Bob Patalano
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robertpatalano.bsky.social
Bob Patalano
@robertpatalano.bsky.social
PhD in Archaeology. Biomarkers & early human paleoecology. Husband. Father x2. Lecturer, coordinator for environmental science & sustainability and climate action programs and sustainability liaison at Bryant University.

🔗 robertpatalano.squarespace.com
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Now, remind me again that non-Americans should mind their own business.
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Another destructive solar project approved in n CA -- “There's nothing environmentally friendly about cutting down 4,000 oak trees, the most ecologically valuable native tree in all of North America. Over 2,000 other species depend on them." 🌎 www.capradio.org/articles/202...
SMUD’s controversial Coyote Creek solar project moves forward
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project at a packed Tuesday meeting, where over 150 people showed up to voice concerns or support.
www.capradio.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
(1/18) New paper alert, a thread! Just published in PLoS ONE, our study: “Novel archaeological and palaeontological findings in cave and palaeoriver landscapes of inland northeast Arabia”. Link: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Novel archaeological and palaeontological findings in cave and palaeoriver landscapes of inland northeast Arabia
Knowledge about environmental change and the evolutionary history of hominins in Arabia has been rapidly developing over the last two decades. Interdisciplinary research on humans and environments acr...
journals.plos.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Besides arguing that Israel, the U.S., and some European governments have committed genocide in Gaza, prosecutors at the International People’s Tribunal on Palestine told jurors that the environmental devastation in the enclave amounts to ecocide.
Prosecutors at International Tribunal on Palestine Accuse Israel of Ecocide
Prosecutors at the International People’s Tribunal on Palestine decried Israel’s destruction of farms and water sources.
truthout.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
“The plan states that Ukraine and Russia would implement “educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice.”

So the Trump admin is using DEI to justify Russia taking over parts of Ukraine.
November 22, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
“So America is to receive kickbacks from Russia for the rebuilding of cities, towns and villages pulverized by Russia, using frozen Russian money; and Europe, which has not been consulted on any of this, is to spend more of its own money on reconstruction.”

open.substack.com/pub/macspaun...
“He Must Have Got This From K.”
How a Russian operative used the American media to force a risible “peace deal” into existence
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
🚨🦜🐧Cover reveal! Thrilled to show off the cover of my upcoming book: The Story of Birds!

Coming April 28. The whole history of birds, from their dinosaur origins to colossal extinct penguins & terror birds, to the 10,000+ species today. From @marinerbooks.bsky.social

Preorder 👇
November 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Nursing, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, audiologist and more are no longer counted as a ‘Professional Degrees.’ It’s obvious that this is due to these fields being dominated by women.
Nursing is no longer counted as a 'professional degree' by Trump admin
The Department of Education has excluded nursing as a "professional degree" program as it implements various changes to student loans.
www.newsweek.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Our govt is adapting to the impacts of climate change. And it's opposite to the transformative adaptation we need.

theconversation.com/how-the-rich...

This is a great article from @theconversation.com
@climatemajority.bsky.social
How the rich world is fortifying itself against climate migration
Climate change is already linked to mass deportation – and the worst is still to come.
theconversation.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:37 AM
It’s unfortunate Sapiens is halting production of new content because these articles that bridge different fields of science and modern issues are always engaging and a good way to get people invested in basic research. 🏺
From the archive. A paleontologist journeys through Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago in search of Homo erectus remains, but uncovers how environmental devastation has erased much of the region’s history. Read more: www.sapiens.org/archaeology/...
The Vanishing Traces of Our Earliest Ancestors in Indonesia
A paleontologist travels through Indonesia in search of Homo erectus remains, uncovering how environmental destruction has erased the past.
www.sapiens.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
From the archive. A paleontologist journeys through Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago in search of Homo erectus remains, but uncovers how environmental devastation has erased much of the region’s history. Read more: www.sapiens.org/archaeology/...
The Vanishing Traces of Our Earliest Ancestors in Indonesia
A paleontologist travels through Indonesia in search of Homo erectus remains, uncovering how environmental destruction has erased the past.
www.sapiens.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
It occurs to me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, that what is happening with the ultra rich oppressing and exploiting everyone else is a mirror of what humans have done to the earth.
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Malaria kills ~600,000 people every year, with 95% of those occurring in Africa.

With current policies, global temperature is projected to rise 2.5-2.9 °C by 2100.

This paper shows a 1° increase in temperature raises malaria risk for children in sub-Saharan Africa by 77 percent!
Associations of temperature and precipitation with malaria in children under 5: A multi-country study in Sub-Saharan Africa
Climate change is a significant global challenge with major impacts on human health. It directly affects vector-borne diseases such as malaria by expanding vector ranges, boosting reproduction and bit...
journals.plos.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Endangered Species Act is one of the most successful pieces of legislation, having helped keep 99 percent of species under its protection from extinction. This is devastating.
Trump administration seeks to roll back protections for imperiled species and their habitat
President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to roll back protections for imperiled species and the places they live.
apnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
I really hate it when scientists keep saying that “we need to rebuild trust in science,” because it implies that scientists are to blame for the mistrust rather than the millions of dollars of dark money that have funded political attacks on science in order to advance a far right agenda.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
“This plan hacks apart the Endangered Species Act and creates a blueprint for the extinction for some of America’s most beloved wildlife.”
🌎
Trump Moves to Dismantle Endangered Species Act
Center for Biological Diversity: WASHINGTON— In a sweeping assault on the nation’s imperiled wildlife, the Trump administration today proposed a suite of regulations that would dismantle the Endangere...
biologicaldiversity.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
ALERT - One day left to submit session abstract for the 17th Congress of the Pan African Archaeological Association for Prehistory and Related Studies! Check here the website : panaf2026moz.com
PANAF2026
panaf2026moz.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
The U.S. Education Department is handing off some of its biggest grant programs to other federal agencies as the Trump administration accelerates its plan to shut down the department.
Education Department takes a major step forward in the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle it
The U.S. Education Department is handing off some of its biggest grant programs to other federal agencies as the Trump administration accelerates its plan to shut down the department.
trib.al
November 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is a important read on the challenges many African ECRs continue to face when doing archaeology or paleontology at home. Note that the authors are from Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
🏺🧪
View of Against All Odds: An Archaeologist's Journey in Africa
archaeopresspublishing.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
“The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada, a historic restitution that is part of the Catholic Church's reckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas.”

It’s a start
Pope Leo returns 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada
The Vatican returned 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada, a historic restitution that is part of the Catholic Church's reckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture.
www.npr.org
November 16, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
please don't do this. MAGA hats are made from an acrylic blend, which will release toxic chemicals when set on fire, potentially harming you and downwind woodland creatures
November 16, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
Is there any other historical example of a global hegemon unraveling because it handed total political power to stupidest assholes they could find?
Fed Governor Stephen Miran: "Cutting down net migration to 0, potentially even negative because of the deportations that have been occurring, I think is very deflationary."
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Bob Patalano
November 14, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Analyses of fossils and ancient genomics reveal how early human populations bred less wolf-like companions, and might have traded them around the world.
🏺🐕
How ancient humans bred and traded the first domestic dogs
Analyses of fossils and ancient genomics reveal how early human populations bred less wolf-like companions, and might have traded them around the world.
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM