Sam Illingworth

Sam is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication. His research is concerned with trying to engage and empower people with science, especially those without a voice. He writes science poems to try and communicate some of the beautiful and important scientific research that is being done on a daily basis, all across the world.

Empty Echoes of Rain

Flash droughts, quick and severe droughts posing challenges to sectors like agriculture, are predicted to increase with global warming, especially in North America and Europe.

Blood on the Grasslands

Present strategies safeguarding the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau’s grasslands are inadvertently harming its ecosystem and need to be reconsidered.

Spawning Shadows

Artificial light at night from coastal developments is potentially disrupting the moonlight cycles corals rely on for spawning, thereby threatening the resilience of these already endangered ecosystems.

Wings of Change

Climate change drives the world’s birds to evolve at varying speeds, transforming their bodies and wings in a race against time.

Pollution’s Rhythm

The air we breathe can impact our heart’s rhythm, increasing the risk of sudden heart disruptions like arrhythmia and emphasising the need for reducing pollution levels and taking measures to protect those at risk.

Passing Arsenic

A link has been established between water arsenic levels and higher urinary arsenic in people using private wells and public water systems in the US, emphasising the need for action to protect those at risk from arsenic exposure.

Beneath Shifting Canopies

The study of Earth’s climate change and its impact on biodiversity reveals that many trees face potential extinction and decreased diversity, with uncertain consequences for ecosystems and human livelihoods.

Artificial Bites at Night

Light pollution might lower mosquito survival by messing with their energy storage. This could potentially make the mosquito biting season longer and make it harder for those living in urban environments to survive the winter.

Lost in Time

Circadian disruption can cause health problems, including cancer, diabetes, and problems with brain cells. It can be caused by jet lag, shift work, and artificial light at night.

The Unseen Heart

People who are blind or have low vision often have better senses of hearing, touch, and smell. Blind people can also sense their heartbeats better than sighted people.