeezable part that I think is meant to let you use ink from a bottle. I can’t figure how to use it. Any tips? I don’t see where the threads match the pen.
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Hey fountain pen people. I have a Parker 75 pen of my dad’s, and it includes this metal jobby with a squeezable part that I think is meant to let you use ink from a bottle. I can’t figure how to use it. Any tips? I don’t see where the threads match the pen.
ARTICLE: “The Apostle of the Monkey Ancestral Business”: Darwinism and Black Newspapers as Counterpublics, 1859–1929 ~ bit.ly/3JV5MmG #HPS #histsci
ARTICLE: “The Apostle of the Monkey Ancestral Business”: Darwinism and Black Newspapers as Counterpublics, 1859–1929
In the journal Isis: “The Apostle of the Monkey Ancestral Business”: Darwinism and Black Newspapers as Counterpublics, 1859–1929 Matthew W. Hughey Abstract After Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of S…
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
ARTICLE: “The Apostle of the Monkey Ancestral Business”: Darwinism and Black Newspapers as Counterpublics, 1859–1929 ~ bit.ly/3JV5MmG #HPS #histsci