Dr. Tesla Monson
@paleotesla.bsky.social
Professor of Biological Anthropology at Western Washington University. BEGINNINGS: HOW THE EVOLUTION OF PREGNANCY MADE US HUMAN out with Flatiron Books in 2027. On Salish land. Don’t dream it, be it.
Some of the highlights from IHES yesterday! We saw great talks by scholars in Anthropology, Art, and Psychology. We also had a timely panel session on early career scholars’ visions for the future. And we rounded it out with a pop up student art exhibit and an incredible performance by Danza Eterna!
October 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Some of the highlights from IHES yesterday! We saw great talks by scholars in Anthropology, Art, and Psychology. We also had a timely panel session on early career scholars’ visions for the future. And we rounded it out with a pop up student art exhibit and an incredible performance by Danza Eterna!
New pop sci article on the hobbits of Flores! Their wisdom teeth provide evidence that they got small by slowing growth after birth.
https://theconversation.com/hobbits-of-flores-evolved-to-be-small-by-slowing-down-growth-during-childhood-new-research-on-teeth-and-brain-size-suggests-261257
https://theconversation.com/hobbits-of-flores-evolved-to-be-small-by-slowing-down-growth-during-childhood-new-research-on-teeth-and-brain-size-suggests-261257
September 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
New pop sci article on the hobbits of Flores! Their wisdom teeth provide evidence that they got small by slowing growth after birth.
https://theconversation.com/hobbits-of-flores-evolved-to-be-small-by-slowing-down-growth-during-childhood-new-research-on-teeth-and-brain-size-suggests-261257
https://theconversation.com/hobbits-of-flores-evolved-to-be-small-by-slowing-down-growth-during-childhood-new-research-on-teeth-and-brain-size-suggests-261257
Paleontology, botany, and birthing. All my favorite things in Zurich!
August 4, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Paleontology, botany, and birthing. All my favorite things in Zurich!
Check out our new Primate Evolution Lab website! Made by students, featuring students. You can keep up with our antics, check out our teaching resources (including 3D scans and models) and learn more about our programs! https://wp.wwu.edu/primate/2025/06/27/students-shine-at-scholars-week/ @wwu.edu
June 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Check out our new Primate Evolution Lab website! Made by students, featuring students. You can keep up with our antics, check out our teaching resources (including 3D scans and models) and learn more about our programs! https://wp.wwu.edu/primate/2025/06/27/students-shine-at-scholars-week/ @wwu.edu
Just returned from an epic sisters’ trip to Sedona, complete with archaeology, cave art, and javelina skulls! And pregnancy, the topic of my book, was never far away — this beautiful petroglyph has been described as a woman giving birth to creation (Hopi). #sedona #pregnancy #archaeology #history
May 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Just returned from an epic sisters’ trip to Sedona, complete with archaeology, cave art, and javelina skulls! And pregnancy, the topic of my book, was never far away — this beautiful petroglyph has been described as a woman giving birth to creation (Hopi). #sedona #pregnancy #archaeology #history
New paper out today! The evolution of facial length and molar proportions in cercopithecid monkeys: Third molars are relatively longer in species with longer faces, and prognathism is convergent. Fossils tell a great story!
Read more to find out! Funded by NSF, Leakey, PAST, HERC and WWU
Read more to find out! Funded by NSF, Leakey, PAST, HERC and WWU
April 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
New paper out today! The evolution of facial length and molar proportions in cercopithecid monkeys: Third molars are relatively longer in species with longer faces, and prognathism is convergent. Fossils tell a great story!
Read more to find out! Funded by NSF, Leakey, PAST, HERC and WWU
Read more to find out! Funded by NSF, Leakey, PAST, HERC and WWU
Another shoutout for the AABA meetings this year. It was great to be immersed in science! And super fun to have such a great @wwu.edu crew! @bioanth.org
See you next year!
See you next year!
March 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Another shoutout for the AABA meetings this year. It was great to be immersed in science! And super fun to have such a great @wwu.edu crew! @bioanth.org
See you next year!
See you next year!
Science communication has always been one of my passions. My Uni recently asked me to write a piece for faculty explaining the benefits of publishing sci-comm with an outlet like @us.theconversation.com - check it out here!
5 reasons for faculty to write for The Conversation
5 reasons for faculty to write for The Conversation
Five reasons for faculty to write for The Conversation
news.wwu.edu
February 15, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Science communication has always been one of my passions. My Uni recently asked me to write a piece for faculty explaining the benefits of publishing sci-comm with an outlet like @us.theconversation.com - check it out here!
5 reasons for faculty to write for The Conversation
5 reasons for faculty to write for The Conversation
Thanks to Sapiens for picking up our sci-comm piece on the evolution of twinning! https://www.sapiens.org/biology/twins-primates-human-evolution/ w/ @primatesjack.bsky.social funded by @leakeyfoundation.bsky.social
Were Twins the Norm in Our Primate Past?
New research uncovers how the last common primate ancestors typically birthed twins until evolutionary pressures began to favor singletons.
www.sapiens.org
February 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Thanks to Sapiens for picking up our sci-comm piece on the evolution of twinning! https://www.sapiens.org/biology/twins-primates-human-evolution/ w/ @primatesjack.bsky.social funded by @leakeyfoundation.bsky.social
This is one of those desk papers that requires extra celebration upon release into the ether! Congrats everyone!!
A hypothesis-based approach to species identification in the fossil record: a papionin case study 🧪
Marianne Brasil, @paleotesla.bsky.social , @hlusko.bsky.social et al
www.frontiersin.org/journals/eco...
This approach to taxonomy carries substantial implications for the taxonomy of Parapapio.
Marianne Brasil, @paleotesla.bsky.social , @hlusko.bsky.social et al
www.frontiersin.org/journals/eco...
This approach to taxonomy carries substantial implications for the taxonomy of Parapapio.
January 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This is one of those desk papers that requires extra celebration upon release into the ether! Congrats everyone!!
Beautiful figures from our new paper, a work of epic proportions that spanned a decade. For anyone interested in African paleontology, taxonomy, evolution, or monkeys, I present….a papionin case study
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1481903/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1481903/full
January 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Beautiful figures from our new paper, a work of epic proportions that spanned a decade. For anyone interested in African paleontology, taxonomy, evolution, or monkeys, I present….a papionin case study
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1481903/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1481903/full
It’s great to see so many people excited about the science of twins!
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins are pretty rare, accounting for just 3% of births in the US these days. But new research shows that for primates 60 million years ago, giving birth to twins was the norm.
buff.ly
December 18, 2024 at 7:38 PM
It’s great to see so many people excited about the science of twins!
New article out today in @us.theconversation.com ! Twins were the norm for our primate ancestors - what changed?
https://theconversation.com/twins-were-the-norm-for-our-ancient-primate-ancestors-one-baby-at-a-time-had-evolutionary-advantages-237420
https://theconversation.com/twins-were-the-norm-for-our-ancient-primate-ancestors-one-baby-at-a-time-had-evolutionary-advantages-237420
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins are pretty rare, accounting for just 3% of births in the US these days. But new research shows that for primates 60 million years ago, giving birth to twins was the norm.
theconversation.com
December 16, 2024 at 2:27 PM
New article out today in @us.theconversation.com ! Twins were the norm for our primate ancestors - what changed?
https://theconversation.com/twins-were-the-norm-for-our-ancient-primate-ancestors-one-baby-at-a-time-had-evolutionary-advantages-237420
https://theconversation.com/twins-were-the-norm-for-our-ancient-primate-ancestors-one-baby-at-a-time-had-evolutionary-advantages-237420
What people think my book is about🫄👶VS what it’s actually about 🦴🩻🦷
#####
When people hear my book is about pregnancy, they immediately think of What to Expect. But it’s more than that. Think Indy, think Sapiens, and get ready to learn a whole lot about teeth 😉😘😜
#####
When people hear my book is about pregnancy, they immediately think of What to Expect. But it’s more than that. Think Indy, think Sapiens, and get ready to learn a whole lot about teeth 😉😘😜
December 1, 2024 at 1:45 AM
What people think my book is about🫄👶VS what it’s actually about 🦴🩻🦷
#####
When people hear my book is about pregnancy, they immediately think of What to Expect. But it’s more than that. Think Indy, think Sapiens, and get ready to learn a whole lot about teeth 😉😘😜
#####
When people hear my book is about pregnancy, they immediately think of What to Expect. But it’s more than that. Think Indy, think Sapiens, and get ready to learn a whole lot about teeth 😉😘😜
Ok, trying this again. And now, student art!
November 16, 2024 at 2:54 AM
Ok, trying this again. And now, student art!
Being hanging out in Germany for the Words Bones Genes Tools workshop. There were xmas markets, Paleo art, parties in castles, and oh so much more
December 16, 2023 at 11:55 AM
Being hanging out in Germany for the Words Bones Genes Tools workshop. There were xmas markets, Paleo art, parties in castles, and oh so much more
Can’t wait to see this!
Abstract accepted for AABA '24 in LA! Looking forward to sharing some of what I have been working on and meeting many more anthropologists! #AABA2024
Picture from the Smithsonian NMNH, Summer '23, credit:
@paleotesla.bsky.social
Picture from the Smithsonian NMNH, Summer '23, credit:
@paleotesla.bsky.social
November 16, 2023 at 3:23 AM
Can’t wait to see this!
Meet the lab! From L to R, me! 2nd year MA students Jack and Tristen, UG extraordinaire Laura, and new 1st MA student Jewel! Here we are on our way to get a demo for the new desktop micro-CT that came in recently on our NSF-MRI grant (co-PI).
November 12, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Meet the lab! From L to R, me! 2nd year MA students Jack and Tristen, UG extraordinaire Laura, and new 1st MA student Jewel! Here we are on our way to get a demo for the new desktop micro-CT that came in recently on our NSF-MRI grant (co-PI).
Last day to apply!
One more week to apply before we start reviewing apps. Negotiable start date. Come do science with us!
JOB ALERT! Western (WWU)
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
October 9, 2023 at 6:47 PM
Last day to apply!
One more week to apply before we start reviewing apps. Negotiable start date. Come do science with us!
JOB ALERT! Western (WWU)
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
October 2, 2023 at 2:42 PM
One more week to apply before we start reviewing apps. Negotiable start date. Come do science with us!
Perfect for my Skeletons and the Occult class that starts up tomorrow!
I wrote a new piece for Mental Floss on "revenant" burials throughout history, just in time for spooky season. 🧪🏺
CW: Images of human remains when you click through.
www.mentalfloss.com/posts/histor...
CW: Images of human remains when you click through.
www.mentalfloss.com/posts/histor...
September 27, 2023 at 2:29 PM
Perfect for my Skeletons and the Occult class that starts up tomorrow!
Reposted by Dr. Tesla Monson
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is hiring! Tenure-track assistant professor in biological anthropology. Please share widely #AcademicSky
Career Opportunities at the University of Hawai'i | University of Hawai'i
www.schooljobs.com
September 26, 2023 at 9:31 PM
The Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is hiring! Tenure-track assistant professor in biological anthropology. Please share widely #AcademicSky
Reposted by Dr. Tesla Monson
Howard University is searching for an Anthropologist to become the Director of the W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory, which includes several important African American anthropological collections. Please RT to help circulate!
bioanth.org/jobs/3698/
bioanth.org/jobs/3698/
September 26, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Howard University is searching for an Anthropologist to become the Director of the W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory, which includes several important African American anthropological collections. Please RT to help circulate!
bioanth.org/jobs/3698/
bioanth.org/jobs/3698/
JOB ALERT! Western (WWU)
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
September 14, 2023 at 7:38 PM
JOB ALERT! Western (WWU)
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
We are hiring a postdoc to investigate primate craniofacial anatomy. This is a 2-year position. Must be willing to live in beautiful Bellingham + complete 4.5 months paid museum work (2024). The anticipated start date is Jan. 1, 2024.
https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501152
First day of Leakey-funded data collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. And my grad student Jack’s first day working in a museum! He is going to spend 5 weeks here scanning hundreds of monkey skulls!! More photos to follow, I am sure!
August 22, 2023 at 1:44 AM
First day of Leakey-funded data collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. And my grad student Jack’s first day working in a museum! He is going to spend 5 weeks here scanning hundreds of monkey skulls!! More photos to follow, I am sure!