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Nir Arielli

@nirarielli.bsky.social
565 followers 494 following 98 posts

Historian of Europe and the Middle East, writing about people and water. I work at @universityofleeds.bsky.social

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Reposted by Nir Arielli
Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
The authorities in Wales have been taking steps to preserve the nation's remaining peat bogs - a vital carbon store. But now, climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is turning the land itself into fuel.
A photo of heather-covered moorland stretching into the distance.
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 15/07/2026
The Society will write up a summary for History for next week. Key points at this stage include: > 11% decline (-440 FPE) across all History staff between 2018/19 and 2024/25, compared with a 7% decline across all humanities > loss of 140 FPE History roles 2022/23 to 2024/25 #Skystorians 1/3
Screen shot from British Academy mapping SHAPE staff resource, showing change in History staff between 2018/19 and 2024/25. A loss of 440 FPE or 11% of the total.
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Northern Environmental History Network @northernenvhistory.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
We've been asked to share a CfP for a workshop organised by a group of historians at Leeds. Papers on a variety of topics related to the Environmental History of Northern England are invited: the orgnaisers hope to develop some papers presented into a special issue of @northernhistory.bsky.social
Poster for CfP: a man cuts peat, with peat drying in the background. The text, overlaid on the image in two text boxes, reads: 

The Environmental History of the North of England
School of History, University of Leeds

Themes presented could include but are not limited to: the history of water management schemes, land-use change, degradation of landscapes, the environmental impacts of urban expansion, and the emergence of conservation and restoration efforts. Papers relating to any historical period are welcome.

Paper titles and a 150-word abstract should be sent to the organizers by Friday, 17 July.

Nir Arielli: n.arielli@leeds.ac.uk 
Anne Caldwell: A.Caldwell@leeds.ac.uk  
Alex Worsfold: hyamaw@leeds.ac.uk
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
The School of History at the University of Leeds is advertising a new post: Teaching Fellow in British Colonial History 1600-1900. Please spread the word (and let's see if we can improve the pitiful engagement on this website) jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
jobs.leeds.ac.uk
Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Teaching Fellow in British Colonial History 1600-1900
Are you passionate about helping to deliver an exceptional student experience in a top-ranked Russell Group University? Can you provide excellent teaching in BA History and our postgraduate degrees?Th...
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
While marking student essays, I become incredibly frustrated when I come across work generated by #AI. It seems, however, that student misuse of this technology is the least of our problems. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Fabricated citations: an audit across 2·5 million biomedical papers
Scientific literature depends on the integrity of its references. Each reference implicitly asserts that a verifiable source exists and supports the claims being made. When references point to non-exi...
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Very proud of (nearly) Dr Alex Worsfold who passed his viva today! Well done @alexworsfold.bsky.social
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 02/04/2026
Good news 👏 In the face of global uncertainty, progress on rebuilding UK–EU ties can’t come soon enough. The faster, the better. www.politico.eu/article/nick-thomas…
politico.eu
Britain’s EU point man says reset deal can be done by summer
Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds tells POLITICO that rows over youth mobility and tuition fees won’t snag EU-U.K. deal — and
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
More than 4 million books published in the US alone in 2025. I wonder how many get read www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
publishersweekly.com
Book Output Topped Four Million in 2025
The total number of books published in the U.S. in 2025 jumped 32.5% over 2024, according to statistics compiled by Bowker, led by a boom in self-published titles. The number of traditionally publishe...
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Northern History @northernhistory.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Gordon Forster Essay Prize 2026 Deadline: 1 May 2026 Open to postgraduate students and ECRs, the winner receives £200 and their essay will be considered for publication. Essays should fit within the journal’s aims & scope, and be between 7000-10000 words (inc. footnotes). Please repost.
tandfonline.com
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Seva @seva.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
I just finished a three-year term as an editor at an international relations journal. I began at the start of the LLM era but ended right in the middle of it. Our volume of submissions tripled and our desk reject rate rose to 75%. I have some thoughts. open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...
open.substack.com
The Age of Academic Slop is Upon Us
what happens when AI automates "normal science"?
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy new year everyone! If you are looking for something to read in 2026, The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History is now available in paperback. @yalebooks.bsky.social ‬
Paperback copy of the book The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History with the Dead Sea shore in the background.
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Jacob Stoil @jacobstoil.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
One potential contributing country for an International Security Force for #Gaza is #Indonesia - which is why I'm particularly excited to see an article I co-wrote with @nirarielli.bsky.social on it will take to succeed published by the Jakarta Post! www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025...
thejakartapost.com
How an international security force in post-war Gaza could work - Academia - The Jakarta Post
An international stabilization force is a central plank in the plans for post-war Gaza that have been put forward by US president Donald Trump.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
@jacobstoil.bsky.social, Mary Elizabeth Walters and I wrote about deploying a multinational peacekeeping force to #Gaza long before it was cool. Now that such a force is being assembled (haphazardly), we revisit some of the ideas we put forward in 2023 share.google/Zm2MEI5kNdIF...
share.google
How an international security force in post-war Gaza could work
Weeks after the war began, we collaborated on a proposal for a multinational peacekeeping force in Gaza. Many of our recommendations remain relevant.
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Ilkley Literature Festival @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Diaries out - here's what we have in store for you at ILF this week and weekend! 🗓️ 📚 Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
This is the best plan available out of this nightmare. Netanyahu will try his best to torpedo it. I hope it'll be implemented nonetheless. @jacobstoil.bsky.social
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Not only because it was written by my friends @enacciai.bsky.social, Morten Heiberg, and Carl-Henrik Bjerström, but also because it is innovative and fascinating. @universitypress.cambridge.org www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
cambridge.org
Armed Internationalists
Cambridge Core - Global History - Armed Internationalists
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
@jacobstoil.bsky.social - does some of this look familiar to you?
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Do you prefer to listen to books rather than read them? Good news, in that case - the audiobook version of The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History is now available. Many thanks to @tantoraudio.bsky.social & @nigelpatterson.bsky.social tantor.com/the-dead-sea...
tantor.com
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
It was an honour and a privilege to work with experts from Jordan, Israel and Palestine, developing ideas to alleviate the environmental crisis in the #DeadSea. Good to be reminded that there are plenty of kind and forward-facing people in the region. www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
leeds.ac.uk
Saving the Dead Sea
As the Dead Sea shrinks at an alarming pace, environmental experts from the Middle East and UK are calling on regional policymakers to take urgent action.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
theatlantic.com
Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End
America’s run as the premier techno-superpower may be over.
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Yale University Press London 📖 @yalebooks.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Our History books of the year so far, as chosen by the critics. Includes books by @tlgrady68.bsky.social, @hdiamond.bsky.social, @nirarielli.bsky.social and many more! You can shop this selection with a 30% discount and free UK postage here: yalebooks.co.uk/history-book... #skystorians
yalebooks.co.uk
History Books of the Year . . . so far! - Yale University Press London
This reading list brings you our History books of the year so far, as chosen by critics. You can shop this selection with a 30% discount.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Want to retain anything from your studies? Try writing your own essays rather than relying on #AI www.media.mit.edu/publications...
media.mit.edu
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task – MIT Media Lab
 This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine…
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
My former padawan Jacopo Pili is co-organizing the conference "Pius XII and Decolonization: Catholicism in North Africa and the Levant, 1939-1958", which will be held in Cairo in November 2025. If your research relates to the topic, check out the call for papers. networks.h-net.org/group/announ...
networks.h-net.org
Pius XII and Decolonization: Catholicism in North Africa and the Levant, 1939-1958 | H-Net
Call for PapersNov. 10-11, 2025Netherlands-Flemish Institute in CairoOrganizers: Erica Moretti, Jacopo Pili, Simon UngerPius XII and Decolonization: Catholicism in North Africa and the Levant, 1939-19...
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
Very sad to learn that historian Motti Golani, an expert on the British Mandate in Palestine, passed away unexpectedly.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
youtube.com/watch?v=OQ0a...
youtube.com
The Dead Sea - Nir Arielli
YouTube video by YaleBooks
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Yale University Press @yalepress.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Nir Arielli, author of The Dead Sea, was interviewed on American Purpose's podcast, Bookstack @nirarielli.bsky.social @americanpurpose.bsky.social www.persuasion.community/p/episode-…
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Prophecy can never be delivered because when it is, the entire faith/cult/movement ceases to have purpose. So much politics is just a giant pyramid scheme.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
I am very grateful for this generous review of The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History in the Sri Lanka Guardian slguardian.org/the-dead-sea...
slguardian.org
The Dead Sea: A Mirror of Civilization’s Hubris
by Eric In The Dead Sea: A 10,000-Year History, the author excavates not merely the layers of sediment that compose the physical basin of this enigmatic inland sea but the...
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John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Great to see the first of this new suite of videos about our undergraduate degrees in History at Leeds launched. Featuring brilliant colleagues @sarakbarker.bsky.social & @lauracking.bsky.social and our wonderful students & alumni, plus me making the case for the value and joy of a History degree.
youtube.com
Studying Undergraduate History at the University of Leeds #UniversityOfLeeds #HistoryBA
YouTube video by University of Leeds
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Reminder for people in the London area: if you fancy a trip to Greenwich this Thursday, 13 March, please join us at the PEF for an event marking the publication of The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History @yalebooks.bsky.social
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Dr Roberto Mazza @robbyref.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Sharing my latest podcast recorded with my old friend @nirarielli.bsky.social discussing his book The Dead Sea 10,000 Years of History @yalepress.bsky.social newbooksnetwork.com/the-dead-sea
newbooksnetwork.com
Nir Arielli, "The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History" (Yale UP, 2025) - New Books Network
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
I'm very grateful to the Gerda Henkel Stiftung for supporting my research and to Moritz Binkele for this interview where we discussed The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History. #DeadSea #skystorians @yalebooks.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/arielli_dead...
lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de
“The Dead Sea serves as a unique time capsule” | L.I.S.A. WISSENSCHAFTSPORTAL GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG
The Dead Sea is a place of contrasts. Despite its seemingly inhospitable nature, the iconic saltwater lake—located at the border between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories—has been extens...
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
For people in the London area: if you fancy a trip to Greenwich on Thursday, 13 March, please join us at the PEF for an event marking the publication of The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History @yalebooks.bsky.social
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22/02/2025
UK soil breakthrough could cut farm fertiliser use and advance sustainable agriculture
theguardian.com
UK soil breakthrough could cut farm fertiliser use and advance sustainable agriculture
Research group says discovery could lead to new type of environmentally friendly farming A biological mechanism that makes plant roots more attractive to soil microbes has been discovered by scientists in the UK. The breakthrough – by researchers at the…
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
I really enjoyed the book launch event last night at Waterstones Leeds @waterstones.bsky.social. Huge thanks to @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social for his excellent questions and good humour. Many thanks to all the friends, colleagues and students who were able to join us. Photo by: Emily Zobel Marshall
The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History book launch event at Leeds Waterstones
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Jacob Stoil @jacobstoil.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
There are a lot of positive signs in #Lebanon but #Hezbollah still wants to attack #Israel & poses a threat to peace & security... @nirarielli.bsky.social, Mary Elizabeth Walters and I discussed how to change this in our latest article in @newsweek.com www.newsweek.com/how-turn-fra...
newsweek.com
How to Turn a Fragile Peace in Lebanon Into a Lasting One | Opinion
A robust international peacekeeping force with an expansive mandate and permissive rules of engagement could help bring stability to this troubled border.
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John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Really looking forward to interviewing the brilliant @nirarielli.bsky.social at tonight's launch event for The Dead Sea: A 10,000-Year History. 7pm at Leeds Waterstones, get a copy of the (beautiful) book with your ticket, you might get a glass of wine. The perfect pre-Valentine's treat?
waterstones.com
An Evening with Nir Arielli | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about An Evening with Nir Arielli today.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Very happy for and proud of my wonderful friend and colleague @elinevanommen.bsky.social. Nicaragua Must Survive is an excellent book and I'm glad it is getting the recognition it deserves.
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Joanne Manaster @sciencegoddess.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Released on Jan 28, we see The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History by @nirarielli.bsky.social who provides a wide view of the history and importance of the lake, including its scientific significance. 🧪 amzn.to/4gJNzU8
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
I'm delighted to see this very generous review by David Abulafia in the Literary Review. Worth Its Salt The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History literaryreview.co.uk/worth-its-salt @yalebooks.bsky.social
literaryreview.co.uk
David Abulafia - Worth Its Salt
David Abulafia: Worth Its Salt - The Dead Sea: A 10,000-Year History by Nir Arielli
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
I am very grateful to Peter Gordon for his thoughtful review of The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History in @asianreviewofbooks.bsky.social @yalebooks.bsky.social asianreviewofbooks.com/the-dead-sea...
asianreviewofbooks.com
“The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History” by Nir Arielli
The Dead Sea—and its environs of Jericho and the Jordan River—is perhaps second only to Jerusalem as a place where history, archaeology, religion, politics and international relations meet and mix.…
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/01/2025
Thousands of trees planted in Devon to start creation of Celtic rainforest
theguardian.com
Thousands of trees planted in Devon to start creation of Celtic rainforest
More than 2,500 native trees have been planted to form a temperate rainforest in decades to come The first step towards creating a Celtic rainforest – a now extremely rare habitat that once covered large swathes of the west coast of Britain – has been…
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
The University of Leeds is leaving Twitter/X. @universityofleeds.bsky.social
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History is celebrating its publication day! Huge thanks to the many people who have helped me along the way @jogodfrey.bsky.social @katie-urquhart.bsky.social @chloe-bookpr.bsky.social @drtermagant.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social #DeadSea 🗃️
Cover of the book The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
It was a pleasure discussing my new book with Gilad Halpern. Do give this a listen @yalebooks.bsky.social
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Very grateful to Violet Moller for her thoughtful review of my soon to be published book, The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History @yalebooks.bsky.social www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
telegraph.co.uk
The bizarre 10,000-year-old miracle of the Dead Sea
Nir Arielli’s rigorous history, The Dead Sea, ranges over millennia of the landscape’s paradoxes, conflicts and botanic curios
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Now that the "day after" is finally on the horizon, Mary Elizabeth Walters, ‪@jacobstoil.bsky.social and I return to the idea we have been promoting since the early days of the war in Gaza.
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Nir Arielli @nirarielli.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Very grateful to Vanja Celebicic for these beautiful images of the Dead Sea area. #deadsea #jordan #photography
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Olga Byrska @obyrska.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
That’s that.
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Ed Burmila @edburmila.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
This experiment with letting a small handful of people amass most of the wealth in a society and then inflict something devastating on the world when they reach middle age and realize no one likes them seems to have run its 5000-year course. We might not need to run additional trials.
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