Chris Simms
@chrisnsimms.bsky.social
Science journalist covering all fields. Formerly an editor at New Scientist and Nature. Particular fan of health, mushrooms, amphibians, marine life and nature 🧪🐸 🍄
Selection of articles here: https://www.newscientist.com/author/chris-simms/
Selection of articles here: https://www.newscientist.com/author/chris-simms/
Some lovely cheetah-like examples of the wonderfully named shaggy scalycap (Pholiota squarossa) emerging from the base of a tree in the garden of the Mottisfont @nationaltrust.org.uk property. #fungifriends #mushrooms 🍄
October 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Some lovely cheetah-like examples of the wonderfully named shaggy scalycap (Pholiota squarossa) emerging from the base of a tree in the garden of the Mottisfont @nationaltrust.org.uk property. #fungifriends #mushrooms 🍄
I love getting emails like this from "journals". I suspect they didn't review my recent publications too carefully, given that I am not a professor and my only research paper was back in 2001 (it was about marine turtles, though).
🧪 #journals #scientificpublishing #research #science
🧪 #journals #scientificpublishing #research #science
October 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I love getting emails like this from "journals". I suspect they didn't review my recent publications too carefully, given that I am not a professor and my only research paper was back in 2001 (it was about marine turtles, though).
🧪 #journals #scientificpublishing #research #science
🧪 #journals #scientificpublishing #research #science
I spotted some lovely looking honey fungus (Armillaria mellea, I think) on my run this morning. 🍄 #fungifriends #fungi #mushrooms
October 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I spotted some lovely looking honey fungus (Armillaria mellea, I think) on my run this morning. 🍄 #fungifriends #fungi #mushrooms
Spotted some nice parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera) in the Somerset hills today 🍄 #fungi #mushrooms #nature
September 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Spotted some nice parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera) in the Somerset hills today 🍄 #fungi #mushrooms #nature
Came across a nice example of dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosous) bracket fungus today. No dryads sitting on it, unfortunately.
I was running, otherwise I would have taken some of the younger bits back for supper.
#mushrooms #fungi 🍄 #fungifriends #foraging
I was running, otherwise I would have taken some of the younger bits back for supper.
#mushrooms #fungi 🍄 #fungifriends #foraging
September 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Came across a nice example of dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosous) bracket fungus today. No dryads sitting on it, unfortunately.
I was running, otherwise I would have taken some of the younger bits back for supper.
#mushrooms #fungi 🍄 #fungifriends #foraging
I was running, otherwise I would have taken some of the younger bits back for supper.
#mushrooms #fungi 🍄 #fungifriends #foraging
Some lovely examples of Cotylorhiza tuberculata, or the fried egg jellyfish - you can see how they got that common name.
They are also known as Aguacuajada in Spain, or just Mediterranean jellyfish.
#science #marinelife #mediterranean #jellyfish 🦑🧪
They are also known as Aguacuajada in Spain, or just Mediterranean jellyfish.
#science #marinelife #mediterranean #jellyfish 🦑🧪
August 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Some lovely examples of Cotylorhiza tuberculata, or the fried egg jellyfish - you can see how they got that common name.
They are also known as Aguacuajada in Spain, or just Mediterranean jellyfish.
#science #marinelife #mediterranean #jellyfish 🦑🧪
They are also known as Aguacuajada in Spain, or just Mediterranean jellyfish.
#science #marinelife #mediterranean #jellyfish 🦑🧪
August 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Had a fabulous meal at the Pony Chew Valley last night. Worthy of a Michelin star.
The Cornish mackerel starter and mussels and clams starter were both superb. The garden salad was beautiful to look at and taste, and wow, that massive sharing steak #food #restaurants #cooking
Go there if you can!
The Cornish mackerel starter and mussels and clams starter were both superb. The garden salad was beautiful to look at and taste, and wow, that massive sharing steak #food #restaurants #cooking
Go there if you can!
August 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Had a fabulous meal at the Pony Chew Valley last night. Worthy of a Michelin star.
The Cornish mackerel starter and mussels and clams starter were both superb. The garden salad was beautiful to look at and taste, and wow, that massive sharing steak #food #restaurants #cooking
Go there if you can!
The Cornish mackerel starter and mussels and clams starter were both superb. The garden salad was beautiful to look at and taste, and wow, that massive sharing steak #food #restaurants #cooking
Go there if you can!
Here are the 10 most common recorded cockatoo dance movements (illustrations by Zenna Lugosi). 🧪 🦜 #birds #dancing #animalbehaviour #science #parrots #cockatoos
Full paper it comes from is here: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Full paper it comes from is here: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
August 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Here are the 10 most common recorded cockatoo dance movements (illustrations by Zenna Lugosi). 🧪 🦜 #birds #dancing #animalbehaviour #science #parrots #cockatoos
Full paper it comes from is here: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Full paper it comes from is here: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Here's an artistic rendering of the tattoo of the griffin attacking a stag by D. Riday
July 31, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Here's an artistic rendering of the tattoo of the griffin attacking a stag by D. Riday
Sometimes you don't see a fossil for an age and then you come across a beach where there seem to be traces of ancient life everywhere #fossils #ammonites #science #palaeontology 🧪⚒️
July 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Sometimes you don't see a fossil for an age and then you come across a beach where there seem to be traces of ancient life everywhere #fossils #ammonites #science #palaeontology 🧪⚒️
The clear outlines of these barnacles on Steep Holm island remind me of HR Giger art. Two types of aliens about to war for the rock?
My barnacle knowledge is limited, though. Are these two species? The ones on the right are more stellate than those on the left. 🦑 🧪 #marinelife #invertebrates #ocean
My barnacle knowledge is limited, though. Are these two species? The ones on the right are more stellate than those on the left. 🦑 🧪 #marinelife #invertebrates #ocean
July 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The clear outlines of these barnacles on Steep Holm island remind me of HR Giger art. Two types of aliens about to war for the rock?
My barnacle knowledge is limited, though. Are these two species? The ones on the right are more stellate than those on the left. 🦑 🧪 #marinelife #invertebrates #ocean
My barnacle knowledge is limited, though. Are these two species? The ones on the right are more stellate than those on the left. 🦑 🧪 #marinelife #invertebrates #ocean
Saw tons of these beautiful Jersey tiger moths (Euplagia quadripunctaria) on buddleia on Steep Holm island yesterday. 🪲🐝🧪🦋 #insects #nature #wildlife #moths #lepidoptera
July 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Saw tons of these beautiful Jersey tiger moths (Euplagia quadripunctaria) on buddleia on Steep Holm island yesterday. 🪲🐝🧪🦋 #insects #nature #wildlife #moths #lepidoptera
July 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The Lake District really is looking amazing at the moment. This is Lake Buttermere viewed on the descent from Haystacks fell. #mountains #nature #lakes
July 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The Lake District really is looking amazing at the moment. This is Lake Buttermere viewed on the descent from Haystacks fell. #mountains #nature #lakes
Beautiful little pink fungi in the wet moss of temperate rainforest in the Lake District #fungifriends. 🧪🍄
Possibly lilac bonnet (Mycena pura), once thought edible, but now considered poisonous because it contains muscarine. Cool fact: its gills are phosphorescent, so glow in the dark
Possibly lilac bonnet (Mycena pura), once thought edible, but now considered poisonous because it contains muscarine. Cool fact: its gills are phosphorescent, so glow in the dark
July 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Beautiful little pink fungi in the wet moss of temperate rainforest in the Lake District #fungifriends. 🧪🍄
Possibly lilac bonnet (Mycena pura), once thought edible, but now considered poisonous because it contains muscarine. Cool fact: its gills are phosphorescent, so glow in the dark
Possibly lilac bonnet (Mycena pura), once thought edible, but now considered poisonous because it contains muscarine. Cool fact: its gills are phosphorescent, so glow in the dark
June 23, 2025 at 7:52 AM
It does. But the fondant has grown overnight!
June 22, 2025 at 9:16 AM
It does. But the fondant has grown overnight!
These pink oyster mushrooms growing out of a kit I got from Norfolk Mushroomery are absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to eat them. #fungi #fungifriends #mushrooms #food 🍄
June 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
These pink oyster mushrooms growing out of a kit I got from Norfolk Mushroomery are absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to eat them. #fungi #fungifriends #mushrooms #food 🍄
I think I've disappointed my cat Tiggy again
June 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I think I've disappointed my cat Tiggy again
So, the peacock that tried to get in through my front door yesterday came back tonight.
This time he was in the back garden, at first looking at his reflection in a mirror and calling out. Apologies for the poor phone photos, he is far more beautiful than this in real life #birds #photos 🧪
This time he was in the back garden, at first looking at his reflection in a mirror and calling out. Apologies for the poor phone photos, he is far more beautiful than this in real life #birds #photos 🧪
June 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
June 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I need a detective. When exactly did this rabbit lose its ears? Was it during the act of trying to fit it on this shelf?
June 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I need a detective. When exactly did this rabbit lose its ears? Was it during the act of trying to fit it on this shelf?