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Natural selection is a blind watchmaker, yet the forms it produces can be astonishingly beautiful. Ernst Haeckel captured that beauty in his extraordinary illustrations. They accompany my forthcoming book, 42 Tales from Life: A Modern Bestiary. Published this November, it tells 42 stories of the ingenious, curious and bizarre products of evolution. Waterstones is offering 25% off pre-orders with code SUMMER26 until Friday, 24 July. https://www.waterstones.com/book/42-tales-from-life/richard-dawkins/9781035924356

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2079469590103425151#m

Published: July 21, 2026 07:32

Natural selection is a blind watchmaker, yet the forms it produces can be astonishingly beautiful. Ernst Haeckel captured that beauty in his extraordinary illustrations. They accompany my forthcoming book, 42 Tales from Life: A Modern Bestiary. Published…

All four Belgian goals should be disallowed on the grounds that they were scored by non-Americans.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2074413188859273335#m

Published: July 7, 2026 08:40

All four Belgian goals should be disallowed on the grounds that they were scored by non-Americans.

From time to time I remark, as an evolutionist, on the evolution of language. Mutations are especially interesting if they precisely REVERSE the former meaning. CNN headline today: “Beyoncé drops new music.” “Drops” used to mean “gives up.” Here it means the exact opposite.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2073674116779958707#m

Published: July 5, 2026 07:43

From time to time I remark, as an evolutionist, on the evolution of language. Mutations are especially interesting if they precisely REVERSE the former meaning. CNN headline today: “Beyoncé drops new music.” “Drops” used to mean “gives up.” Here it means…

She argued that it is deeply insulting to Maori to claim, as the report she critiques does, that science is not for them. It was a struggle to get it published but she managed it. Then the journal retracted it. How utterly contemptible. https://psychologyatthecrossroads.substack.com/p/nzccp-sets-a-precedent-of-censorship?r=3i0cdt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2069323266959798434#m

Published: June 23, 2026 07:34

She argued that it is deeply insulting to Maori to claim, as the report she critiques does, that science is not for them. It was a struggle to get it published but she managed it. Then the journal retracted it. How utterly contemptible.…

R to @RichardDawkins: Terrorism (noun) The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terror (noun) The state of being terrified or extremely frightened. They meant “terrorism.” They actually said “terror.” Lazy journalistic misuse of English.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064620029300134331#m

Published: June 10, 2026 08:05

Terrorism (noun) The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terror (noun) The state of being terrified or extremely frightened. They meant “terrorism.” They actually said “terror.” Lazy journalistic…

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/09/belfast-stabbing-live-somalia-man-arrested-kinnaird-avenue/ Man attempts to behead another man in the street. "No evidence of terror at this stage, say police" If that isn’t terror, what is? How much more terrifying does it need to be to qualify as terror?

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064375411035754747#m

Published: June 9, 2026 15:53

telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06… Man attempts to behead another man in the street. "No evidence of terror at this stage, say police" If that isn’t terror, what is? How much more terrifying does it need to be to qualify as terror?

This unqualified bore says his secondhand opinions are “not up for debate.” Yes they are. At a university all opinions are up for debate. If you cannot defend your opinions rationally, either they are indefensible or you are too stupid to defend them. In either case you have no right to force them on students who have expressed their wish to attend a lecture by doing so. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/oxford-trans-protest-cancelled-lecture-series-glcknpwrx

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064276605015404607#m

Published: June 9, 2026 09:21

This unqualified bore says his secondhand opinions are “not up for debate.” Yes they are. At a university all opinions are up for debate. If you cannot defend your opinions rationally, either they are indefensible or you are too stupid to defend them. In…

Belatedly, a government guidance document upholds the Supreme Court ruling that a woman is – guess what? – a woman. 70 MPs have signed a rearguard motion opposing it. Presumably they think a man is a woman if he says he is. Among them is Layla Moran, for whom I used to vote.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2062252205051117613#m

Published: June 3, 2026 19:16

Belatedly, a government guidance document upholds the Supreme Court ruling that a woman is – guess what? – a woman. 70 MPs have signed a rearguard motion opposing it. Presumably they think a man is a woman if he says he is. Among them is Layla Moran, for…

Fifty years ago, The Selfish Gene was published. The ideas — replicators, memes, the gene's-eye view of life — have held up rather well. The 50th Anniversary Edition is out now. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selfish-Gene-50th-Anniversary/dp/0198985371/

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2061455480828920158#m

Published: June 1, 2026 14:31

Fifty years ago, The Selfish Gene was published. The ideas — replicators, memes, the gene's-eye view of life — have held up rather well. The 50th Anniversary Edition is out now. Available at: amazon.co.uk/Selfish-Gene-50…

newscientist.com/article/252…

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2057517626113364064#m

Published: May 21, 2026 17:43

newscientist.com/article/252…