Charles Darwin has taken up blogging. He describes himself as a “resurrected Victorian scientist and author”, now “a ‘blogger’ (a criminal offence when last I was alive) — a commentator on science in society.” From his customary seat in the Natural History Museum cafe, Mr Darwin overheard conversation about “a film called Expelled, traducing natural selection and championing something called ‘intelligent design’. I thought we had settled Mr Paley’s watchmaker nonsense in 1859.”

Mr Darwin continues:

“I am used to bad reviews: I was much savaged in the press when I published The Origin of Species, but Expelled holds me responsible for a particularly vile chapter of genocide which occurred in the 1930s and 40s. I do not recall advocating genocide, indeed distinctly remember writing with anguish about the massacres of the Indians in South America during my voyage on HMS Beagle. Could it be that my critics have formed opinions about my work without actually reading it? Surely not.” This is “more than even a marble statue can stand”.

Moved, therefore, to take up blogging, Nature Network “has been so kind as to give me a blog and asked me to cast my eye over modern scientific developments. A little stiff in the joints, and with some catching up to do (if only I had known about genetics in 1858!) but if there is anything you wish me to consider, please ”https://network.nature.com/blogs/user/charlesdarwin">leave a comment at the blog or contact chazdarwin(at)gmail.com." (Link to e-mail provided here.)

Mr Darwin has already expressed opinion about the advance of science since he was last alive, as depicted in the Sunday newspapers; and has had a nasty surprise about his backdated Royal Society subscriptions.