Gunnar De Winter
@gunnardewinter.bsky.social
Biologist and semi-philosopher | science (and fiction) writer | plays with words and ideas
🌍 Belgium (for now)
🙋♂️ gunnardewinter.com
🌍 Belgium (for now)
🙋♂️ gunnardewinter.com
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
New article out about the benefits of living a varied life. Plus it has a picture of me in spandex! open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
The Case for a Varied Life
Don’t put all your eggs-periences in one identity basket
open.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:48 AM
New article out about the benefits of living a varied life. Plus it has a picture of me in spandex! open.substack.com/pub/cognitiv...
Simple tips to add several healthy years to your life:
- Sleep eight hours
- Move for an hour
- Add an extra half serving of vegetables
Shocker, I know.
#science #health #lifetips
- Sleep eight hours
- Move for an hour
- Add an extra half serving of vegetables
Shocker, I know.
#science #health #lifetips
Minimum combined sleep, physical activity, and nutrition variations associated with lifeSPAN and healthSPAN improvements: a population cohort study
Modest concurrent improvements in sleep, physical activity, and diet were associated
with meaningful gains in lifespan and healthspan.
www.thelancet.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Well, that's a coincidence. I 'found' the meteorite in my 'Desert Beetle Song' story...
www.tractorbeam.earth/story/desert...
www.tractorbeam.earth/story/desert...
A soldier returned from the Sahara desert in 1916 with a wild story about a meteorite that dwarfed all others. Over 100 years of hunting yielded nothing – but now twin brothers think they have solved the puzzle
The century-long hunt for the gigantic meteorite that vanished
A soldier returned from the Sahara desert in 1916 with a wild story about a meteorite that dwarfed all others. Over 100 years of hunting yielded nothing – but now twin brothers think they have solved the puzzle
www.newscientist.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Well, that's a coincidence. I 'found' the meteorite in my 'Desert Beetle Song' story...
www.tractorbeam.earth/story/desert...
www.tractorbeam.earth/story/desert...
Don't sleep on Tractor Beam. They're doing great things with short fiction and really cool artwork.
#writing #writingcommunity
#writing #writingcommunity
Happy Winter Solstice soilpunks! 🌗❄️🕯️
Issue 4: THAW is here. You can read @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social's guest editor letter at tractorbeam.earth. And subscribe to our Substack (link in bio) to get the first look at all the stories as they drop over the next few weeks!
#scifi #thaw #tractorbeam
Issue 4: THAW is here. You can read @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social's guest editor letter at tractorbeam.earth. And subscribe to our Substack (link in bio) to get the first look at all the stories as they drop over the next few weeks!
#scifi #thaw #tractorbeam
Thaw | Tractor Beam
A quarterly publication of soilpunk fiction: Radical visions rooted in soil
tractorbeam.earth
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Don't sleep on Tractor Beam. They're doing great things with short fiction and really cool artwork.
#writing #writingcommunity
#writing #writingcommunity
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
Exclusive: In a remarkable milestone in a decadelong odyssey, members of the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project report in a new paper that they have recovered DNA from Holy Child and other objects—and some may be from Leonardo himself. https://scim.ag/4aO5Wr8
Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA?
Inside the decadeslong quest to reveal the genes of a genius—and revolutionize art authentication
scim.ag
January 6, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Exclusive: In a remarkable milestone in a decadelong odyssey, members of the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project report in a new paper that they have recovered DNA from Holy Child and other objects—and some may be from Leonardo himself. https://scim.ag/4aO5Wr8
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
From miso in space to infrared contact lenses, lots of #CoolScience published in Cell Press journals made the news this year.
Wrap up 2025 with us and check out some of the most talked-about Cell Press papers below!👇
Wrap up 2025 with us and check out some of the most talked-about Cell Press papers below!👇
December 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
From miso in space to infrared contact lenses, lots of #CoolScience published in Cell Press journals made the news this year.
Wrap up 2025 with us and check out some of the most talked-about Cell Press papers below!👇
Wrap up 2025 with us and check out some of the most talked-about Cell Press papers below!👇
Small study in mice, but this is wild!
Transplanting human/primate gut microbes into mice boosted energy production and synaptic plasticity in the brain!
“In other words, we were able to make the brains of mice look like the brains of the actual primates the microbes came from.”
#science #biology
Transplanting human/primate gut microbes into mice boosted energy production and synaptic plasticity in the brain!
“In other words, we were able to make the brains of mice look like the brains of the actual primates the microbes came from.”
#science #biology
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 6, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
Before you settle down at a New Year’s Eve feast, let me hand you some soup. And bugs. And philosophers.
#science #philosophy #newyear
#science #philosophy #newyear
Pupal Soup
On the past, the future, and the power of goo. Plus recommendations.
subtlesparks.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Before you settle down at a New Year’s Eve feast, let me hand you some soup. And bugs. And philosophers.
#science #philosophy #newyear
#science #philosophy #newyear
Before you settle down at a New Year’s Eve feast, let me hand you some soup. And bugs. And philosophers.
#science #philosophy #newyear
#science #philosophy #newyear
Pupal Soup
On the past, the future, and the power of goo. Plus recommendations.
subtlesparks.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Before you settle down at a New Year’s Eve feast, let me hand you some soup. And bugs. And philosophers.
#science #philosophy #newyear
#science #philosophy #newyear
Yes, in mice, but still... 👀
"Restoring brain NAD+ homeostasis reverses advanced AD in mice."
#science #health #medicine
"Restoring brain NAD+ homeostasis reverses advanced AD in mice."
#science #health #medicine
Pharmacologic reversal of advanced Alzheimer’s disease in mice and identification of potential therapeutic nodes in human brain
Chaubey et al. demonstrate that restoration of brain resilience reverses advanced
disease in two different mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), challenging the
century-long dogma of AD irreversib...
www.cell.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
New year's resolution:
Look upon my words, ye mighty,
and pay me for them
Look upon my words, ye mighty,
and pay me for them
December 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New year's resolution:
Look upon my words, ye mighty,
and pay me for them
Look upon my words, ye mighty,
and pay me for them
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
A new device inspired by the frog’s vocal sac can amplify and sense sound—showcasing its potential for acoustic heart monitoring.
Learn more in #ScienceAdvances: https://scim.ag/4aRVY7R
Learn more in #ScienceAdvances: https://scim.ag/4aRVY7R
Frog vocal sacs-inspired soft acoustic system with continuously tunable resonance for sound emission and stethoscopic sensing
Frog-inspired, soft, continuously tunable acoustics are designed for personalized voice and wearable auscultation.
scim.ag
December 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A new device inspired by the frog’s vocal sac can amplify and sense sound—showcasing its potential for acoustic heart monitoring.
Learn more in #ScienceAdvances: https://scim.ag/4aRVY7R
Learn more in #ScienceAdvances: https://scim.ag/4aRVY7R
Ancient bees built nests in mammal bones!
"... scans of the host bones show multi-generational use of the same cavity, suggesting repeated use and some degree of nest fidelity."
(paging @thedeadlands.com)
#science #biology #fossils
"... scans of the host bones show multi-generational use of the same cavity, suggesting repeated use and some degree of nest fidelity."
(paging @thedeadlands.com)
#science #biology #fossils
Trace fossils within mammal remains reveal novel bee nesting behaviour
Abstract. Bees (Anthophila) are well known for their species and remarkable behavioural diversity, ranging from solitary taxa that nest in burrows to eusoc
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Ancient bees built nests in mammal bones!
"... scans of the host bones show multi-generational use of the same cavity, suggesting repeated use and some degree of nest fidelity."
(paging @thedeadlands.com)
#science #biology #fossils
"... scans of the host bones show multi-generational use of the same cavity, suggesting repeated use and some degree of nest fidelity."
(paging @thedeadlands.com)
#science #biology #fossils
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
New paper on evolution, emergence, and novelty generation. I had a lot of fun working with my philosophy of science colleagues on this one!
Selective funnelling and state-space expansion: a conceptual framework for novelty generation and origin events
Abstract. Evolution, conceived broadly as encompassing both biological and abiological systems, generates novel structures and phenomena that are seemingly
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New paper on evolution, emergence, and novelty generation. I had a lot of fun working with my philosophy of science colleagues on this one!
The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go.
Uh oh...
Uh oh...
December 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The #1 movie when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 is going to go.
Uh oh...
Uh oh...
From LA's smog to Gila monsters to why we should give silly science more money.
#science #biology #technology
#science #biology #technology
The Future Needs Blue Skies
On the value of basic research and funding silly science
subtlesparks.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
From LA's smog to Gila monsters to why we should give silly science more money.
#science #biology #technology
#science #biology #technology
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
✍️New blog post! Evolution Has No Plan: Why Organisms Don’t Rewrite Their DNA
jenteottenburghs.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/e...
The news articles on polar bears that are “rewriting their DNA in response to climate change” triggered me to write this blog post. Evolution has no foresight.
jenteottenburghs.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/e...
The news articles on polar bears that are “rewriting their DNA in response to climate change” triggered me to write this blog post. Evolution has no foresight.
Evolution Has No Plan: Why Organisms Don’t Rewrite Their DNA
A quick explanation of some common misunderstandings about evolution.
jenteottenburghs.wordpress.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:46 PM
✍️New blog post! Evolution Has No Plan: Why Organisms Don’t Rewrite Their DNA
jenteottenburghs.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/e...
The news articles on polar bears that are “rewriting their DNA in response to climate change” triggered me to write this blog post. Evolution has no foresight.
jenteottenburghs.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/e...
The news articles on polar bears that are “rewriting their DNA in response to climate change” triggered me to write this blog post. Evolution has no foresight.
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
More ideas. We’re not going to run out of ideas but generative AI is a tool for people who don’t want to be involved in the step between idea and art. People whose own ideas will never evolve or become more complex because they don’t actually want to interact with or examine them.
December 14, 2025 at 1:34 PM
More ideas. We’re not going to run out of ideas but generative AI is a tool for people who don’t want to be involved in the step between idea and art. People whose own ideas will never evolve or become more complex because they don’t actually want to interact with or examine them.
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
You may have heard about the population of orcas that began attacking boats.
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
Cooperative foraging between dolphins and fish-eating killer whales - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Cooperative foraging between dolphins and fish-eating killer whales
www.nature.com
December 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
You may have heard about the population of orcas that began attacking boats.
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
Cooperative foraging between dolphins and fish-eating killer whales - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Cooperative foraging between dolphins and fish-eating killer whales
www.nature.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
You may have heard about the population of orcas that began attacking boats.
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
A new study now finds that orcas can recruit dolphins as scouts. The cetacean revolution is here...
#science #biology #marinebiology
Reposted by Gunnar De Winter
Analysis of more than 1 million people shows that mental-health disorders fall into five clusters, each of them linked to a specific set of genetic variants
go.nature.com/3Ymtiwg
go.nature.com/3Ymtiwg
Huge genetic study reveals hidden links between psychiatric conditions
Analysis of more than 1 million people shows that mental-health disorders fall into five clusters, each of them linked to a specific set of genetic variants.
go.nature.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Analysis of more than 1 million people shows that mental-health disorders fall into five clusters, each of them linked to a specific set of genetic variants
go.nature.com/3Ymtiwg
go.nature.com/3Ymtiwg
Me: I can post while on the go.
Typos: hehehe.
Typos: hehehe.
December 9, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Me: I can post while on the go.
Typos: hehehe.
Typos: hehehe.
Couldn't agree more!
I wrote a piece for Marginalia Review of Books, based on a talk earlier this year, about the role of narratives in science - something that I think deserves more attention than it gets.
www.marginaliareviewofbooks.com/post/theory-...
www.marginaliareviewofbooks.com/post/theory-...
Theory, Metaphor, Narrative: How Science Creates the Stories it Tells
PHILIP BALL | Science is often not a competition between theories but a process of narrative creation in which the paradigm tends to be set by the most persuasive narrative
www.marginaliareviewofbooks.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Couldn't agree more!