Evolutionary ecologist & Boggle aficionado. Author: The Scientist's Guide to Writing; Charles Darwin's Barnacle and David Bowie's Spider. He/him. Blog and book links: scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mluyqyzpts2qI suppose is you're going to fight an elephant, picking a rather tiny one is a good move. Still doesn't look like this fellow is winning. Equestrian Statue of King José I, Lisbon. (The King is up top, regally riding a horse much bigger than the elephant)15 May 2026 09:17 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mluyqyzpts2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mluw4lwvrs2rI'm in favour of humour in scientific writing, buy nonetheless subscribe to the critique of pure raisin. While simultaneously loving the philosophy pun. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 May 2026 08:30 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mluw4lwvrs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mltiff533s27Alchemist in his laboratory (right) carved into the sarcophagus of King D. Fernando I. 14th century. Carmo Archaeological Museum, Lisbon. If kings get scientists on their coffins, do scientists get kings on theirs?14 May 2026 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltiff533s27https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlswknfhpk26Uh oh. Large boulder the size of a small boulder blocking the path. Jardim da Cerca da Graca, Lisbon.14 May 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlswknfhpk26https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlqxsrhvyc2wI'm not at all sure what I was pondering. It must have seemed profound and inspiring at the time...although pretty likely it was actually either childish or trivial! On the iconic Tram 28, in Lisbon.13 May 2026 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqxsrhvyc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlnrcblsuc2uScience is, inextricably, a human activity - and that means some of the ways we do it reveal culture, not just "scientific" best practices. And that's really interesting! https://scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/culture-in-scientific-naming/ 🧪🌍🪲🪳 12 May 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnrcblsuc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlqwuyd6kc24Fuchsia boliviana, on the grounds of the Quinta da Regaleira. Sintra, Portugal. Amazing park of worldwide plantings, grottos, tunnels, wells, waterfalls, ponds. This is my new favourite Fuchsia species!13 May 2026 18:33 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqwuyd6kc24https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlq73mx7t22eMoorish Castle, Sintra, Portugal.13 May 2026 11:27 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlq73mx7t22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlpnkzaeak2nNot the usual angle for photographing a displaying peacock, but this fine gentleman seemed busy displaying to the equally fine gentleman in the glass door in front of him. Castelo de Sao Jorge, Lisbon.13 May 2026 06:13 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlpnkzaeak2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlnvenhu522jAlmost-current status: Castelo de Sao Jorge, Lisbon.12 May 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnvenhu522jhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlnrcblsuc2uScience is, inextricably, a human activity - and that means some of the ways we do it reveal culture, not just "scientific" best practices. And that's really interesting! https://scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/culture-in-scientific-naming/ 🧪🌍🪲🪳 12 May 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnrcblsuc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlm4xqrir22cI've never seen a pipe organ like this (with the trumpet-like horizontal pipes). Igrejo do Carmo Church, Faro, Portugal. This church also has an ossuary chapel, constructed from bones of past friars. Oddly beautiful while also macabre. You can google if you want those photos!11 May 2026 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm4xqrir22chttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mllex4ztnk2eI'm missing #CSEE2026 - first @csee-scee.bsky.social meeting I've missed in nearly 20 years. I would have a smile like these fine folks if I were there! Next year... [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 May 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllex4ztnk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlis7klpes2hWhere the Wild Things Are. From ca. 1330 Norman codex, the Val-Dieu Apocalypse (reproduction). On display at Real Alcazar, Seville. Surely this is what Maurice Sendak was working from?10 May 2026 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlis7klpes2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlimzv2uok24I love inaccurate depictions from medieval and early modern books. Elephant, from a c. 1440 herbal (reproduction), on display at Real Alcazar, Seville. Imagine hearing about an elephant and having to draw it, trying to make it fit with what else you know about the world!10 May 2026 11:15 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlimzv2uok24https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlgpdbms7c2nBest bird photographer ever. Eurasian Spoonbill, Donana National Park, Spain. No, really! Check the upper left. No, further left. Keep going...09 May 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlgpdbms7c2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml45zldg7f27My kitchen is a mess, and everyone else's is tidy - and what does that have to do with writing? (Yes, I know, I can make EVERYTHING about writing) https://scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/everyone-elses-kitchen-is-tidier-than-mine-and-writing-is-hard/ 🧪05 May 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml45zldg7f27https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mldolh5fzs2yI got to meet @swarmofthoughts.bsky.social today! Hooray for meet-ups with Twitter/Bluesky friends. Thanks Viktor for meeting, guiding me across Seville, and arranging a nice discussion with @ebdonana.bsky.social folk.08 May 2026 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldolh5fzs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlbo4jo3cc2uA+ doorknocker. Seville, Spain. Want.07 May 2026 16:46 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbo4jo3cc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mlapzp3rvs23Hey, who among us hasn't thought of doing this?🤣 [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 May 2026 07:47 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlapzp3rvs23https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml7bfq35ek2wLove the variety of books on this sidewalk vendor's cart. Aristotle, Goethe, Allende, H.G. Wells... and Final Fantasy. Spotted in Madrid.06 May 2026 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7bfq35ek2whttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml6xnd3r622tSpent 6 hours in the Prado, it wasn't enough. A whole room of Hieronymus Bosch but this Bruegel really tried hard to out-wow them... Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Triumph of Death.06 May 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6xnd3r622thttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml45zldg7f27My kitchen is a mess, and everyone else's is tidy - and what does that have to do with writing? (Yes, I know, I can make EVERYTHING about writing) https://scientistseessquirrel.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/everyone-elses-kitchen-is-tidier-than-mine-and-writing-is-hard/ 🧪05 May 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml45zldg7f27https://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml45uikoxc2pI get these emails too (every author does) but I am frankly jealous if this one. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 May 2026 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml45uikoxc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml3zu57l4s2hTrain! About to board the high speed train from Barcelona to Madrid. All travel should be like this... let's get building, Canada.05 May 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3zu57l4s2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3ml2e55ivl22bMink parakeets. Abundant in Barcelona; invasive, noisy - but also beautiful and fun. What do we do when people really love a damaging invasive? (And: feral cats, and wild horses in N. America)04 May 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2e55ivl22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/stephenbheard.bsky.social/post/3mkzzx2spls2zSidewalk tiles in Barcelona. Took me a while to recognize the ammonites, even longer to spot the starfish. Clever tiling.04 May 2026 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:7y5syibchqqcewclckdxinks/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzzx2spls2z