I write about life sciences, health and the environment. My first book "The Genesis Quest" is about how life on Earth began and is out now
Does covid-19 affect pregnancies and do the vaccines reduce any risks?
The coronavirus has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but vaccines help to keep mothers and babies safe
The viruses that helped to make you human
Although they are more commonly associated with causing disease and, at times, devastating pandemics, viruses have also played an important role in human evolution – and without them you wouldn't be here at all
When did animals like foxes first start living alongside people?
We used to think "synanthropic" animals like raccoons, foxes and ravens started living alongside people around the time of the agricultural revolution, about 10,000 years ago. But it could have been much earlier.
Photosynthesis is still a mystery—but science is revealing unknown steps
Most plants split water molecules to generate energy, and now we have a clearer picture of exactly how they do it
NSIA Annual Report 2022
This Annual Report outlines the activities and progress of the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) in 2022
Why the origins of life remain a mystery – and how we will crack it
To explain how life on Earth began, the big challenge is to identify the molecules and processes that enable non-living chemical systems to become more complex
The Age of Cats review: How our furry friends evolved, and what’s next
Domestic cats are a paradox, argues biologist Jonathan B. Losos in a book that delves into their origins and the emerging science of feline behaviour
The covid-19 virus affects our gut – but we still don't know how
The coronavirus commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms, but whether this is due to inflammation, disruption to our microbiome or the virus affecting the permeability of our gut wall is unclear
Timeline: The evolution of life
The story of evolution spans over 3 billion years and shows how microscopic single-celled organisms transformed Earth and gave rise to complex organisms like animals
3 unexplainable mysteries of life on Earth
I went on Vox's podcast Unexplainable to discuss research into the origins of life
Can we ever know who invented the wheel?
Some of the most important inventions – wheels, nets and the written word – have creators lost to time, even though their impact shaped the world we live in
Sleeping Beauties review: The strange nature of nature's inventiveness
What makes a great new trait evolve and then stay dormant for years? Andreas Wagner's new book explores the innovations of nature – and human culture
Still Life With Bones review: Harrowing account of exposing genocide
TV dramas use tidy, cleaned-up bones to crack crimes in minutes, but an unvarnished account by forensic anthropologist Alexa Hagerty shows the slow horror of exhuming people killed by repressive regimes
The archaeologists recreating the secrets of prehistoric technology
It has long been unclear how ancient people built a city using wood in the New Mexico desert far from any forests. By trying prehistoric transportation techniques themselves, archaeologists are working it out
The truth about cats' domestication and why they really quite like us
Cats have a reputation for being aloof and untamed, but recent studies suggest they may be more attuned to humans than we realise