Michael Brooks (science writer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Brooks is an English
science author. He is noted for articles and books which attempt to explain obscure scientific research and findings to the general population.
in Quantum Physics from the University of Sussex. He was previously an editor for New Scientist
magazine, and currently works as a consultant for that magazine. His writing has appeared in The Guardian
, The Independent
, The Observer
, The Times Higher Education Supplement
, and Playboy
. His first novel, Entanglement, was published in 2007. His first non-fiction book, an exploration of scientific anomalies entitled 13 Things That Don't Make Sense
, was published in 2009. The book expands an article that Brooks wrote for New Scientist.
Brooks' latest book, The Big Questions: Physics, was released in February 2010. It contains twenty 3,000-word essays addressing the most fundamental and frequently asked questions about science.
Brooks currently appears as a regular guest on George Lamb
's BBC Radio 6 Music show. His slot on the show, entitled Weird Science, features weird and wonderful stories from the world of science.
In 2010 Brooks set up the Science Party
to campaign in the UK general election on a pro-scientific manifesto. Brooks stood for the seat of Bosworth
against incumbent MP David Tredinnick
, who Brooks described as "a champion of pseudo-science and a hindrance to rational governance". Tredinnick is a supporter of Alternative medicine
and critical of science, in 2009 it was revealed that Tredinnick had spent £700 of public money on astrology
software, which he then repaid following media publicity (see United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
). Brooks received 197 votes in the election, more than he expected, but certainly not enough to unseat Tredinnick.
Mike Brooks, Freelance Writer, Sussex 1987, Physics
Michael Brooks came to Sussex in 1987 as a Physics undergraduate, eventually gaining a DPhil in quantum physics in 1991. He then took a job as an intern in the Information Office, helping produce the Bulletin. After two years as a volunteer science teacher in West Africa, he worked as a freelance science journalist, writing for the Guardian, the Observer and New Scientist among other publications. In 2000 he joined the staff of New Scientist as a features editor. He left his position running New Scientist's features team in 2006 to write his bestselling non-fiction book 13 Things That Don't Make Sense: The most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of our Times. He has also published a novel, Entanglement, non-fiction title The Big Questions: Physics, and has just completed his next book, Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science, which will be published in July. Brooks is a consultant to New Scientist, a columnist for the New Statesman, and makes occasional forays into broadcasting.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science author. He is noted for articles and books which attempt to explain obscure scientific research and findings to the general population.
Career
Brooks holds a PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Quantum Physics from the University of Sussex. He was previously an editor for New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
magazine, and currently works as a consultant for that magazine. His writing has appeared in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, The Times Higher Education Supplement
The Times Higher Education Supplement
The Times Higher Education , formerly Times Higher Education Supplement , is a weekly British magazine based in London reporting specifically on news and other issues related to higher education...
, and Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
. His first novel, Entanglement, was published in 2007. His first non-fiction book, an exploration of scientific anomalies entitled 13 Things That Don't Make Sense
13 Things That Don't Make Sense
13 Things That Don't Make Sense is a 2009 non-fiction book by science writer Michael Brooks which became a best-selling non-fiction paperback in 2010.-Overview:...
, was published in 2009. The book expands an article that Brooks wrote for New Scientist.
Brooks' latest book, The Big Questions: Physics, was released in February 2010. It contains twenty 3,000-word essays addressing the most fundamental and frequently asked questions about science.
Brooks currently appears as a regular guest on George Lamb
George Lamb (presenter)
George Martin Lamb is a Scottish-born British radio and TV presenter. He is the son of actor Larry Lamb.-Career:Lamb's radio career peaked with presenting his own daytime show on BBC Radio 6 Music for two years from October 2007 to November 2009, before being moved the early weekend mornings for 6...
's BBC Radio 6 Music show. His slot on the show, entitled Weird Science, features weird and wonderful stories from the world of science.
In 2010 Brooks set up the Science Party
Science Party
The Science Party is a UK political party that was launched on April 20, 2010 by Michael Brooks, a science author, consultant to the New Scientist magazine and regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, and Sumit Paul-Choudhury, an editor of New Scientist.A key goal in the Science Party...
to campaign in the UK general election on a pro-scientific manifesto. Brooks stood for the seat of Bosworth
Bosworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Bosworth is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
against incumbent MP David Tredinnick
David Tredinnick (politician)
David Arthur Stephen Tredinnick is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.He is a former officer in the Grenadier Guards and is Member of Parliament for Bosworth first elected in 1987....
, who Brooks described as "a champion of pseudo-science and a hindrance to rational governance". Tredinnick is a supporter of Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
and critical of science, in 2009 it was revealed that Tredinnick had spent £700 of public money on astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
software, which he then repaid following media publicity (see United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
). Brooks received 197 votes in the election, more than he expected, but certainly not enough to unseat Tredinnick.
Academia
University of Sussex alumni bio :Mike Brooks, Freelance Writer, Sussex 1987, Physics
Michael Brooks came to Sussex in 1987 as a Physics undergraduate, eventually gaining a DPhil in quantum physics in 1991. He then took a job as an intern in the Information Office, helping produce the Bulletin. After two years as a volunteer science teacher in West Africa, he worked as a freelance science journalist, writing for the Guardian, the Observer and New Scientist among other publications. In 2000 he joined the staff of New Scientist as a features editor. He left his position running New Scientist's features team in 2006 to write his bestselling non-fiction book 13 Things That Don't Make Sense: The most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of our Times. He has also published a novel, Entanglement, non-fiction title The Big Questions: Physics, and has just completed his next book, Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science, which will be published in July. Brooks is a consultant to New Scientist, a columnist for the New Statesman, and makes occasional forays into broadcasting.
Selected articles
- Smallest Planet weighs just Three Earths, New Scientist, 2 June 2008
- To Make the Most of Wind Power, Go Fly a Kite, New Scientist, 14 May 2008
- In Place of God: Can Secular Science ever oust Religious Belief - and should it even try?, New Scientist, 20 November 2006
External links
- MichaelBrooks.org - Official website for Brooks
- 13ThingsThatDontMakeSense.com - Official website for Brooks' book
- Video interview/discussion with Michael Brooks and John HorganJohn Horgan (American journalist)John Horgan is an American science journalist best known for his 1996 book The End of Science. He has written for many publications, including Scientific American, The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and IEEE Spectrum...
on Bloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tv is a political, world events, philosophy, and science video blog discussion site in which the participants take part in an active back and forth conversation via webcam which is then broadcast online to viewers... - mp3 of a March 2009 interview with Michael Brooks