Why I failed at fossil hunting – so you don’t have to
Like most people with a biology background, I love fossils. Who doesn’t!? I went through my “I’m going to be […]
Lost for words – my brain virus and me!
My head was pounding! Sitting at my desk, the computer monitor glared painfully as I had struggled through some software […]
The Enlightenment – how the 18th century changed science
Sapere aude, dare to know A few weeks ago, I gave a talk on microscopes in the 18th century […]
What’s possible & what’s probable – life on the Moon, alien octopus, & the Loch Ness monster
Our moon – known as Luna by the Romans and Selene by the Greeks – has always been considered uninhabited. […]
Bioluminescent microscopy – a rising star for live imaging
Bioluminescence is a natural process that occurs in a range of species. Marine vertebrates such as the angler fish (Melanocetus […]
The oldest lens in the world (or is it?)
Tucked away safely in the archive of the British Museum is a nondescript piece of rock crystal. It’s oval in […]
Eat, sleep, write, repeat – getting your book written
The highest mountain is the one you haven’t climbed yet. Writing a book is something that is on many peoples’ […]
How to make a mobile microscope
Recently I have been making an effort to get back to my biology roots and trying to think of ways […]
Eigengrau – why you don’t see nothing
One of my favourite quotes is that “some people close their eyes and all they see is darkness”. But did […]
Life as a science writer – how to get started
Writing is one of those weird areas where you don’t need any formal training or certification to do it, you […]