iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

After a year+ under review (no fault of @philscijournal.bsky.social) I am happy to finally share as forthc my paper "Peirce, Abduction, & Inverse Problems in the Geosciences" doi.org/10.1017/psa.... (2/3 had to be cut to fit word limit, but is part of my ever in-progress book) #HPS #phigeo #philsky

DOI: 10.1017/psa.2026.10263
This is a manuscript accepted for publication in Philosophy of Science.
This version may be subject to change during the production process.
Peirce, Abduction, and Inverse Problems in the Geosciences
Alisa Bokulich
Department of Philosophy, Boston University, Email: abokulic@bu.edu
Abstract
Charles Peirce's most well-known contribution to logic and scientific methodology is his account of abduction. However, what exactly Peirce meant by abduction is subject to perennial dispute. My aim in this paper is two-fold: First, I interpret Peirce's abduction through the lens of his research in geophysics and argue this supports interpreting it as a kind of inverse modeling. Second, I show that the methods Peirce outlined for managing the underdetermination of abductive inferences are the same as those deployed by geoscientists to manage the nonuniqueness of geophysical inversions. I conclude by emphasizing the value of reintegrating Peirce-the-Philosopher with Peirce-the-Geoscientist.
Acknowledgement
This paper is dedicated to the memory of George E. Smith (1938-2024)—a wonderful scholar, mentor, and friend whom we lost too soon. It was George's lecture on using seismology to probe the interior of the Earth that helped open up the new subfield of philosophy of seismology and that first inspired me to write this paper.

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PIPoLS: People of the Italian Philosophy of Life Sciences @pipols-italy.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Una folta delegazione PIPoLS alla conferenza 2026 della Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice #SPSP a Cambridge! 1. in veste professionale, 2. in veste faceta, 3. in azione ✨️ @stefanocanali.bsky.social @matildecarrera.bsky.social @chiarapertile.bsky.social @andrameneganzin.bsky.social

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Wrapping my head around the epistemic and educational implications of AI-assisted (philosophy of) biology, I'm planning an activity-based professional development session at #POBAM2026. Can anyone suggest resources, or let me know how you incorporate AI into your classes---esp Phil.science?

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Pochi giorni per mandare una proposta di poster, flash talk ecc per il 1 incontro di PIPoLS, il 17-8 dicembre al Politecnico di Milano. Cerchiamo studenti di master & dottorato che lavorano nell'area (o si interessano) della filosofia delle scienze della vita con un approccio pratico.

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Stiamo sollecitando chiunque si interessi di filosofia delle scienze della vita (biologia, medicina, ma anche antropologia, dati & tecnologia, conservazione ecc) a iscriversi al nostro network di PIPoLS. L’iscrizione è ovviamente gratuita e permette di rimanere aggiornat sulle attività del network.

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Matilde Carrera @matildecarrera.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Today I defended my PhD! 🎓 I’m so grateful to Alisa, Miguel, and Adrian for their incredible support, and thoughtful feedback. My graduate school journey at BU has been truly formative, shaping my research and the person I am. Thank you for believing in me every step of the way!

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Sept.2023 - June 2026. My time as a postdoc at @ucph.bsky.social has come to an end. Thank you Joeri, Sara, Srijan, Olivia, Yoshi, Daan and many more for the special moments.

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I had a great time presenting on biodiversity metrics assessment at the Society for the Study of Measurement conference in Edinburgh. We had a session on the philosophy of measurement in biology with Patrick Ferree (cell biology) and Alan Love (biomechanics).

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Brilliant talk on biodiversity metrics by my former PhD @federicabocchi.bsky.social #philsci

Federica in front of slide "Virtues & Trade offs
in Selecting Biodiversity Metrics
within a
Global Institutional Framework
FEDERICA BOCCHI
federica.bocchi@ind.ku.dk
W JOERI WITTEVEEN & ARNE MOERS

slide: WHAT IS
BIODIVERSITY?
fiat ptm 8.0
witti presto hitader
GENETIC DIVERSITY
• VARIETY OF GENES AND INHERITED TRAITS WITHIN A SINGLE POPULATION OR SPECIES, OR BETWEEN SPECIES CAPTURES SPECIES ADAPTABILITY

EDGE METRIC
PLOS. On
即外一
the EDGE: Conservation Priorities Based onl
SIMPLICITY
relies en already-avallable data
COMMUNICABILITY
save the branches of the Tree of Life.
ROBUSTNESS
scalatue across anylorenes
EDGE =In(l+ED)+GE + In(2)
FIT FOR ZSL PURPOSES
assigns high scores to relatively forgotten species
INSTITUTIONAL
INTEROPERABILITY
with CBD & IUCN...
ACTIONABILITY
useful

CRITICISMS
EDGE does not capture what it is supposed to capture
EDGE METRIC
SOURCES OF THE INADEQUACY
• EDGE did not adequately represent phylogenetic diversity.
• ED component:
• treats phylogenetic uniqueness as a property of individual species
• but phylogenetic uniqueness is a relational property

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Spread the word! Abbiamo inaugurato il network italiano di filosofie delle scienze della vita in pratica (#PIPoLS) e già siamo all'opera con il nostro primo workshop, che si terrà il 17-18 Dicembre al Politecnico di Milano. L'evento é supportato da @ishpssb.bsky.social come #ISHoffyear workshop

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Such a lovely & productive time at the 2026 MBL seminar in the history of biology on reconstructing extinction at Woods Hole. Thanks @alisabokulich.bsky.social organizing, ad maiora!

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Great to see 2 of my former PhD students @federicabocchi.bsky.social & Katherine Valde here at MBL doing a brilliant job. #PhiGeo #philsci

3 women on blue sky day in front of a sun dial tower by the sea

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Shane Mulligan @shanem-editor.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

My mind is blown that this book was even written. Looking forward to learning and thinking about this! "A historical and philosophical exploration of the organism-environment relationship and its role in shaping biological thought."

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Yoshinari Yoshida @yoshinariyoshida.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

We will hold a workshop: "The Epistemology of Experimentation in Biology" this Friday, April 17 from 13:00-15:00 at UCPH. @federicoboem.bsky.social and I will present on epistemic issues concerning scientific protocols! #hps #philsci @federicabocchi.bsky.social

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Starting soon! Sea Level Rise: Measurement, Understanding, Adaptation Hybrid lectures free to register below www.conncoll.edu/academics/ma...

$Photo of sea with 3 women one man superimposed & text: LEVEL ENVIRONMENT RISE Friends SATURDAY 4/11 FULL DAY OF SPEAKERS The Fall & Rise of Sea Level Measurements: A Brief History & Its Philosophical Lessons Alisa Bokulich, Boston University Rising Seas, Rising Voices: Indigenous Adaptation, the WAMPUM Framework, and the Women of Wampum Kelsey Leonard, University of Water\ Climate Disaster in NYC: Assessing Four Post-Sandy puttic Investment Strategies Tammy Lewis, CUNY-Brooklyn Colleg 4 Coastal Sea-Level Acceleration and High-Tide Flooding in the United States Christopher Piecuch$

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Mason Majszak is presenting our work at the annual Notre Dame HPS conference. We look at scenarios at the science-policy interface challenging mainstream accounts of expertise. We propose a notion of emergent expertise, drawing on our empirical research, social epistemology & political phil.science.

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Adrian Currie @adrian-currie.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Me and @federicabocchi.bsky.social on paleoecology & how it might help us think about our relationship to nature & how it might help us think about the future… #philsci

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Stefano Canali @stefanocanali.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

📢Job ad! Join us at Politecnico di Milano in an interdisciplinary collaboration between philosophy of science and biomedical engineering on transitions from animal research, with a 3-years postdoc (submission deadline: 12 January 2026) www.meta.polimi.it/3-years-post.... #philsci #philsky #sts

meta.polimi.it

3 Years Postdoc: Transitions From Animal-Based Approaches in Biomedicine – META | PoliMi

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

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!

link.springer.com

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...

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Michela Massimi @michelamassimi.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

I will be celebrating World Philosophy Day this week by giving a talk in Copenhagen on the profound influence of Kierkegaard’s philosophy on Niels Bohr’s view on the nature of physical reality and the ideal of an open world in his 1950 letter to the UN. Part of this conference openworld.ku.dk/ow25/

openworld.ku.dk

Programme – University of Copenhagen

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

This is happening tomorrow, Sunday October 19th!

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Excited our paper "Are We in a 6th Mass Extinction?" accepted in 2022 is now out @ BJPS! It began as UROP project w/ undergrad Gloria, expanded to a COVID lockdown project w/ Phi-Geo group, Sect 5 became kernel Federica's dissert & Sect 7 Aja's dissertation. Read ⬇️ doi.org/10.1086/722107 #HPS ⚒️

Are We in a Sixth Mass Extinction? The Challenges of Answering and Value of Asking
Federica Bocchi, Alisa Bokulich, Leticia Castillo Brache, Gloria Grand-Pierre, and Aja Watkins
PDF
PDF PLUS
Abstract
Full Text

Abstract
In both scientific and popular circles, it is often said that we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction. Although the urgency of our present environmental crises is not in doubt, such claims of a present mass extinction are highly controversial scientifically. Our aims are, first, to get to the bottom of this scientific debate by shedding philosophical light on the many conceptual and methodological challenges involved in answering this scientific question and, second, to offer new philosophical perspectives on what the value of asking this question has been—and whether that value persists today. We show that the conceptual challenges in defining ‘mass extinction’, uncertainties in past and present diversity assessments, and data incommensurabilities undermine a straightforward answer to the question of whether we are in, or entering, a sixth mass extinction today. More broadly, we argue that an excessive focus on the mass extinction framing can be misleading for present conservation efforts and may lead us to miss out on the many other valuable insights that Earth’s deep time can offer in guiding our future.

Zoom screenshot of 6 women smiling: Federica, Leticia, Alisa, Aja, Gloria, Matilde

Sections
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. A Brief History of the Sixth Mass Extinction Debate
3. What Is a Mass Extinction?
4. Challenges from Palaeodiversity Data
5. Challenges from Biodiversity Data
6. Incommensurabilities of Past and Current Extinctions
7. Making the Comparisons More Compatible
8. Conclusion: Rethinking the Value of Asking
Notes
References

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

New paper alert! My paper "Turning Biodiversity Data into Evidence" has been accepted in BioSocieties, as part of a collection on the making and shaping of #data_communities. PREPRINT: philsci-archive.pitt.edu/26871/

philsci-archive.pitt.edu

Turning Biodiversity Data into Evidence: The Role of Protocols in the Epistemology of Evidence-Based Conservation - PhilSci-Archive

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Call for Abstracts #HPS of Biodiversity April 30 — May 2, 2026 Copenhagen, Denmark Abstracts of 200-500 words should be submitted through: tinyurl.com/hpsbio. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 7, 2025. Co-organized by @federicabocchi.bsky.social

tinyurl.com

Second HPS of Biodiversity Meeting

Use this form to submit your abstract

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Sabina Leonelli @sabinaleonelli.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

My article “What to do about data distance? Responsible alternatives to data sharing” now in Harvard Data Science Review as commentary on Groth & Borgman’s feature conceptualising data distance - a stimulating debate which I am grateful to be part of hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/c4t7vqmm... #philsci

hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu

What to Do About Data Distance? Responsible Alternatives to Data Sharing

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

This Friday Phi-Geo grad @leticiacastillo.bsky.social will be giving an invited lecture at Tufts University on "Hidden Narratives in Paleontology: Toward Ethical & Inclusive Practices". #philsci #STS #PhiGeo #philsky ⚒️

Leticia smiling in front of a museum didplay

STS LUNCH SEMINAR
Spring 2025, Fridays 12-1:15pm EST
Science, Technology, and Society - Lunch Seminar
Spring 2025 Schedule

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Thanks, @frabellazzi.bsky.social, for co-organizing a great multidisciplinary workshop on Scale and Measurement at the Center for Philosophy and the Sciences at the University of Oslo. Here's a picture from @beccajackson.bsky.social 's talk on the Apgar Score and "Construct Realization".

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

In these uncertain times, this is something to look forward to. I will present a brand new project, "When Adequacy is Inadequate: a Pragmatist Approach to Accurate Measurement Democratization," with Carlos Santana. »https://www.centerphilsci.pitt.edu/event/pragmatism-and-measurement-2/

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Uljana Feest @ufeest.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I received some copies of my forthcoming book in the mail! The official release date is March 11 #hps #philsci #psychology #metascience #sts

Open cardboard box, containing several paperback copies of the Uljana Feest's forthcoming book, Operationism in Psychology: An Epistemology of Exploration

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I am honored to have been invited to present “Quantifying the Biodiversity Crisis: measurement and scaling issues” at the ScaM workshop on scale and measurement at the University of Oslo. Drawing from a collaboration with @alisabokulich.bsky.social Check it out: www.hf.uio.no/english/rese...

hf.uio.no

ScaM workshop: on scale and measurement in the sciences - Centre for Philosophy and the Sciences (CPS)

Read this story on the University of Oslo's website.

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I am excited to give a talk, "Democratizing Measurements for Environmental Justice," at the AAAS Meeting in Boston on Feb. 15th. I argue that "Science Shaping Tomorrow" must be participatory and democratic starting from the foundation: measurement. Details: aaas.confex.com/aaas/2025/me...

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HPS @ AAAS @hps-aaas.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Another #HPS talk of interest at the upcoming AAAS meeting in Boston on Saturday, February 15, 2025 is "Democratizing Measurements for Environmental Justice" by Federica Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social , University of Copenhagen #philsci #philsky

AAAS ANNUAL MEETING
"Democratizing Measurements for Environmental Justice"
Federica Bocchi, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen,
Denmark, Denmark
Abstract
Saturday, February 15, 2025

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Thanks to all those who joined my talk at #PSA2024! Special thanks to my coauthor, Carlos Santana, and the other symposium presenters: Tina Heger, Melissa Charenko, Aja Watkins, and Karen Kovaka.

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Publication alert! My paper, "Biodiversity Skepticism and Measurement Practices," is now available in Biology & Philosophy open access. It's my first attempt to link measurement theory and conceptual engineering to the practices of measuring biodiversity. Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Don't forget to check out the Underrepresented Philosophy of Sciences Scholars (UPSS) Session highlighting PSA's UPSS Mentoring Initiative this weekend at #PSA24 in NOLA #philsci

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Matthew J. Cull @matthewjcull.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

New Stanford Encyclopedia article out today, written by myself and Katharine Jenkins: Feminist Metaphysics plato.stanford.edu/entries/femi... #philsky

plato.stanford.edu

Feminist Metaphysics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

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Soazig Le Bihan @soaziglebihan.bsky.social · 01/11/2024

Good morning, #phisky, #philsci, #conservation, #envhum and 🌎 @federicabocchi.bsky.social has an upcoming paper in Philosophy and Biology, arguing that we are not doomed to skepticism regarding biodiversity despite its multiple/conflicting measures. Preprint: philsci-archive.pitt.edu/24138/

philsci-archive.pitt.edu

Biodiversity Skepticism and Measurement Practices - PhilSci-Archive

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HPS @ AAAS @hps-aaas.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

Congratulations to new #HPS AAAS Fellows, incl Kevin Elliott, Michigan State Univ Pnina Geraldine Abir-Am, Brandeis Uni Kristine Harper, University of Copenhagen (pic) who were inducted at 150th AAAS Fellows Gala in DC on Saturday Sept 21st. Read more about AAAS Fellows: www.aaas.org/fellows/2023...

Photo of a man & two women all holding certificates smiling:
Pnina Geraldine Abir-Am (L), Kevin Elliott (C), & Kristine Harper (R) at 150th AAAS Fellows Gala in DC on Saturday Sept 21st, 2024.

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Stefano Canali @stefanocanali.bsky.social · 18/05/2024

Day 2 of #SPSP2024, the day of our symposium "Demanding Evidence and Addressing Justice at the Intersection of Health and Environmental Sciences"! Co-organised with @federicabocchi.bsky.social, with great talks by Federica, Ariane Hanemaayer, and Helena Alves Pinto.

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 28/04/2024

My paper "Metrics in biodiversity conservation and the value-free ideal" is now available OA in Synthese. Here's the link: rdcu.be/dF0sC

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 01/03/2024

Excited that my former PhDs @federicabocchi.bsky.social & Aja Watkins also had their #PSA24 symposium session "From Data & Evidence to Policy & Action in the Environmental Sciences" accepted, with great talks by them, Karen Kovaca, Tina Heger & @melissacharenko.bsky.social, & Carlos Santana #philsci

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Alisa Bokulich @alisabokulich.bsky.social · 08/02/2024

A great survey intro to philosophy of geosciences by my recent PhD Aja Watkins & @miguelohn.bsky.social is now out ⤵️ #philsci ⚒️

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Federica Rocky Bocchi @federicabocchi.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

Thanks to Charles Pence and Max Bautista Perpinyà for organizing a workshop on Integrating the History and Philosophy of Biodiversity at the Brussels' Natural Science Museum, last week. I had a great time presenting my work in progress on a "theory of evidence" for evidence-based conservation!

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Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 11/10/2023

AND HERE IT IS!! This year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year has been awarded to this *gorgeous* picture of a tri-spine horseshoe crab taken by Laurent Ballesta! Absolutely obsessed with how much it looks like some sort of alien spaceship 🎉🌿🧪 www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

A golden horseshoe crab scuttling along a muddy sea floor at night with three golden travellie fish following along.

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