Solstice morning

[email protected] helped reveal one of evolution’s great transitions through the discovery of Tiktaalik, spending years tracing how fins became limbs and how our own bodies carry the imprint of ancient fish. He's been nominated to become the next president of the @nationalacademies.org

Deep underground at the automated stacks of the UChicago library.

I'm thrilled to share the news that the original Tiktaalik fossils, including the Type Specimen itself, will be on display in Ottawa starting December 19! Check them out. nature.ca/en/visit-us/... 🧪

Very happy to share video of 1st lecture @college-de-france.fr on Biological computation 😊. I defend the necessity to access Algorithmic & Computational levels of analysis in cell & developmental biol. proposed by David Marr in neuroscience. Logic & Function matter 🤩. Video: tinyurl.com/55yejk5f

And here is the link to access the whole pdf. Enjoy! I strongly believe that focusing on information & computation during Development provides an important framework, that encapsulates the genetic, chemistry & mechanics, but focusses on organisation, dynamics & logic. PDF: tinyurl.com/4hn34t8w

Catch my conversation with a young Ukranian science journalist. Despite power outages and other serious challenges at home-- which forced us to reschedule several times-- he led a great and informative conversation. I'm grateful for the chance to chat with him. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYei...

Join me in Antarctica in 2026!! Looking forward to this trip. 🧪 Details here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7jlie...

Ends of the Earth was picked as one of the The Economist's best books of 2025! 🧪 💙📗 www.economist.com/culture/2025...

Ran into this natural gargoyle at Mt Fleming Antarctica in. 2017. Wild.

Thank you!

Pleasure to announce the program of my new series of lectures at the College de France in Nov-Dec. Continuing on the theme of Biological information. I will focus on the computational aspects, building on David Marr's tri-level of analysis in biological systems. YouTube link sent when it starts.

What a wonderful visit to the @college-de-france.fr! Thank you Denis Duboule and the faculty of the Collège. A fabulous month of science, ideas, conversation and, of course, Paris. Catch my four lectures here: www.college-de-france.fr/fr/agenda/co... 🧪

Thanks Alfonso! 🧪

Check out my third lecture at the Collège de France. On the origin of bones and teeth. Thanks to my host @denisduboule.bsky.social for the invitation and the community in Paris for a warm welcome! 🧪 youtu.be/4-UyXZTAgZc

Tomorrow Wedn 5th, lesson #4 of @neilshubin.bsky.social , guest Professor @college-de-france.fr ‘How do new biological inventions arise in evolution?’ ⚠️ Final seminar on his Paris tour 2025 😲 Dont’ miss this last opportunity to meet him and his inner fish. 11am, aquarium Guillaume Budé 🐠Free swim.

Tomorrow Wednesday 29th at 11am, lesson #3 of @neilshubin.bsky.social guest Professor @college-de-france.fr on ‘The evolutionary origin of bones and teeth’. The second lesson is available @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B6y... . No registration, Free access, dentures accepted.

Catch my new lecture at the Collège de France entitled “The Origin of Walking.” Thanks to @denisduboule.bsky.social for hosting! 💙🧪 m.youtube.com/watch?v=fNim...

🧪 #paleontology

My first lecture at the Collège de France @cdf1530 is up! In English... Three more to follow in the coming weeks. With thanks to @denisduboule.bsky.social for the invitation! 🙏🇫🇷 🐠 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B6y...

Tomorrow wednesday October 15th at 11am, first seminar of @neilshubin.bsky.social , guest Professor @college-de-france.fr on ‘The history we share with fish’. Come, have a seat and enjoy learning where we come from. Free knowledge, no registration🤘

‘Ends Of The Earth,’ By Neil Shubin — Review #BookReview📖 by @grrlscientist.bsky.social #books #BookSky💙📚 #Nonfiction #science #Arctic #Antarctic #ClimateCrisis #PolarResearch #memoir #travelogue www.forbes.com/sites/grrlsc...

Beginning a new adventure in the Arctic in July 1999. I’m to the left. Marcus Davis to the right. First day of fieldwork in the Arctic. We’d find Tiktaalik roseae five years later. Photo: Ted Daeschler 🧪

Our work exploring a new explanation for the regulation of Hoxd genes and the #fin-to-limb transition. 🧪 It was an absolute joy working on this w/ @aurhin.bsky.social and @homeobox.bsky.social @denisduboule.bsky.social @neilshubin.bsky.social #evo-devo #InHoxWeTrust

Congrats to Aurelie Hinterman aurhin.bsky.social, Chase Bolt chasebolt.bsky.social, and Brent Hawkins @homeobox.bsky.social! Coverage in NYTimes by @carlzimmer.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/s...

Before recently shipping this model out to its new home at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore, I brought it over to @neilshubin.bsky.social lab to see the latest updates to the sculptures anatomy. Tiktaalik’s discovery site on the wall map makes the scene!

Feeling the incalculable loss of Mark Norell (1957-2025): wonderful scientist and cherished friend. His influence will continue through his many mentees and the science he did and inspired.

Excited to be giving 4 lectures in Paris in October at the Collège de France. Free and open to the public!

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial telling students in central Tennessee about their inner fish. I’m so grateful to the high school and middle school teachers who brought their students from small schools to the event (some from almost an hr away).

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial telling students in central Tennessee about their inner fish. I’m so grateful to the high school and middle school teachers who brought their students from small schools to the event (some from almost an hr away).

Congrats to @tdcapellini.bsky.social @gayani.bsky.social and the entire team!

Missing links in evolution explained news.uchicago.edu/explainer/mi...

The great Tyler Kellior swung by lab with the latest reconstruction of Tiktaalik. Here we are in the "look what I just caught!" pose and Tyler with his "a man and his fish" one. Geological map of the Ellesmere Island are in the background...

I’m thrilled that ENDS OF THE EARTH has been shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize! In such fabulous company on the list. royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...

ENDS OF THE EARTH is available now for a limited time on ebook for just $1.99. Get it while it lasts! 💙🧪

New from the lab! Announcing MORPHOVIEW a powerful tool to quantify in high throughput the 3D structures of cells and tissues during organ morphogenesis. Great work by Sam Norris. 🧪 https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dvdy.70061

It is not a political statement to note the fact that science enhances our well being, expands our knowledge of the world, and drives economic growth 🧪

Thank you!

When Marcia McNutt's term ends next year, @neilshubin.bsky.social will take the reins at NAS to lead the organization through what may continue to be a fraught landscape for government-funded science. Quick story w/ Jeff Tollefson: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Some personal news…

I was so psyched to cover (read: obsess over) this recent paper from @neilshubin.bsky.social and @invertebratepal.bsky.social’s labs! It’s always a treat to talk about evolution, but even more so when it’s this cool. Check out our latest toothy deep dive for Substack using the link below. 🧪

Tiktaalik is in the lab! Tyler Kellior dropped by with a draft of the latest reconstruction of the beast 🧪

Chicago friends… beat the heat and drop by the Chicago Public Library this Monday. I’ll be talking about the amazing and important science of Earth’s polar regions. See you there!

Talked to @KateZernike at @nytimes about my journey and the current moment for scientists in the U.S. “Ardem Patapoutian’s story is not just the American dream, it is the dream of American science.” Read the article here. No subscription required: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...

New paper from the lab: Our teeth arose as sensory organs on the outside of the body of ancient jawless fish.!! Congrats to Yara Haridy and the team! Background and video: phys.org/news/2025-05... Open Access Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41... News and Views: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Let’s all thank our mom on this Mothers Day! 🧪

Here is my conversation with @LKrauss1 on the Origins Podcast. We talk finding a career in science, evolution, Tiktaalik, polar science, and more...🧪 lawrencekrauss.substack.com/p/neil-shubi...

When did our flexible and lubricated joints evolve? 🤔 Read this 'Behind the paper' story from Neelima Sharma @neelimasharma.bsky.social to find out 👇 thenode.biologists.com/when-did-our... #EvoDevo @neilshubin.bsky.social

It was a thrill to participate in the Young Biologists Tournament at the Richelieu Scientific Lyceum in Odesa Ukraine. Their incredibly creative teacher asked me to see if other scientists, writers, or others could connect with these talented students. DM for details!! 🧪 youtu.be/K5w_91oN6cg?...

Catch my bookstore talk on ENDS OF THE EARTH here... 🧪