TJ Perkins
teejperk.bsky.social
TJ Perkins
@teejperk.bsky.social
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Was the overturning of the Mound Builders mythology in the late 19th century a "triumph for science?" I argue, no, it wasn't, and that this narrative framing should be abandoned in my latest in the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Mound builders, mound blunders: mythmaking in nineteenth century American archaeology - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
In this paper, I critically examine and overturn a narrative from the history of American archaeology wherein historians have classified the overthrowing of the Mound Builders mythology in the late 19...
link.springer.com
Reposted by TJ Perkins
Happy holidays! Today my paper "Turning Biodiversity Data into Evidence" is officially out on BioSocieties. This is the first paper of a special issue on Data Communities co-edited with Paola Castaño & Emma Cavazzoni.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Stay tuned for the other contributions!
Turning biodiversity data into evidence: the role of protocols in the epistemology of evidence-based conservation - BioSocieties
Proponents of evidence-based conservation (EBC) maintain that environmental intervention ought to be based on biodiversity data and data synthesis, instead of relying on unproven theory, individual ex...
link.springer.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
Sweeping science cuts in 2025 halted clinical trials, erased public health data and forced researchers into impossible choices.

“This year nearly broke me as a scientist,” one writes.

Six researchers share their stories: buff.ly/u2MHIQo 🧪
‘This year nearly broke me as a scientist’ – US researchers reflect on how 2025’s science cuts have changed their lives
US science lost a great deal in 2025, including tens of billions of dollars of federal funding, entire research agencies and programs, and a generation of researchers.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
December 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
Leotia viscosa (Green Jelly Babies aka Chicken Lips Fungus). A pretty uncommon find. #Newfoundland Canada
#fungus #fungi #fungifriends #mushroom
Specimen is about 2.5” high (6 to 7cm).
December 22, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
My new Gould paper is out today in Paleobiology (OA)! It is, in effect, a synthesis of some of my historical work on Stephen Jay Gould’s early career, which explores the curious position of punctuated equilibria in his early vision for evolutionary paleontology

www.extinctblog.org/palaeonews/2...
Max’s New Gould paper — Extinct
My new paper in Paleobiology (OA), on some lesser known aspects of the early history of punctuated equilibria, is available to read online. It is, in effect, a synthesis of some of my older work on ...
www.extinctblog.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
The discovery of organisms that have been alive for many thousands of years requires a revolution in how we understand life. An Essay by @karenlloyd.bsky.social
The discovery of aeonophiles expands our definition of life | Aeon Essays
The discovery of organisms that have been alive for many thousands of years requires a revolution in how we understand life
aeon.co
December 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
🏺🎮 Forgot I actually wrote a bit about the franchise’s death tableaux a few years ago and its relation to real life archaeology.

animalarchaeology.com/2018/09/10/f...
An Archaeology of Sudden Death: A Fallout Case Study
Content Warning: This post will discuss human remains and death from disasters and acts of mass violence. Although I will not be posting any actual images of real human remains, I will be using ima…
animalarchaeology.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
newly minted dr Perkins with very proud advisor prof Havstad ✨
April 13, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Was the overturning of the Mound Builders mythology in the late 19th century a "triumph for science?" I argue, no, it wasn't, and that this narrative framing should be abandoned in my latest in the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Mound builders, mound blunders: mythmaking in nineteenth century American archaeology - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
In this paper, I critically examine and overturn a narrative from the history of American archaeology wherein historians have classified the overthrowing of the Mound Builders mythology in the late 19...
link.springer.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by TJ Perkins
New on the Archive:

Perkins, TJ (2025) Mound builders, mound blunders: mythmaking in nineteenth century American archaeology. [Preprint]

https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/27349/
December 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM