Flora Tickell

A critical analysis of BBC’s Autumnwatch 2020

NB: This was the first assessment I completed on my MSci Science Communication Course. Autumnwatch is a natural history programme that aims to engage the viewer in British nature. The show is unique: it uses a mixture of live presentation with well-known faces intercut with magnificent pre-recorded cinematography, livestreams from remote cameras in a rangeContinue reading “A critical analysis of BBC’s Autumnwatch 2020”

A critical analysis of Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life and its corresponding media

Published in May 2020 and written by the boundary-breaking and eccentric mycologist Merlin Sheldrake, PhD, Entangled Life is a rich and enchanting book about the wonders of fungi. It is an eye-opening book, frequently throwing seemingly simple facts into new light. The book doesn’t stand alone, it has hundreds of notes that signpost to furtherContinue reading “A critical analysis of Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life and its corresponding media”

Why does the world’s largest flower smell so bad?

I was recently reading a January addition of New Scientist and it had a short article about the discovery of the largest flower ever recorded. Having completed a degree in biology, I am somewhat familiar with Rafflesia, as it crops up in many modules from biodiversity to chemical communication. However, my friend leaned over andContinue reading “Why does the world’s largest flower smell so bad?”

Naked Mole Rats: How can anyone call them UGLY??

Naked mole rats are tiny, wrinkly, naked burrowing mammals that live in Eastern Africa. They are incredible. Here is an introduction to the naked mole rat, but be aware: this short piece barely scratches the surface of the amazingness of these extraordinary mammals. Eusociality The term eusociality is normally associated with insects. Bees are eusocial,Continue reading “Naked Mole Rats: How can anyone call them UGLY??”

Spotlight: Parasites as treatment for allergy?

I am a biology graduate of the University of Manchester. I find biology, and science in general, fascinating, and spend a lot of my time reading about new research and findings. This week I read Critical roles of regulatory B and T cells in helminth parasite-induced protected against airway inflammation by Gao et al, published in ClinicalContinue reading “Spotlight: Parasites as treatment for allergy?”