SCIENCEJul 15 · 17:00 UTCNEW SCIENTISTConnie Murray

Can you guess the origin of 7 tiny species on a fictional archipelago?

The Journal of Imaginary Research, created by academics Kay Guccione and Matthew Cheeseman, publishes fictional research abstracts as creative writing exercises. A 2026 issue featured Alex Gough's article describing seven fictional etapod species exhibiting adaptive radiation and insular dwarfism on a fictional archipelago, blending evolutionary biology concepts with humor.

Nexus surfaces and summarizes. The full story lives at the source.

Mentioned

Journal of Imaginary ResearchorganizationKay GuccionepersonMatthew CheesemanpersonUniversity of GlasgoworganizationUniversity of DerbyorganizationAlex GoughpersonEtapodus malevolustopicEtapodus somnolentustopicEtapodus jucundustopicinsular dwarfismtopicadaptive radiationtopic

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