Sergi Valverde
@svalver.bsky.social
#ComplexSystems scientist. Institute of Evolutionary Biology @csic.es| DySOC-UTennessee, Knoxville | Girl dad. He/him.
Lab: svalver.github.io
#EvoBio #CultEvo #ExtendedBiology #hypergraphs
Lab: svalver.github.io
#EvoBio #CultEvo #ExtendedBiology #hypergraphs
Pinned
Sergi Valverde
@svalver.bsky.social
· Nov 12
A starter pack for researchers interested in #ComplexSystems. Complex system science investigates how interactions among multiple parts lead to collective behaviour, as well as how the system interacts and forms links with its environment - please add your name!
go.bsky.app/FNYZ61y
go.bsky.app/FNYZ61y
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Demographic shifts, inter-group contact and environmental conditions drive language extinction and diversification.
#linguistics
#linguistics
January 28, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Demographic shifts, inter-group contact and environmental conditions drive language extinction and diversification.
#linguistics
#linguistics
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Many thanks also to @elena-moos.bsky.social, who just joined bsky. Elena was the master knapper in the new study who made the application of the new method possible.
Follow Elena, and I am sure you'll see amazing stone tools (and even dice!) made by her.
Follow Elena, and I am sure you'll see amazing stone tools (and even dice!) made by her.
Thank you to all involved and all who helped (e.g. @ctennie.bsky.social, @sahelanthrope.bsky.social)
Find all the details here, and be sure to check our FAQ section (e.g. regarding late Acheulean handaxe shapes) in the supplemental info: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440326000154
Find all the details here, and be sure to check our FAQ section (e.g. regarding late Acheulean handaxe shapes) in the supplemental info: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440326000154
Stone tool shaping without direct cultural transmission
While environment and biology play important roles, the complexity and variability of human life today depends in many ways on special cultural proces…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Many thanks also to @elena-moos.bsky.social, who just joined bsky. Elena was the master knapper in the new study who made the application of the new method possible.
Follow Elena, and I am sure you'll see amazing stone tools (and even dice!) made by her.
Follow Elena, and I am sure you'll see amazing stone tools (and even dice!) made by her.
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Friends in Edinburgh!
Join me on June 27, as I unveil The Story of Birds at our wonderful local bookshop, Toppings.
Get your tickets early here!
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...
Join me on June 27, as I unveil The Story of Birds at our wonderful local bookshop, Toppings.
Get your tickets early here!
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...
Steve Brusatte for The Story of Birds at Pilrig St. Paul's / LARCH
www.toppingbooks.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Friends in Edinburgh!
Join me on June 27, as I unveil The Story of Birds at our wonderful local bookshop, Toppings.
Get your tickets early here!
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...
Join me on June 27, as I unveil The Story of Birds at our wonderful local bookshop, Toppings.
Get your tickets early here!
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...
Nice to see “tinkering” being highlighted in cultural evolution.
We recently published a chapter synthesizing our work on tinkering-based models of software and technological evolution.
The growing convergence suggests this idea is now part of our shared toolkit. @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
We recently published a chapter synthesizing our work on tinkering-based models of software and technological evolution.
The growing convergence suggests this idea is now part of our shared toolkit. @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Nice to see “tinkering” being highlighted in cultural evolution.
We recently published a chapter synthesizing our work on tinkering-based models of software and technological evolution.
The growing convergence suggests this idea is now part of our shared toolkit. @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
We recently published a chapter synthesizing our work on tinkering-based models of software and technological evolution.
The growing convergence suggests this idea is now part of our shared toolkit. @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
As a side point: the term "tinkering" is not even new in the context of cultural evolution -- Francois Jacob had a paper on this in 1977 called "Evolution and tinkering" and @svalver.bsky.social + colleagues directly refer to tinkering in their papers on tech evolution
February 5, 2026 at 11:43 AM
As a side point: the term "tinkering" is not even new in the context of cultural evolution -- Francois Jacob had a paper on this in 1977 called "Evolution and tinkering" and @svalver.bsky.social + colleagues directly refer to tinkering in their papers on tech evolution
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Very happy to see our ice-fishing paper on the cover of @science.org this week! 🎣🎉
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Very happy to see our ice-fishing paper on the cover of @science.org this week! 🎣🎉
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
We tracked large groups of Finnish competitive ice-fishers to study how social foragers use social information when searching for resources. 🐟
Link: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (contact me for open access)
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
"diversity peaked before a sharp decline, suggesting a possible link between ecological specialization and extinction risk..aligns with hypotheses proposing that overspecialization limits adaptability, leading to extinction under background conditions"
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
🧪 #Geology ⚒️ #Paleobio
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
🧪 #Geology ⚒️ #Paleobio
January 5, 2026 at 9:39 PM
"diversity peaked before a sharp decline, suggesting a possible link between ecological specialization and extinction risk..aligns with hypotheses proposing that overspecialization limits adaptability, leading to extinction under background conditions"
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
🧪 #Geology ⚒️ #Paleobio
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
🧪 #Geology ⚒️ #Paleobio
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Happy #WinterSolstice ❄️
In Chaco Canyon in the US Southwest, ancient monumental roads align with the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor. Features of both land and sky were (and still are) ritually important to the region's Indigenous people.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
In Chaco Canyon in the US Southwest, ancient monumental roads align with the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor. Features of both land and sky were (and still are) ritually important to the region's Indigenous people.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Happy #WinterSolstice ❄️
In Chaco Canyon in the US Southwest, ancient monumental roads align with the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor. Features of both land and sky were (and still are) ritually important to the region's Indigenous people.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
In Chaco Canyon in the US Southwest, ancient monumental roads align with the winter solstice sunrise over Mount Taylor. Features of both land and sky were (and still are) ritually important to the region's Indigenous people.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
📢 New Blog Post
Achieving true interdisciplinarity is hard! @shumon.bsky.social makes an argument for accepting the transformative nature of #interdisciplinary research - even if that means researchers must revisit their standard methods and assumptions!
🔗 read on here:
shorturl.at/YE4gx
Achieving true interdisciplinarity is hard! @shumon.bsky.social makes an argument for accepting the transformative nature of #interdisciplinary research - even if that means researchers must revisit their standard methods and assumptions!
🔗 read on here:
shorturl.at/YE4gx
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
📢 New Blog Post
Achieving true interdisciplinarity is hard! @shumon.bsky.social makes an argument for accepting the transformative nature of #interdisciplinary research - even if that means researchers must revisit their standard methods and assumptions!
🔗 read on here:
shorturl.at/YE4gx
Achieving true interdisciplinarity is hard! @shumon.bsky.social makes an argument for accepting the transformative nature of #interdisciplinary research - even if that means researchers must revisit their standard methods and assumptions!
🔗 read on here:
shorturl.at/YE4gx
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Imagine you have no clue that there is an entire universe of people with diverse capabilities centering on the generation of new ideas and the refinment of old ones.
December 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Imagine you have no clue that there is an entire universe of people with diverse capabilities centering on the generation of new ideas and the refinment of old ones.
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
I dislike that Time Magazine has chosen to conflate CEOs with the people who actually got their hands dirty making the technology work.
I’m incensed that Fei Fei Li is half off the page. I’m sure she is too gracious to say it.
I’m incensed that Fei Fei Li is half off the page. I’m sure she is too gracious to say it.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I dislike that Time Magazine has chosen to conflate CEOs with the people who actually got their hands dirty making the technology work.
I’m incensed that Fei Fei Li is half off the page. I’m sure she is too gracious to say it.
I’m incensed that Fei Fei Li is half off the page. I’m sure she is too gracious to say it.
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
In episode 1029, I talk with Dr. J. Doyne Farmer (@doynefarmer.bsky.social) about his great book, Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World. #Economics #Science
youtu.be/h0Vfoz9n2kQ
youtu.be/h0Vfoz9n2kQ
#1029 J. Doyne Farmer - Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World
YouTube video by The Dissenter
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 10:41 AM
In episode 1029, I talk with Dr. J. Doyne Farmer (@doynefarmer.bsky.social) about his great book, Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World. #Economics #Science
youtu.be/h0Vfoz9n2kQ
youtu.be/h0Vfoz9n2kQ
I’d like to thank Stuart Newman for his editorial work in one of my favorite journals these days. Biological Theory is one of the few journals that takes seriously the intersection between empirical and theoretical approaches to biology. I wish the best to Kevin Lala in his new role as editor.
From Jan 1 2026, I take over as Editor-in-Chief of Biological Theory. I would like to thank my predecessor, Stuart Newman, who has done a terrific job for 10 years. That is truly extraordinary service to the community, and the journal is in a great place thanks to his efforts.
Kevin Lala
Kevin Lala
December 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I’d like to thank Stuart Newman for his editorial work in one of my favorite journals these days. Biological Theory is one of the few journals that takes seriously the intersection between empirical and theoretical approaches to biology. I wish the best to Kevin Lala in his new role as editor.
Why does every decade promise a method, a language, or now #AI that will “fix” #software #complexity?
Software never behaved like an engineered artifact.
Our research shows it evolves like an #ecosystem.
A thread ↓
Software never behaved like an engineered artifact.
Our research shows it evolves like an #ecosystem.
A thread ↓
December 4, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Why does every decade promise a method, a language, or now #AI that will “fix” #software #complexity?
Software never behaved like an engineered artifact.
Our research shows it evolves like an #ecosystem.
A thread ↓
Software never behaved like an engineered artifact.
Our research shows it evolves like an #ecosystem.
A thread ↓
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
While discussing ideas on the evolution with @svalver.bsky.social and wandering around wonderful Barcelona, I'm learning some architectural paleontology. Giant (pea-sized) foraminifera — Nummulites and some sea urchin spines. Provenance probably local Eocene «piedra de Gerona», España.
🧪⚒️ #Geology
🧪⚒️ #Geology
November 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
While discussing ideas on the evolution with @svalver.bsky.social and wandering around wonderful Barcelona, I'm learning some architectural paleontology. Giant (pea-sized) foraminifera — Nummulites and some sea urchin spines. Provenance probably local Eocene «piedra de Gerona», España.
🧪⚒️ #Geology
🧪⚒️ #Geology
Tomorrow 11/26 at 12:00: @andrejpaleo.bsky.social on the deep-time dynamics of Earth's biosphere.
If you’re interested in macroevolution, paleoclimate, complex systems, or scaling laws in natural history, this is one you shouldn’t miss!
Charles Darwin room @prbb.org! @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
If you’re interested in macroevolution, paleoclimate, complex systems, or scaling laws in natural history, this is one you shouldn’t miss!
Charles Darwin room @prbb.org! @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Tomorrow 11/26 at 12:00: @andrejpaleo.bsky.social on the deep-time dynamics of Earth's biosphere.
If you’re interested in macroevolution, paleoclimate, complex systems, or scaling laws in natural history, this is one you shouldn’t miss!
Charles Darwin room @prbb.org! @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
If you’re interested in macroevolution, paleoclimate, complex systems, or scaling laws in natural history, this is one you shouldn’t miss!
Charles Darwin room @prbb.org! @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Finally a thread that intersects with the insights and expertise of @chrisklausmeier.bsky.social and @maitner.bsky.social
What do Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Mortal Kombat have to teach us about #cultural #evolution? As a social-technological phenomenon, #arcade game genres evolved like cultural species—some diversified, while others became "living fossils." 🕹️🧪 👉 doi.org/10.1017/ehs....
November 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Finally a thread that intersects with the insights and expertise of @chrisklausmeier.bsky.social and @maitner.bsky.social
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Excited to announce our book “Neuroevolution: Harnessing Creativity in AI Agent Design” by Sebastian Risi, Yujin Tang, Risto Miikkulainen, and myself. We explore decades of work on evolving intelligent agents and shows how neuroevolution can drive creativity in deep learning, RL, LLMs and AI Agents!
November 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Excited to announce our book “Neuroevolution: Harnessing Creativity in AI Agent Design” by Sebastian Risi, Yujin Tang, Risto Miikkulainen, and myself. We explore decades of work on evolving intelligent agents and shows how neuroevolution can drive creativity in deep learning, RL, LLMs and AI Agents!
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
#OnThisDay in 1970, Douglas Engelbart received U.S. Patent No. 3,541,541 for the invention we now know as the computer mouse. A small wooden device that reshaped how humans interact with computers and laid the foundation for modern user interfaces.
#OTD #PatentHistory #ComputerHistory
#OTD #PatentHistory #ComputerHistory
November 17, 2025 at 9:59 AM
#OnThisDay in 1970, Douglas Engelbart received U.S. Patent No. 3,541,541 for the invention we now know as the computer mouse. A small wooden device that reshaped how humans interact with computers and laid the foundation for modern user interfaces.
#OTD #PatentHistory #ComputerHistory
#OTD #PatentHistory #ComputerHistory
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Only 2 days left to get your abstracts in!
👉 A reminder that the deadline for submitting your abstract to the CES 2026 #CESRabat is the 16th of November.
🔗Submit here: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026
We look forward to seeing you in Rabat!
🔗Submit here: airess.fgses-um6p.ma/ces2026
We look forward to seeing you in Rabat!
Cultural Evolution Society 2026 Conference | Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique - FGSES
aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Only 2 days left to get your abstracts in!
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
In the age of AI slop, true expertise is even more important to value.
Experts are the people who get so annoyed about the precise way to describe something they dedicate their lives to it (see excellent blog: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...).
We need them and their journals.
7.2/n
Experts are the people who get so annoyed about the precise way to describe something they dedicate their lives to it (see excellent blog: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...).
We need them and their journals.
7.2/n
Thank you for being annoying
OR: whack 'em if you got 'em
www.experimental-history.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
In the age of AI slop, true expertise is even more important to value.
Experts are the people who get so annoyed about the precise way to describe something they dedicate their lives to it (see excellent blog: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...).
We need them and their journals.
7.2/n
Experts are the people who get so annoyed about the precise way to describe something they dedicate their lives to it (see excellent blog: www.experimental-history.com/p/thank-you-...).
We need them and their journals.
7.2/n
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
Brand-new conference on collective behaviour! Join us to foster a community to study how interactions among the constituents trigger fascinating collective phenomena: biofilms, fish schools, tissue self-organisation, bird swarms & many more!
Thanks to amazing speakers for helping us realise this!
Thanks to amazing speakers for helping us realise this!
✨ How do bird flocks form or diseases emerge?
Join the brand-new EMBO | EMBL Symposium #EESCollectivity and explore how collective behaviours arise from fundamental principles across biological systems 🧬🦠🐒
💻 s.embl.org/ees26-01-bl
✒️ Submit your abstract by 18 Nov
Join the brand-new EMBO | EMBL Symposium #EESCollectivity and explore how collective behaviours arise from fundamental principles across biological systems 🧬🦠🐒
💻 s.embl.org/ees26-01-bl
✒️ Submit your abstract by 18 Nov
August 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Brand-new conference on collective behaviour! Join us to foster a community to study how interactions among the constituents trigger fascinating collective phenomena: biofilms, fish schools, tissue self-organisation, bird swarms & many more!
Thanks to amazing speakers for helping us realise this!
Thanks to amazing speakers for helping us realise this!
Pinball model of development and reprogramming. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Pinball model of development and reprogramming. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Sergi Valverde
I am pleased to announce a new postdoctoral position in Theoretical Ecology. More info here: info.bc3research.org/2025/11/06/p...
Postdoctoral position in agroecology for TRANSFORM Project
The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) is offering a full-time postdoctoral research position to support activities within a Horizon Europe project. The project focuses on developing innovative cr...
info.bc3research.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I am pleased to announce a new postdoctoral position in Theoretical Ecology. More info here: info.bc3research.org/2025/11/06/p...
Innovation isn’t random — it follows geometric laws.
Our new Behind the Paper post in @springernature.com Communities explores how innovation forms a fractal geometry — self-organizing like a living system.
communities.springernature.com/posts/the-fr...
Our new Behind the Paper post in @springernature.com Communities explores how innovation forms a fractal geometry — self-organizing like a living system.
communities.springernature.com/posts/the-fr...
The Fractal Geometry of Innovation
Why are some cities more innovative than others? Mapping more than a century of U.S. patents, our npj Complexity study reveals fractal and scaling patterns in innovation—showing how the distribution o...
communities.springernature.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Innovation isn’t random — it follows geometric laws.
Our new Behind the Paper post in @springernature.com Communities explores how innovation forms a fractal geometry — self-organizing like a living system.
communities.springernature.com/posts/the-fr...
Our new Behind the Paper post in @springernature.com Communities explores how innovation forms a fractal geometry — self-organizing like a living system.
communities.springernature.com/posts/the-fr...