Chris Simms

Science writer and editor. Formerly of @newscientist and @Nature Not here. Now over at

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

The death knell of X?

"Almost immediately, “About This Account” stated that many prominent and prolific pro-MAGA accounts, which signaled that they were run by “patriotic” Americans, were based in countries such as Nigeria, Russia, India, and Thailand."

https://t.co/M8ZwoPpdCO

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Larvae that hatched from the eggs might then have consumed this insect prey/host while it was still alive

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

This was such an extraordinary wasp - it had an abdomen that might have worked like a Venus flytrap to catch other insects so it could lay eggs on them

[New Scientist @newscientist]

Bizarre parasitic wasps preserved in amber about 99 million years ago had trap-like abdomens that they may have used to immobilise other insects https://t.co/bNChDz2msg

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Exciting to see that something I wrote turned up on @LastWeekTonight with @iamjohnoliver. https://t.co/r9uVNFjViy

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

The great Terry Pratchett died 10 years ago this week. It was great to talk to Rob Wilkins @terryandrob to get his take on research hinting that signs of Terry's dementia may have been in his books as long as 10 years before his official diagnosis. https://t.co/yjc29TUbGg

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

I love the way nature continues to surprise me. We knew mice bred in labs and free from the pressure of predators can show very rich behaviour, but it blows my mind that they have been seen performing acts that bear a remarkable resemblance to first aid. https://t.co/r9uVNFjViy

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

It turns out that they have two distinct geomagnetic senses to help them negotiate their epic ocean journeys https://t.co/7W5CVsoVN6

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

You know that lovely moment when you are greeted by an enthusiastic dog or when a cat shows you excessive affection because it wants some food?

Well, this turtle dance is the baby loggerhead turtle version of it: https://t.co/px0P83OOBI

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

And the cute yet odd behaviour has been used to shed light on how loggerheads can learn to recognise magnetic fields and use them to navigate.

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Have no fear though, these bacteria won’t be able to eat away your nylon pants or tights while you are wearing them – the nylon has to be dissolved using chemicals first.

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Nylon is a massive problem. About 10 million tonnes of it are produced every year to make clothes and fishing nets, but 95% ends up in landfill. But now a strain of bacteria has been engineered to metabolise nylon. https://t.co/8LKTSg3zWy

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

The Pseudomonas putida bacteria metabolise the nylon and turn it into a biodegradable chemical called polyhydroxybutyrate, which can be used in food packaging

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Ever wondered what makes you feel full and stop eating? We might finally know @newscientis https://t.co/gmIlcDn0w1

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

I'm really not a fan of this particular label, implying that it is someone else's fault that this packaging isn't recyclable, rather than the responsibility of the retailer or food packager.

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

The long winter that caused this change in behaviour is so Game of Thrones. It must have been terrifying and depressing in a way we with electrical lights and heating can't fathom

[New Scientist @newscientist]

Hundreds of mysterious engraved “sun stones” unearthed in Denmark may have been ceremonially buried because a volcanic eruption in about 2900 BC made the sun disappear. https://t.co/Mh6NOSNySN

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

My garden seems pretty convinced spring is here #plants #flowers #gardening

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

A very special mosquito inhabits the London Underground. It was was once theorised to have evolved in London tunnels fairly recently, but it turns out that this mosquito has a far more ancient origin. It was a joy to write about this for @Nature
https://t.co/geD5XHLo4e

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

I might be (guilt-free) enjoying scratching an itch right now. It was great to talk to the amazingly awesome @KaplanLab about this research #Science #skincare #health @newscientist https://t.co/X28IjefrsE

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

Hundreds of mysterious engraved “sun stones” from 2900 BC have been unearthed on a Danish island. Weirdly, they all seem to have been buried at the same time. My latest for @newscientist reveals what could have made the Neolithic people there do this https://t.co/af8UBgCzsM

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

@TIPollock @BristolPalaeo @EvansEvoMorph It turns out that classic sabre teeth would puncture flesh with up to 50 per cent less force than the other teeth could, which shows why these weirdly long canines were so useful and evolved again and again. Read more about this @newscientist here: https://t.co/JOeyAa3YbO

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

How do you test just how lethal the extraordinarily long canines of sabre-toothed cats like Smilodon were?

[Chris Simms @chrisnsimms]

@TIPollock @BristolPalaeo @EvansEvoMorph 3D-printed versions of teeth and forced them into gel designed to mimic human or animal tissue.