Felix Zajitschek
@zajitschek.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist (PhD) 🦗🦎🪰. In Formby, near sand, pinewoods, red squirrels, and Liverpool 🌊. Peace, long life, and democracy 🖖 felix.zajitschek.net 🌿
Pinned
Felix Zajitschek
@zajitschek.bsky.social
· Jun 23
Local Glow
Discover and share local gems across the UK.
localglow.uk
Instead of only reacting when local special places are at risk, let's remind ourselves what we love about our community: localglow.uk ⭐️
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal
The other day near Plex Moss Lane
February 12, 2026 at 8:47 AM
The other day near Plex Moss Lane
February 8, 2026 at 3:23 PM
"Design of [AI] agents should rely on the decades of scholarship that we have about individual, collective, and organisational behaviour. We should be drawing on what we know about the patterns that emerge in situations of competition, coordination, collective decision-making, and co-operation." 💯
AI needs social science. Cosmina Dorobantu and I explain why in a new blog post @lsedatascience.bsky.social @oii.ox.ac.uk blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Why AI needs social science | British Politics and Policy at LSE
AI is about humans, that's why it needs to be shaped not just by computer science, but by social science.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"Design of [AI] agents should rely on the decades of scholarship that we have about individual, collective, and organisational behaviour. We should be drawing on what we know about the patterns that emerge in situations of competition, coordination, collective decision-making, and co-operation." 💯
Great paper, very readable: ‘Correcting for extrinsic mortality raises the estimate for the heritability of human life span in twin and sibling studies to ~55%, more than twice previous estimates and in line with heritability of most human traits.’
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (open access)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (open access)
Heritability of intrinsic human life span is about 50% when confounding factors are addressed
How heritable is human life span? If genetic heritability is high, longevity genes can reveal aging mechanisms and inform medicine and public health. However, current estimates of heritability are low...
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Great paper, very readable: ‘Correcting for extrinsic mortality raises the estimate for the heritability of human life span in twin and sibling studies to ~55%, more than twice previous estimates and in line with heritability of most human traits.’
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (open access)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (open access)
🚲🚶♂️10 points, 2 pages, not-tl;dr →
“The Bristol Declaration - calling for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car.”
www.fph.org.uk/media/tr2bnu...
“The Bristol Declaration - calling for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car.”
www.fph.org.uk/media/tr2bnu...
www.fph.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:56 PM
🚲🚶♂️10 points, 2 pages, not-tl;dr →
“The Bristol Declaration - calling for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car.”
www.fph.org.uk/media/tr2bnu...
“The Bristol Declaration - calling for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car.”
www.fph.org.uk/media/tr2bnu...
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
“It’s the oldest cheese DNA in the world.”
Bronze Age herders were buried with lumps of cheese starter, shows a 2024 study of ancient DNA. https://scim.ag/49HeqxQ #CheeseLoversDay
Bronze Age herders were buried with lumps of cheese starter, shows a 2024 study of ancient DNA. https://scim.ag/49HeqxQ #CheeseLoversDay
This enigmatic mummy from western China was swathed in cheese
Bronze Age herders were buried with lumps of cheese starter, ancient DNA shows
scim.ag
January 20, 2026 at 5:50 PM
“It’s the oldest cheese DNA in the world.”
Bronze Age herders were buried with lumps of cheese starter, shows a 2024 study of ancient DNA. https://scim.ag/49HeqxQ #CheeseLoversDay
Bronze Age herders were buried with lumps of cheese starter, shows a 2024 study of ancient DNA. https://scim.ag/49HeqxQ #CheeseLoversDay
Just out 📄: UK gov’s ‘Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security assessment'.
With all the other distressing news, ecological degradation and predicted effects sometimes don’t make it to the top, despite the urgency to act.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
With all the other distressing news, ecological degradation and predicted effects sometimes don’t make it to the top, despite the urgency to act.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
January 22, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Just out 📄: UK gov’s ‘Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security assessment'.
With all the other distressing news, ecological degradation and predicted effects sometimes don’t make it to the top, despite the urgency to act.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
With all the other distressing news, ecological degradation and predicted effects sometimes don’t make it to the top, despite the urgency to act.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
#SquirrelAppreciationDay classic work 🐿️:
Hans Hoffmann (German, 1530–1591)
Red #Squirrel, 1578
watercolor & gouache over traces of graphite on parchment
25 x 17.8 cm (9 13/16 x 7 in.)
National Gallery of Art 1991.182.5 www.nga.gov/collection/a...
Hans Hoffmann (German, 1530–1591)
Red #Squirrel, 1578
watercolor & gouache over traces of graphite on parchment
25 x 17.8 cm (9 13/16 x 7 in.)
National Gallery of Art 1991.182.5 www.nga.gov/collection/a...
January 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
#SquirrelAppreciationDay classic work 🐿️:
Hans Hoffmann (German, 1530–1591)
Red #Squirrel, 1578
watercolor & gouache over traces of graphite on parchment
25 x 17.8 cm (9 13/16 x 7 in.)
National Gallery of Art 1991.182.5 www.nga.gov/collection/a...
Hans Hoffmann (German, 1530–1591)
Red #Squirrel, 1578
watercolor & gouache over traces of graphite on parchment
25 x 17.8 cm (9 13/16 x 7 in.)
National Gallery of Art 1991.182.5 www.nga.gov/collection/a...
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
Time line cleanse.
Apparently it’s Red Squirrel Appreciation day today ( possibly just a Formby thing!) so here’s something Orange that isn’t hideous.
1/2
Apparently it’s Red Squirrel Appreciation day today ( possibly just a Formby thing!) so here’s something Orange that isn’t hideous.
1/2
January 21, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Time line cleanse.
Apparently it’s Red Squirrel Appreciation day today ( possibly just a Formby thing!) so here’s something Orange that isn’t hideous.
1/2
Apparently it’s Red Squirrel Appreciation day today ( possibly just a Formby thing!) so here’s something Orange that isn’t hideous.
1/2
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
Trump just repeated again that China just builds wind turbines but did not use them themselves.
Truth is :they actually do. China has more wind power than any other country.
Truth is :they actually do. China has more wind power than any other country.
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Trump just repeated again that China just builds wind turbines but did not use them themselves.
Truth is :they actually do. China has more wind power than any other country.
Truth is :they actually do. China has more wind power than any other country.
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
Laura Fumagalli has created a virtual BJA issue on the aesthetic appreciation of nature. It includes BJA papers ranging from 1963 to 2024. Check it out here. academic.oup.com/bjaesthetics... #philsky
The Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature
This collection highlights twelve contributions from the BJA archives, showing various approaches to the aesthetics of nature. The appreciation of nature was a
academic.oup.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Laura Fumagalli has created a virtual BJA issue on the aesthetic appreciation of nature. It includes BJA papers ranging from 1963 to 2024. Check it out here. academic.oup.com/bjaesthetics... #philsky
Congratulations to Susi Zajitschek, the University winner in the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Open Research, at LJMU’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference 2025 👏💐🎉
#LJMU #OpenResearch #RKEconference #ResearchAndKnowledgeExchangeConference
#LJMU #OpenResearch #RKEconference #ResearchAndKnowledgeExchangeConference
December 16, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Congratulations to Susi Zajitschek, the University winner in the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Open Research, at LJMU’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference 2025 👏💐🎉
#LJMU #OpenResearch #RKEconference #ResearchAndKnowledgeExchangeConference
#LJMU #OpenResearch #RKEconference #ResearchAndKnowledgeExchangeConference
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
By combining mark-recapture and genetic parentage data from wild #lizards, we show that the offspring of older parents do not have lower survival or reproductive success than the offspring of younger parents:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Crain et al. 2025
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Crain et al. 2025
Parental age effects on offspring fitness in a wild population of a short-lived reptile
Abstract. As organisms age, the fitness of the offspring they produce can decline, which is often attributed to parental senescence. However, few studies h
doi.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
By combining mark-recapture and genetic parentage data from wild #lizards, we show that the offspring of older parents do not have lower survival or reproductive success than the offspring of younger parents:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Crain et al. 2025
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Crain et al. 2025
Broadcasting for Democracy: Reimagining Official-Citizen Communication. Preprint.
My take on strengthening the connection between representatives and the represented: individual, verified information channels for every elected official. osf.io/preprints/so...
via @socarxiv.bsky.social on OSF
My take on strengthening the connection between representatives and the represented: individual, verified information channels for every elected official. osf.io/preprints/so...
via @socarxiv.bsky.social on OSF
OSF
osf.io
November 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Broadcasting for Democracy: Reimagining Official-Citizen Communication. Preprint.
My take on strengthening the connection between representatives and the represented: individual, verified information channels for every elected official. osf.io/preprints/so...
via @socarxiv.bsky.social on OSF
My take on strengthening the connection between representatives and the represented: individual, verified information channels for every elected official. osf.io/preprints/so...
via @socarxiv.bsky.social on OSF
What is Git/Github, and how do I use it with R?
A Git/GitHub Desktop/GitHub/RStudio Open Research tutorial: zajitschek.github.io/git_workshop...
Part of the LJMU R Community's LJMU Bag of tRicks ljmutricks.github.io/bag-of-tricks
A Git/GitHub Desktop/GitHub/RStudio Open Research tutorial: zajitschek.github.io/git_workshop...
Part of the LJMU R Community's LJMU Bag of tRicks ljmutricks.github.io/bag-of-tricks
Welcome to an Open Research LJMU Workshop! – Open Research Workshop LJMU: What is Git/Github, and how do I use it with R?
zajitschek.github.io
September 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
What is Git/Github, and how do I use it with R?
A Git/GitHub Desktop/GitHub/RStudio Open Research tutorial: zajitschek.github.io/git_workshop...
Part of the LJMU R Community's LJMU Bag of tRicks ljmutricks.github.io/bag-of-tricks
A Git/GitHub Desktop/GitHub/RStudio Open Research tutorial: zajitschek.github.io/git_workshop...
Part of the LJMU R Community's LJMU Bag of tRicks ljmutricks.github.io/bag-of-tricks
Crazy: Microbes can consume hydrogen from air to synthesize ATP www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
ATP synthesis driven by atmospheric hydrogen concentrations | PNAS
All cells require a continuous supply of the universal energy currency, adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), to drive countless cellular reactions. The un...
www.pnas.org
July 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Crazy: Microbes can consume hydrogen from air to synthesize ATP www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
I ❤️ inventions like that: bladeless wind power. ‘Instead of blades, these turbines use a tall, mast-like structure that oscillates or vibrates due to the aerodynamic phenomenon of vortex shedding. This oscillation is then converted into electricity.’
vortexbladeless.com
vortexbladeless.com
Vortex Bladeless | Innovative Wind Power
Vortex is a radically new form of wind energy without rotation or blades, simpler, low-maintenance and bird-friendly.
vortexbladeless.com
July 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I ❤️ inventions like that: bladeless wind power. ‘Instead of blades, these turbines use a tall, mast-like structure that oscillates or vibrates due to the aerodynamic phenomenon of vortex shedding. This oscillation is then converted into electricity.’
vortexbladeless.com
vortexbladeless.com
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
Why does eating less extend lifespan? 🧬
Mutation accumulation underpins evolution of lifespan extension by dietary restriction
We often think about saving energy or recycling waste - but we show how evolution acting on mutation load can generate longer life on low food 🧵
🔗 tinyurl.com/jn5ryhxv
Mutation accumulation underpins evolution of lifespan extension by dietary restriction
We often think about saving energy or recycling waste - but we show how evolution acting on mutation load can generate longer life on low food 🧵
🔗 tinyurl.com/jn5ryhxv
June 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Why does eating less extend lifespan? 🧬
Mutation accumulation underpins evolution of lifespan extension by dietary restriction
We often think about saving energy or recycling waste - but we show how evolution acting on mutation load can generate longer life on low food 🧵
🔗 tinyurl.com/jn5ryhxv
Mutation accumulation underpins evolution of lifespan extension by dietary restriction
We often think about saving energy or recycling waste - but we show how evolution acting on mutation load can generate longer life on low food 🧵
🔗 tinyurl.com/jn5ryhxv
Reposted by Felix Zajitschek
This is wild!
Engineering E. coli bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol (Tylenol)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Engineering E. coli bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol (Tylenol)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This is wild!
Engineering E. coli bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol (Tylenol)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Engineering E. coli bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol (Tylenol)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Instead of only reacting when local special places are at risk, let's remind ourselves what we love about our community: localglow.uk ⭐️
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal
Local Glow
Discover and share local gems across the UK.
localglow.uk
June 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Instead of only reacting when local special places are at risk, let's remind ourselves what we love about our community: localglow.uk ⭐️
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal
To protect and improve, we can mobilize for action: act.localglow.uk ⭐️
🏡🌳🍔🤼♀️🏀👍 #Community #MakingADifference #SupportLocal