A black-and-white photo of the signatories of the Treaty of Paris, from left to right: Paul van Zeeland, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs; Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs; Joseph Meurice, Belgian Minister for Foreign Trade; Carlo Sforza, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs; Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs; Konrad Adenauer, German Federal Chancellor; Dirk Stikker, Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs; And Johannes van den Brink, Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs. The picture is from 1951 but there is a cake sticker with a ‘75’ candle on top, and colourful bunting sticker hanging above.

75 years ago, the Treaty of Paris was signed, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community.

Six countries joined forces to build a shared market, choosing cooperation over conflict.

Born from the desire for peace after WWII, this treaty laid the foundation for the Union we know today. 🇪🇺

Drax claimed record £999m in subsidies for burning trees in 2025, thinktank says Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainably

Corporate Welfare

Drax claimed £999m subsidy for burning trees in 2025 to produce electricity.

£8.7bn since 2012, more to come. Its electricity is the most expensive.

Company made operating profit of £947m in 2025.

Biggest single polluter in the UK.

It’s official: the UK is rejoining Erasmus! 👏🇪🇺

Looks like the 'after' picture of a tough December cyclocross in Belgium.

#langsky
Let's take a moment to remember that language is real.

Sorry, I should've said the thoughts of someone else, who I wouldn't know.

On second thoughts, I've heard enough of the thoughts of someone else, who I wouldn't know, in this place. Ask them to keep their thoughts to themselves.

UK signs deal to rejoin EU's Erasmus student exchange program More than 100,000 students are expected to benefit in the scheme's first year alone, according to the British government, which negotiated to contribute £570 million towards the scheme's costs in 2027...

www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

(It's all I've been talking about all week.)

(Well, that and some bike races; if you've another week kicking about anytime soon, we could sure use your pensées on what is it with the French and cycling and Paul Seixas and Decathlon and Macron.)

A square graphic on a white background. At the top, there are two distinct, rough, painted-style brushstroke patches side-by-side: one in the blue and yellow of the European Union flag and one in the red, white, and blue of the United Kingdom's Union Jack. Below the flags, bold, dark blue text reads: "THE UK IS COMING BACK TO ERASMUS+." In the bottom right corner, there is a small, rectangular official European Union flag.

The United Kingdom is coming back to Erasmus+.

The European Union and the United Kingdom have enabled the UK's association to Erasmus+ in 2027.

More ↓
link.europa.eu/MHc9JP

The best news.

Albeit after too many lost years.

Thanks to all involved - the #earlymodern is always new.

France passed a law requiring solar panels on every parking lot with more than 80 spaces.

Equals 10 nuclear reactors
Reduces heat island, shades cars

The US -- 800 million parking spaces. Most of them are uncovered asphalt sitting in direct sunlight.

Why aren't we doing this?

First race I ever watched thrice, end-to-end.

#earlymodern

In the brain, objects seen and imagined follow the same neural path New evidence finds that sight and imagination rely on the same neurons and use the same neural code.

New evidence finds that sight and imagination rely on the same neurons and use the same neural code. n.pr/4mpWUEd

Congrats, and welcome to admin-free thoughts.

Postdoc in Digital Archaeology & Philosophy of Science – University of Edinburgh, UK

🎓 Postdoc in Digital Archaeology & Philosophy of Science – University of Edinburgh, UK
🔬 Position under the ERC “Dematerialisation of Science” project
📅 Deadline: 28 Apr 2026
🔗 higherjobz.com/postdoc-digi...
#Postdoc @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social

A pack of new news -
go.bsky.app/12z3k1N

Christopher Penn wrote: Just remember that given the abundance of neurodivergent people in science, it's far more likely that autism causes vaccines.

A different perspective.
Always helpful.

Selling Education in England, 1650–1715* Abstract. In the period 1650–1715, a growing consensus emerged that educational culture in England did not meet the needs of the population, and that chang

My new article, 'Selling Education in England, 1650-1715' is now out (open access) in the English Historical Review! academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...

#earlymodern

#earlymodern

Deciphering the Singapore Stone Also this week: The linguistics of Project Hail Mary + The beautiful linguistic chaos of Iran + Your dog might be eavesdropping on you (linguistically)

🪨 Deciphering the Singapore Stone

👾 The linguistics of Project Hail Mary

🇮🇷 The beautiful linguistic chaos of modern Iran

🐶 Your dog might be eavesdropping on you (linguistically)

✨ Revitalizing a Native American language from old manuscripts

Bright blue background featuring the OU logo and text that reads: 'We're Hiring! Learning and Teaching Librarian. Join the award-winning Open University Library.'

We’re hiring a Learning & Teaching Librarian to handle enquiries, collaborate with other teams to grow digital capabilities, and integrate Library content into the curriculum.

For more details and to apply 👉 https://ow.ly/3wox50YsNky

Closing Date: 1 April 2026

#LibraryJobs

Euronews Earth: Covering a continent living through climate change Euronews Earth launches today, informing you on how climate change is shaping life across Europe.

Euronews Earth launches today, informing you on how climate change is shaping life across Europe.

A history of the world in 47 borders | Lecture Jonn Elledge shares the stories of borders that explore how political identities are shaped, why the world looks the way it does.

Final, ish, reminder that I am going to Portsmouth tonight to give a lecture about borders to the Royal Geographical Society, a fact I find funny in at least three different ways

www.rgs.org/events/upcom...

Video. New Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire cycles to city hall after election win Video. Emmanuel Grégoire heads to Paris City Hall on a rental bike after winning the mayoral election.

New Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire cycles to city hall after election win

Happy St Sheelagh's Day!

Lyndal Roper: ‘Drastic’ cuts to UK humanities risk brain drain Newly crowned winner of Holberg Prize raises alarm over job losses and shuttering of courses across UK

"I’m very worried about what is being destroyed. We’re all extremely worried, because what we’re seeing is the ad hoc closure and drastic cutting of many, many departments across the country."

Historian Lyndal Roper in today's THE: bit.ly/4sqsfJ2 #Skystorians 1/2

Sht this gave me palm sweats that th series of eye-grabbing opening lines for novels I wrote when I was 17 might still exist somewhere.

Féile Pádraig sona daoibh! ☘️

Happy St Patricks day everyone! ☘️