Our Authors

Stuart Clark is a UK-based science journalist with a PhD in astrophysics. He is a Visiting Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire and a former editor of the United Kingdom's best-selling astronomy magazine, Astronomy Now. Currently he writes for the European Space Agency, New Scientist and BBC Focus and is also the author of several books, including Journey to the Stars and Universe in Focus: The Story of the Hubble Telescope. His latest title, The Sun Kings: The Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern Astronomy Began (upon which this article is based) is published by Princeton University Press. It is also the winner of the 2007 PSP (Professional and Scholarly Publishing) award for excellence in the category of cosmology and astronomy.

Paraminder Dhillon is studying biochemistry and genetics at Nottingham University.

Adel Fattah is a plastic surgeon based at Broomfield Hospital in Essex. He also has a background in developmental biology.

Christa Favot is currently completing her DDS at the University of Toronto. She has enjoyed several laboratory jobs on both American coasts where she had the chance to play with aspects of immunology and microbiology and measure the pH of diet Coke and ketchup chips (Canadian delicacy). When she is not obsessing over other people's spit, she herself drools over bicycles, and tries not to trip over her ballet shoes.

Robinson Fulweiler just completed her PhD at the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island on the biogeochemistry of coastal waters. She is headed to Louisiana State University this autumn for her postdoc where she will continue to work on nutrient cycling and climate change.

David Gamon has a PhD in cognitive science and is an author based in the US

Emma Gatti is a geologist studying for an MPhil in GIS and remote sensing at the University of Cambridge, where she is looking at volcanic gas emissions. She is also trying to carve out a career as a scientific journalist, although at present she is heavily committed to proving that not all young Italian girls are good at cooking…

Barry Gibb is a freelance author with a background in neuroscience and virology

Dan Gollub is a writer with an interest in dream interpretation, from the US

Thomas Häusler is chief science editor with the Swiss news magazine Facts and is the author of "Viruses vs. Superbugs", which is published by Macmillan and documents the use of phages to combat bacterial infections.