Daohan "Rex" Jiang
@rexjiang.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist; postdoc @oistedu.bsky.social; evolutionary theories | complex traits | evolutionary novelties
Views are my own.
https://rexjiang385518549.wordpress.com/
Views are my own.
https://rexjiang385518549.wordpress.com/
Pinned
Daohan "Rex" Jiang
@rexjiang.bsky.social
· Oct 16
A simple model reveals why complex evolutionary innovations follow predictable paths
Determining the principles underlying the origin of novel characters has been a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. Yet, key mechanisms remain poorly understood, hindered by the lack of a genera...
www.biorxiv.org
Have been a bit silent recently as I've been working on this new version of our preprint! In this study, we present a generalizable evo-devo model to explore principles of evolutionary innovations. A thread 🧵 ahead about this, and what's new... 1/11
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The 5 eps of #PrehistoricPlanetIceAge indeed cured my soul in this miserable November. With many animals never addressed by a genus or species-level name, I kept making (hopefully educated) guesses about their identities based on my limited paleo knowledge. A 🧵 ahead for my guesses...
November 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The 5 eps of #PrehistoricPlanetIceAge indeed cured my soul in this miserable November. With many animals never addressed by a genus or species-level name, I kept making (hopefully educated) guesses about their identities based on my limited paleo knowledge. A 🧵 ahead for my guesses...
My only complaint about #PrehistoricPlanetIceAge is the "minus 50 degrees" at the beginning. It's Fahrenheit but not explicitly said to be. Only later I realized they aren't using metric. Traditional CN & JP sub converted to roughly correct Celsius (-45), but simplified CN weirdly gave -10. 1/2
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
My only complaint about #PrehistoricPlanetIceAge is the "minus 50 degrees" at the beginning. It's Fahrenheit but not explicitly said to be. Only later I realized they aren't using metric. Traditional CN & JP sub converted to roughly correct Celsius (-45), but simplified CN weirdly gave -10. 1/2
The remote (but not too remote) reason why I’m here now.
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's landmark book 'On the Origin of Species' was first published. The work is one of the foundations of evolutionary biology, and one of the most important scientific works of the 19th century. #HistoryOfScience
November 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The remote (but not too remote) reason why I’m here now.
They genuinely absolutely definitely want to destroy me. How can I be willing to be there anymore?
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 AM
They genuinely absolutely definitely want to destroy me. How can I be willing to be there anymore?
The Nanotyrannus of phylogenomics 😂 but apparently less attractive to ‘netizen scientists’ due to theological/technical barrier.
(Attaching a comb jelly photo I took—they’re amazing!)
(Attaching a comb jelly photo I took—they’re amazing!)
November 14, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The Nanotyrannus of phylogenomics 😂 but apparently less attractive to ‘netizen scientists’ due to theological/technical barrier.
(Attaching a comb jelly photo I took—they’re amazing!)
(Attaching a comb jelly photo I took—they’re amazing!)
November is my worst month and I knew it
November 12, 2025 at 8:53 AM
November is my worst month and I knew it
The color scheme is based on its close relative Sinosauropteryx, I believe, which was inferred from preserved melanosomes.
Sinocalliopteryx may also be called “raptor-swallowing” as dromaeosaurid leg bones were found in the holotype’s stomach.
Sinocalliopteryx may also be called “raptor-swallowing” as dromaeosaurid leg bones were found in the holotype’s stomach.
"Cretaceous Thriller"
Sinocalliopteryx: the bird-swallowing dinosaur 🪶
Sinocalliopteryx: the bird-swallowing dinosaur 🪶
November 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
The color scheme is based on its close relative Sinosauropteryx, I believe, which was inferred from preserved melanosomes.
Sinocalliopteryx may also be called “raptor-swallowing” as dromaeosaurid leg bones were found in the holotype’s stomach.
Sinocalliopteryx may also be called “raptor-swallowing” as dromaeosaurid leg bones were found in the holotype’s stomach.
An observation from almost a year ago. An #Okinawa sword-tailed #newt (Cynops ensicauda popei) was consuming a dead dragonfly. Several others approached during this but didn't get a bite. Associated iNat observation: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
youtu.be/o9d-0hufDfI
youtu.be/o9d-0hufDfI
Sword-tailed Newt Consuming a Dragonfly
YouTube video by Rex Jiang
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
An observation from almost a year ago. An #Okinawa sword-tailed #newt (Cynops ensicauda popei) was consuming a dead dragonfly. Several others approached during this but didn't get a bite. Associated iNat observation: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
youtu.be/o9d-0hufDfI
youtu.be/o9d-0hufDfI
Going to save my soul in a stressful November…
November 8, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Going to save my soul in a stressful November…
I already decided that I don't wanna go to US in near future, yet this regime keeps giving me more reasons for it. The blatant ableism is a new one of them.
abcnews.go.com/Health/immig...
abcnews.go.com/Health/immig...
Immigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance
Foreigners seeking U.S. visas might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a directive from the Trump administration.
abcnews.go.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I already decided that I don't wanna go to US in near future, yet this regime keeps giving me more reasons for it. The blatant ableism is a new one of them.
abcnews.go.com/Health/immig...
abcnews.go.com/Health/immig...
Reposted by Daohan "Rex" Jiang
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
This man can consider moving to US afterwards, claiming that he's politically persecuted. MAGA republicans would give him a warm welcome, if they don't mind him not being white enough.
Brava: “If I don’t file a complaint, then what message does that send to all Mexican women?” Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, noting sexual harassment was a crime… “If this can happen to the president, what’s going to happen to all the young women & women across our country?”
Mexico’s President Presses Charges Against Man Who Groped Her on the Street
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
This man can consider moving to US afterwards, claiming that he's politically persecuted. MAGA republicans would give him a warm welcome, if they don't mind him not being white enough.
Agreed! Though my backyard is on an arguably far-off land (which, nevertheless, does share some fauna/flora with less far-off lands).
November 5, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Agreed! Though my backyard is on an arguably far-off land (which, nevertheless, does share some fauna/flora with less far-off lands).
Citizens of the US still have the right to vote (albeit suppressed in many places), which can still make a difference.
Thanks to everyone who voted to defend your country and our world.
Thanks to everyone who voted to defend your country and our world.
It feels good to see a big and clear rejection of Trump and MAGA. Hope for the future. Let's keep building this.
November 5, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Citizens of the US still have the right to vote (albeit suppressed in many places), which can still make a difference.
Thanks to everyone who voted to defend your country and our world.
Thanks to everyone who voted to defend your country and our world.
It’s once again time to re-share the most horrifying #Halloween setup I know, which I saw in 2020.
![In front of a house, a “political graveyard” was set up, with cardboard-made tombs. Written on the tombs are “TRUTH”, “RESPECT”, “FACTS”, and “Justice/RIP RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]”.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:w2uaft3agjpqjw6d7d7vfmj6/bafkreier4fx5o2xzzyfl6rfhhes4polx6rxe5qkdsnosfhkplmytkhy4ga@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
It’s once again time to re-share the most horrifying #Halloween setup I know, which I saw in 2020.
Here it comes: Chinese influencer bragging his "prediction" about #Nanotyrannus was right (translation of his statement in screenshot)...
www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Hn1...
www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Hn1...
October 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Here it comes: Chinese influencer bragging his "prediction" about #Nanotyrannus was right (translation of his statement in screenshot)...
www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Hn1...
www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Hn1...
When I lived in LA, I visited @nhm.org quite regularly. There's a 'T. rex growth series' display including specimens representing juvenile, subadult, and adult T. rex 🦖. I wonder how this interpretation would be affected by recent 'revival' of Nanotyrannus... 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 10:50 AM
When I lived in LA, I visited @nhm.org quite regularly. There's a 'T. rex growth series' display including specimens representing juvenile, subadult, and adult T. rex 🦖. I wonder how this interpretation would be affected by recent 'revival' of Nanotyrannus... 🧵
Glad to see this fascinating specimen finally seeing sunlight again and get scientifically studied.
But at the same time I can see how some netizen "paleontologists" (who never studied the specimens) would declare how correct their "predictions" turned out to be...
#Tyrannosaurus #Nanotyrannus
But at the same time I can see how some netizen "paleontologists" (who never studied the specimens) would declare how correct their "predictions" turned out to be...
#Tyrannosaurus #Nanotyrannus
A fossil once assumed to be of a young Tyrannosaurus rex is in fact that of a different species altogether
go.nature.com/4qyROr5
go.nature.com/4qyROr5
‘Teenage T. rex’ fossil is actually a different species
The discovery of smaller predator Nanotyrannus could prompt a re-think of tyrannosaur evolution.
go.nature.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Glad to see this fascinating specimen finally seeing sunlight again and get scientifically studied.
But at the same time I can see how some netizen "paleontologists" (who never studied the specimens) would declare how correct their "predictions" turned out to be...
#Tyrannosaurus #Nanotyrannus
But at the same time I can see how some netizen "paleontologists" (who never studied the specimens) would declare how correct their "predictions" turned out to be...
#Tyrannosaurus #Nanotyrannus
In this #Croctober, I started another iNaturalist project on crocodilians 🐊, this time focusing on individuals living with injury/pathology...A little thread🧵 ahead 1/4
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
Crocodilian Injury and Pathology
Crocodilians, like other animals, are not immune to injury and pathology. Nevertheless, individuals with apparently severe injury or pathology may manage to survive for an appreciable amount of time a...
www.inaturalist.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:20 AM
In this #Croctober, I started another iNaturalist project on crocodilians 🐊, this time focusing on individuals living with injury/pathology...A little thread🧵 ahead 1/4
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
Reposted by Daohan "Rex" Jiang
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Elon Musk takes aim at Wikipedia
Musk has denounced Wikipedia as "Wokepedia" on X and urged people not to donate to the platform.
www.newsweek.com
December 25, 2024 at 6:18 PM
I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.
Soviet Jokes are precious cultural heritage of human civilization.
Old Soviet joke:
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
Why do ICE agents travel in groups of three?
One can read, one can write, and the third keeps an eye on the two intellectuals
New ICE recruiting methods have resulted in half of this group of absolute winners failing AN OPEN BOOK TEST
October 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Soviet Jokes are precious cultural heritage of human civilization.
Driven by personal interest, I started this project on iNaturalist, documenting observations of crocodilians interacting with animals of either the same or different species. Far from comprehensive at the moment, but already got some amazing scenes...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
Crocodilian Interspecific and Intraspecific Interactions
This project aims to pool observations of both interspecific and intraspecific interactions involving crocodilians (order Crocodylia), making them easier to find. This project is focused on interactio...
www.inaturalist.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Driven by personal interest, I started this project on iNaturalist, documenting observations of crocodilians interacting with animals of either the same or different species. Far from comprehensive at the moment, but already got some amazing scenes...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
www.inaturalist.org/projects/cro...
Have been a bit silent recently as I've been working on this new version of our preprint! In this study, we present a generalizable evo-devo model to explore principles of evolutionary innovations. A thread 🧵 ahead about this, and what's new... 1/11
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A simple model reveals why complex evolutionary innovations follow predictable paths
Determining the principles underlying the origin of novel characters has been a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. Yet, key mechanisms remain poorly understood, hindered by the lack of a genera...
www.biorxiv.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Have been a bit silent recently as I've been working on this new version of our preprint! In this study, we present a generalizable evo-devo model to explore principles of evolutionary innovations. A thread 🧵 ahead about this, and what's new... 1/11
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Literally forgot it was Mid Autumn Festival (lunar calendar Aug 15) yesterday and did take a photo of the moon 🌕
But today’s moon is nice too.
But today’s moon is nice too.
October 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Literally forgot it was Mid Autumn Festival (lunar calendar Aug 15) yesterday and did take a photo of the moon 🌕
But today’s moon is nice too.
But today’s moon is nice too.
So here’s my (1st) #arachtober post: a pair of oval St Andrew's cross spider (Argiope aemula), along with a prey.
October 2, 2025 at 2:15 AM
So here’s my (1st) #arachtober post: a pair of oval St Andrew's cross spider (Argiope aemula), along with a prey.