I write, think and dream about science, technology and the future. My creative studio, Alternity, works on alternative histories, social experiments and applied speculations. My first book, The Bright Side – an exploration of the psychology, philosophy and practice of optimism – was published in January 2025. I’m a partner in the communications consultancy Scientification LLP and a founder member of the Exploded View collective.

I trained as a physicist at Imperial College, where I earned a first-class B.Sc., but after graduating decided to try my hand at journalism while completing my M.Sc. in Mathematics at Queen Mary & Westfield. I started out in arts criticism but spent most of the next fifteen years writing about business and technology in London and New York, with an emphasis on financial engineering and risk management – subjects that would prove critical during the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

I wanted to get back to science, however, so in 2008 I joined New Scientist, the world’s most popular science weekly, where I served as editor-in-chief until 2017. During my tenure the magazine successfully expanded into social media, video, books and events ranging from evening lectures to global expeditions. In addition, I was editor-in-chief of Arc, an acclaimed digital publication about the future, between 2012 and 2014; and in 2016 I served as founding creative director for New Scientist Live, the world’s most exciting festival of ideas and discovery.

After leaving New Scientist I undertook the Sloan Fellowship in Strategy and Leadership at London Business School. I’m also a Visiting Research Fellow in the Computing department at Goldsmiths and a Fellow of the RSA, where I sit on the Editorial Board. I am a Trustee of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and of the London-based arebyte digital art gallery. I also serve in various more or less formal capacities on several other projects, including Durham’s Light Years place-making initiative.

I’ve previously served as a judge for many prizes and awards, including the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, the Wellcome Book Prize, the Royal Television Society Programme Awards and the Costa Book Awards.

I live, work and fail to sleep in London.