I'm an engineer, inventor, author and science communicator, originally from the UK and now (Nov' 26) based in Christchurch.

I tell stories exploring the extraordinary things happening in the world around us. My latest book, UP: A Scientist's Guide to the Magic Above Us (Penguin, 2026), takes readers from butterflies, bats and birds to storms, aircraft, auroras and stars. My first book, It's ONLY Rocket Science (Springer, 2008), explains the science and engineering behind space exploration. Without maths.

I've spent more than 25 years solving unusual engineering problems and explaining complicated things to people who don't necessarily have a technical background. I was also a judge on BBC Robot Wars.

I enjoy finding surprising stories, asking awkward questions and discovering how things work. I'm particularly interested in science, nature, engineering, exploration and extreme environments.

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