Gabriel Finkelstein
@gabrielfinkelstein.bsky.social
Historian of science, modern Europe, and exploration.
Currently working on “Scientific History,” a study of Buckle, Taine, and du Bois-Reymond.
https://ucdenver.academia.edu/GabrielFinkelstein #histsci #histSTM
Currently working on “Scientific History,” a study of Buckle, Taine, and du Bois-Reymond.
https://ucdenver.academia.edu/GabrielFinkelstein #histsci #histSTM
Pinned
The Greatest Unknown Intellectual of the 19th Century
Emil du Bois-Reymond proclaimed the mystery of consciousness, championed the theory of natural selection, and revolutionized the study of the nervous system. Today, he is all but forgotten.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
In case you haven’t seen this the last fifty times I’ve posted it thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-greatest...
"Nationalism is made for nobodies. This explains its eternal appeal. It allows them to claim solidarity with something great."
—Julien Benda, Les Cahiers d'un clerc, 1936-1949 (Paris, 1949),15 (13 February 1936).
—Julien Benda, Les Cahiers d'un clerc, 1936-1949 (Paris, 1949),15 (13 February 1936).
December 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
"Nationalism is made for nobodies. This explains its eternal appeal. It allows them to claim solidarity with something great."
—Julien Benda, Les Cahiers d'un clerc, 1936-1949 (Paris, 1949),15 (13 February 1936).
—Julien Benda, Les Cahiers d'un clerc, 1936-1949 (Paris, 1949),15 (13 February 1936).
Lovely evening
December 10, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Lovely evening
We need to evolve beaks and wings
Why did birds survive the asteroid impact when every other dinosaur vanished?
The real answer isn’t speed or intelligence or “better flight.”
It’s a much more interesting story of size, diet, ecology, and pure luck
🧪 #SciComm
buff.ly/iie8MaY
The real answer isn’t speed or intelligence or “better flight.”
It’s a much more interesting story of size, diet, ecology, and pure luck
🧪 #SciComm
buff.ly/iie8MaY
Why Birds Survived The Asteroid Impact When Other Dinosaurs Didn’t?
How tiny, flexible dinosaurs slipped through a narrow ecological gap after Earth’s most catastrophic extinction When I teach about the end-Cretaceous extinction, I like to...
climateages.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
We need to evolve beaks and wings
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
Philosophy group at Wageningen University is hiring an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy of the Life Sciences. Position is in the Philosophy (PHI) group led by @rachelankeny.bsky.social Deadline is 12 January 2026
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/a...
#philsci #philjobs #philsky #hpbio
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/a...
#philsci #philjobs #philsky #hpbio
Assistant Professor in Philosophy of the Life Sciences
Are you seeking a challenging role in a nurturing and collegial setting that supports rigorous philosophical teaching and research as well as opportunities for productive collaborations with social an...
www.wur.nl
December 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Philosophy group at Wageningen University is hiring an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy of the Life Sciences. Position is in the Philosophy (PHI) group led by @rachelankeny.bsky.social Deadline is 12 January 2026
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/a...
#philsci #philjobs #philsky #hpbio
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/a...
#philsci #philjobs #philsky #hpbio
Tree with decorations
December 4, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Tree with decorations
If one of the languages is German it’s known as brain draining
When someone knows two or more languages, all those languages remain active in the brain. The brain must select the right language while keeping others from interfering. This constant mental exercise acts a bit like daily "brain training". #RSNA25
www.sciencealert.com/speaking-mul...
www.sciencealert.com/speaking-mul...
Speaking Multiple Languages May Slow Brain Aging, Study Suggests
People are living longer than ever around the world.
www.sciencealert.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:15 AM
If one of the languages is German it’s known as brain draining
Strasbourg shop. Cute or kitsch?
November 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Strasbourg shop. Cute or kitsch?
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
And the Guardian! There are elements of her critique I accept, others I don't, but there you go...
Crick: A Mind in Motion by Matthew Cobb review – the charismatic philanderer who changed science
Genius and arrogance play leading roles in a new biography of the man who helped uncover the structure of DNA
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM
And the Guardian! There are elements of her critique I accept, others I don't, but there you go...
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
The Thing
(1982)
Dir. John Carpenter
(1982)
Dir. John Carpenter
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The Thing
(1982)
Dir. John Carpenter
(1982)
Dir. John Carpenter
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
Actor Rock Hudson (1925-1985) was born 100 years ago today in Winnetka, Illinois. In 1965, he visited Scarsdale, New York, to shoot scenes for the John Frankenheimer film SECONDS. I wrote about the Scarsdale filming in 2015. The article is posted here: andybassny.substack.com/p/the-day-ro...
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Actor Rock Hudson (1925-1985) was born 100 years ago today in Winnetka, Illinois. In 1965, he visited Scarsdale, New York, to shoot scenes for the John Frankenheimer film SECONDS. I wrote about the Scarsdale filming in 2015. The article is posted here: andybassny.substack.com/p/the-day-ro...
Pink balloon
November 17, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Pink balloon
My kid drew Beabadoobee
November 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
My kid drew Beabadoobee
word of the day
November 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
word of the day
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
One year after President Trump’s election victory, it’s clear: he and Defense Secretary Hegseth have weakened our alliances, politicized our military, and made America less safe.
November 8, 2025 at 1:03 AM
One year after President Trump’s election victory, it’s clear: he and Defense Secretary Hegseth have weakened our alliances, politicized our military, and made America less safe.
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
Au goûter des poires au four, fourrées avec la caramel tarte à l'érable offert par @chanuage.bsky.social sur sablé. C'est délicieux !
@bubulle.bsky.social @jeandupond.bsky.social @solinaya.bsky.social
@bubulle.bsky.social @jeandupond.bsky.social @solinaya.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Au goûter des poires au four, fourrées avec la caramel tarte à l'érable offert par @chanuage.bsky.social sur sablé. C'est délicieux !
@bubulle.bsky.social @jeandupond.bsky.social @solinaya.bsky.social
@bubulle.bsky.social @jeandupond.bsky.social @solinaya.bsky.social
Just ever so blasphemous, on Emil du Bois-Reymond's birthday, care of artificial intelligence
November 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Just ever so blasphemous, on Emil du Bois-Reymond's birthday, care of artificial intelligence
Reposting this on Emil du Bois-Reymond's birthday today
Emil du Bois-Reymond was the first German Darwinist, and unlike Ernst Haeckel, he got the theory right www.researchgate.net/publication/... #Darwin #Germany #19thCentury #histSTM #STS
(PDF) Haeckel and du Bois-Reymond: Rival German Darwinists
PDF | Ernst Haeckel and Emil du Bois-Reymond were the most prominent champions of Darwin in Germany. This essay compares their contributions to... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on Re...
www.researchgate.net
November 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposting this on Emil du Bois-Reymond's birthday today
Emil du Bois-Reymond was born on 7 November 1818.
Here is my interview with Joshua Richardson about his importance to the sciences of the mind. www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/emil-du-bo...
Here is my interview with Joshua Richardson about his importance to the sciences of the mind. www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/emil-du-bo...
Emil du Bois-Reymond & Ignorance in Science: Interview with Gabriel Finkelstein
“we are ignorant and we will remain ignorant”
www.psychiatrymargins.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Emil du Bois-Reymond was born on 7 November 1818.
Here is my interview with Joshua Richardson about his importance to the sciences of the mind. www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/emil-du-bo...
Here is my interview with Joshua Richardson about his importance to the sciences of the mind. www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/emil-du-bo...
I’ve met a few Marxist German bankers.
November 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I’ve met a few Marxist German bankers.
Cycling with my daughter
November 6, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Cycling with my daughter
I think I need to repost this given the elections
Dog tongs, once used to remove unruly dogs from the church:
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I think I need to repost this given the elections
Reposted by Gabriel Finkelstein
Greatest scientist between Newton & Einstein: James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist, died #OTD 1879; formulated Theory of Electromagnetism, four equations which underpin modern information & communication technologies.
Monument George Street Edinburgh | James Clerk Maxwell Foundation Edinburgh
Monument George Street Edinburgh | James Clerk Maxwell Foundation Edinburgh
November 5, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Greatest scientist between Newton & Einstein: James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist, died #OTD 1879; formulated Theory of Electromagnetism, four equations which underpin modern information & communication technologies.
Monument George Street Edinburgh | James Clerk Maxwell Foundation Edinburgh
Monument George Street Edinburgh | James Clerk Maxwell Foundation Edinburgh