Simon Evans
@sevans.bsky.social
Evolutionary ecologist at Exeter Uni. Loves Dartmoor, Sweden, XC skiing, fell running, sunsets, knitwear, teaching & cream teas.
What will it take for this insanity to end? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
US boy, 11, allegedly shoots father to death after Nintendo Switch taken away
Pennsylvania boy facing criminal homicide charges after 13 January shooting at family’s home
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
What will it take for this insanity to end? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
The birthplace of evolutionary ecology makes an inspiring place to start a research career in avian ecology.
🚨🚨🚨 Field Assistant positions - four of them!! - working with the long-term Wytham project this coming spring. Details below. Previous year's field team - come and join us! Details below ⬇️
January 16, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The birthplace of evolutionary ecology makes an inspiring place to start a research career in avian ecology.
Reposted by Simon Evans
#OTD in 1832, #CharlesDarwin tried his first banana! He didn't like it very much. As a side note, the HMS Beagle made its first stop on its 5 year survey voyage, making port at the islands of Cape Verde. But it's really all about the fruit adventure.
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
#OTD in 1832, #CharlesDarwin tried his first banana! He didn't like it very much. As a side note, the HMS Beagle made its first stop on its 5 year survey voyage, making port at the islands of Cape Verde. But it's really all about the fruit adventure.
"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it."
- Brian Kernighan
(From the MARK website)
- Brian Kernighan
(From the MARK website)
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 AM
"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it."
- Brian Kernighan
(From the MARK website)
- Brian Kernighan
(From the MARK website)
Reposted by Simon Evans
Spiralling global temperatures (1850-2025)
The last 3 years really jump out, rather like 2015-6 did when we first produced this graphic back then. Now, 2015-6 looks rather cool...
More on the spiral: doi.org/10.1175/BAMS...
The last 3 years really jump out, rather like 2015-6 did when we first produced this graphic back then. Now, 2015-6 looks rather cool...
More on the spiral: doi.org/10.1175/BAMS...
January 14, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Spiralling global temperatures (1850-2025)
The last 3 years really jump out, rather like 2015-6 did when we first produced this graphic back then. Now, 2015-6 looks rather cool...
More on the spiral: doi.org/10.1175/BAMS...
The last 3 years really jump out, rather like 2015-6 did when we first produced this graphic back then. Now, 2015-6 looks rather cool...
More on the spiral: doi.org/10.1175/BAMS...
This is absolutely staggering: the rate of sea level rise has DOUBLED in the last 30 years. It's now ~5cm per decade. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
The rate of global sea level rise doubled during the past three decades - Communications Earth & Environment
Global mean sea level rise amounted to 4.5 mm per year as a result of warming oceans and melting land ice, more than twice the rate of 2.1 mm/year observed at the start of satellite data in 1993, base...
www.nature.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:40 PM
This is absolutely staggering: the rate of sea level rise has DOUBLED in the last 30 years. It's now ~5cm per decade. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Raven? My son suggested snowy owl. But he also insisted bike tracks were a “snow snake” so I want a second opinion.
January 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Raven? My son suggested snowy owl. But he also insisted bike tracks were a “snow snake” so I want a second opinion.
Reposted by Simon Evans
1. Heartbreaking news: the largest big tusker elephant in Kenya has died.
I feel so fortunate that I got to see Craig in the wild.
He was 54 years old and, thankfully, died of natural causes.
It’s safe to assume that Kenyan authorities have already removed his tusks to keep them from poachers.
I feel so fortunate that I got to see Craig in the wild.
He was 54 years old and, thankfully, died of natural causes.
It’s safe to assume that Kenyan authorities have already removed his tusks to keep them from poachers.
January 3, 2026 at 8:23 AM
1. Heartbreaking news: the largest big tusker elephant in Kenya has died.
I feel so fortunate that I got to see Craig in the wild.
He was 54 years old and, thankfully, died of natural causes.
It’s safe to assume that Kenyan authorities have already removed his tusks to keep them from poachers.
I feel so fortunate that I got to see Craig in the wild.
He was 54 years old and, thankfully, died of natural causes.
It’s safe to assume that Kenyan authorities have already removed his tusks to keep them from poachers.
Reposted by Simon Evans
A great example of sustainable science. Using images generated once to represent two entirely different experiments. Check out my thread on Jabbar et al. 2023 (10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19418) in 'Heliyon' on PubPeer for more issues in this paper: pubpeer.com/publications...
December 15, 2024 at 7:21 PM
A great example of sustainable science. Using images generated once to represent two entirely different experiments. Check out my thread on Jabbar et al. 2023 (10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19418) in 'Heliyon' on PubPeer for more issues in this paper: pubpeer.com/publications...
Reposted by Simon Evans
The rate of global mean sea level rise has increased from ~2.1 mm/year in 1993 to ~4.5 mm/year in 2023. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
The rate of global sea level rise doubled during the past three decades - Communications Earth & Environment
Global mean sea level rise amounted to 4.5 mm per year as a result of warming oceans and melting land ice, more than twice the rate of 2.1 mm/year observed at the start of satellite data in 1993, base...
www.nature.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
The rate of global mean sea level rise has increased from ~2.1 mm/year in 1993 to ~4.5 mm/year in 2023. www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Reposted by Simon Evans
Happy New Year and happy 25th anniversary to the Jurassic Coast WHS! This #FossilFriday we're introducing a fossil of the month to celebrate the collectors who make this place what it is. We're kicking it off with this beautiful ammonite from local collector Lizzie Hingley. (1/2)
January 2, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Happy New Year and happy 25th anniversary to the Jurassic Coast WHS! This #FossilFriday we're introducing a fossil of the month to celebrate the collectors who make this place what it is. We're kicking it off with this beautiful ammonite from local collector Lizzie Hingley. (1/2)
Reposted by Simon Evans
Happy "worst week to get a paper published in Nature" to those who celebrate.
January 2, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Happy "worst week to get a paper published in Nature" to those who celebrate.
I adore daffodils, and the passing of Xmas heralds the arrival of the earliest-blooming cultivars in the shops. Perhaps including some from the Scillies, for which they remain a (the?) primary productive industry
January 2, 2026 at 10:13 AM
I adore daffodils, and the passing of Xmas heralds the arrival of the earliest-blooming cultivars in the shops. Perhaps including some from the Scillies, for which they remain a (the?) primary productive industry
Reposted by Simon Evans
The world as 100 people over the last two centuries
December 31, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The world as 100 people over the last two centuries
Reposted by Simon Evans
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Good thread, this:
When I hear men worshipping guns and talking about how there’s nothing that will stop them from defending their family, my mind goes to Naaman in the Bible. Do you remember Naaman? He was a great military leader, and he also had leprosy.
1/
1/
December 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Good thread, this:
If Pruitt did document redaction…
December 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
If Pruitt did document redaction…
Reposted by Simon Evans
And another favourite fairywren shot for Wrensday Wednesday.
A female splendid fairywren spotted at Gluepot Reserve in May.
#wrensday #bestof2025
A female splendid fairywren spotted at Gluepot Reserve in May.
#wrensday #bestof2025
December 24, 2025 at 2:54 AM
And another favourite fairywren shot for Wrensday Wednesday.
A female splendid fairywren spotted at Gluepot Reserve in May.
#wrensday #bestof2025
A female splendid fairywren spotted at Gluepot Reserve in May.
#wrensday #bestof2025
Can a goldcrest’s crown be orange? I very definitely saw orange as it turned to look at me. But 4yo was having a wee at the back of a car park, so wasn’t able to get a better look.
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Can a goldcrest’s crown be orange? I very definitely saw orange as it turned to look at me. But 4yo was having a wee at the back of a car park, so wasn’t able to get a better look.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Reposted by Simon Evans
"Bird was a bit of a hoarder!" said the exterminator.
December 18, 2025 at 4:18 AM
"Bird was a bit of a hoarder!" said the exterminator.
Apparently, the collective noun for Parids is 'troupe' and I will henceforth insist on this terminology in all my peer reviews.
December 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Apparently, the collective noun for Parids is 'troupe' and I will henceforth insist on this terminology in all my peer reviews.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Gang gang cockatoo science is sometimes quite undignified 🥲
December 17, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Gang gang cockatoo science is sometimes quite undignified 🥲