Science Poems

Science poems, written by Sam Illingworth.

Photograph of a boreal forest in late winter, featuring tall evergreen trees dusted with snow. The ground is blanketed in unbroken white snow, while the trees reach upwards under a clear blue sky. Soft shadows stretch across the snow, creating a serene and crisp winter scene

Drunken Forests

Boreal forests face warming risks as unstable permafrost reduces tree growth, limiting carbon storage.

Photograph of ancient fossilized footprints embedded in a flat, cracked limestone surface. The footprints are faint but visible, surrounded by shallow pools of water and patches of green algae. The scene is located near a coastal area with the ocean in the background and a few people visible in the distance for scale.

Footprints in Deep Time

Footprints reveal two ancient human species coexisted in Kenya, sharing lakeside environments 1.5 million years ago.

A pre-Raphaelite-inspired painting of maritime glaciers in southern Patagonia. The artwork depicts majestic, towering ice formations with intricate details, set against a serene turquoise sea. In the background, dramatic mountain peaks rise under soft, ethereal light. The composition emphasises rich, natural hues and textures, showcasing the pristine beauty and grandeur of untouched nature. The scene evokes a sense of stillness and awe, with subtle reflections on the water enhancing the realism.

Shifting Horizons

Whilst rising temperatures threaten glaciers, increased precipitation could stabilise them if emissions are significantly reduced.

The image depicts a lush, vibrant Amazon rainforest scene with dense green foliage on both sides of a calm river, which reflects the sunlight filtering through the trees. Sunlight streams in from above, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene, illuminating patches of the water and highlighting the rich diversity of plants and trees. The scene is serene and alive, evoking the natural beauty and tranquility of the Amazon rainforest.

Roots of Renewal

Protecting the Amazon rainforest reduces deforestation, improves air quality, and lowers respiratory diseases, benefiting both biodiversity and human health.

An impressionist oil painting of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. The scene depicts a vast, frozen landscape with rugged, cracked ice formations stretching into the distance under a moody sky. The dark sea nearby hints at hidden depths, with subtle warmth suggested beneath the ice. Scattered icebergs catch glimmers of light as the sun begins to set, casting a serene, cold glow over the landscape. The brushstrokes are expressive and textured, creating a dynamic, atmospheric impression of the raw beauty of the Antarctic environment.

Beneath the Shelf’s Skin

Warm water under Antarctica’s ice shelves speeds up melting. A Seaglider study provides insights into this process, aiding climate predictions.

A night scene painted in an impressionist oil style, showing bats flying across a softly lit, moonlit sky. The full moon casts a gentle glow over a textured landscape below, with subtle brushstrokes creating an ethereal, mysterious atmosphere. The bats are mid-flight, their silhouettes highlighted against the illuminated night sky, while the terrain below features shadowed trees and fields, blending in gentle, blurred hues characteristic of impressionist art.

A Map of Echoes

Bats use echolocation for long-distance navigation, creating sound-based maps, with vision enhancing accuracy, showing adaptability in challenging environments.

A variety of insects fly in a forest.

Colour Shift

Deforestation drives insect evolution, with species adapting new colours to blend or warn. This rapid, human-driven change reveals wildlife’s resilience and adaptability in transforming ecosystems.

Woodland animals bathe in the moon's light glow.

Tethered by Moonglow

Moonlight influences animal behaviour, with many species adjusting activity, particularly in tropical forest environments.

A vibrant cosmic scene showing asteroids and comets streaking through a colorful galaxy, with bright stars and swirling nebulae surrounding a central glowing star.

The Volatility of Life

Research reveals that most of Earth’s zinc likely came from ancient, unmelted space rocks, shedding light on how planets form.

A vibrant painting depicting numerous warblers in mid-flight over a lush, tranquil meadow with a winding stream, set against a backdrop of soft, pastel-colored skies.

Where Migration Ends

Research on migratory songbirds shows reduced survival due to poor non-breeding conditions, highlighting the impact of climate change on bird populations.