Sam Illingworth

Sam is a Professor in Creative Pedagogies. His research is concerned with trying to engage and empower people with science, especially those from under-served communities. He writes science poems to try and communicate some of the beautiful and important scientific research that is being done on a daily basis, all across the world.
A world map showing global terrestrial water storage anomalies for December 2019. The map uses shades of brown and blue to illustrate areas with below-average (brown) and above-average (blue) water storage compared to the long-term average from 2003 to 2019. Large parts of North and South America, southern Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia display significant water deficits (brown), while areas such as Canada, northern Eurasia, and parts of Southeast Asia show above-average storage (blue). The background is a dark navy grid indicating global latitude and longitude lines

Drying the Spine

The climate crisis is not just altering weather – it is rewiring Earth’s hydrological systems.

A sharp silhouette of a praying mantis is shown in profile, perched on a slender twig, with the setting sun forming a glowing, circular backdrop. The mantis’s spiked forelegs are raised in a characteristic pose, while its antennae extend forward. The golden-orange light creates a soft gradient, fading into dark at the edges, casting a dramatic, almost ethereal effect around the insect.

Truing the Sun

Many insects navigate using the sun, adjusting for time, season, and place. They may do so through brain waves and simple maths, revealing nature’s elegant solutions.

A dense bloom of translucent moon jellyfish drifts in greenish-blue water. Their round, bell-shaped bodies and delicate, trailing tentacles create a shimmering, ghostly pattern on the surface. Light reflects off the water, accentuating the jellyfish's almost ethereal appearance as they float in unison.

Where Resistance Grows

Jellyfish blooms fuel bacterial growth, increasing antimicrobial resistance gene spread – a risk to ocean and human health.

A war-damaged street in the Christian quarter of Aleppo, Syria, showing collapsed buildings with shattered facades and debris filling the roadway. Rubble, broken furniture, and twisted metal are strewn across the scene. Survivors navigate the destruction, some standing on the wreckage, while others move cautiously through the ruins. Sunlight filters through the open space where buildings once stood, casting long shadows over the devastation.

Held in the Blood

Violence alters DNA across generations, with trauma-linked genetic changes in Syrian refugees showing inherited effects and prenatal exposure accelerating ageing.

A golf course at Newbiggin Golf Club with manicured green fairways and sandy dunes in the foreground. A tractor is maintaining the course while a golfer pulls a trolley nearby. In the background, wind turbines and power lines stretch across the horizon, contrasting the natural landscape with industrial elements.

Greening the Fairway

Golf courses occupy more land than renewable energy – repurposing them could boost solar and wind capacity.

A large airtanker plane drops a vivid red cloud of fire retardant over a smoky, burning hillside in Chelan, Washington. The wildfire, part of the Chelan Complex fire, creeps dangerously close to residential homes nestled at the base of the hills. Thick smoke drifts across the landscape, partially obscuring the scorched terrain. The scene captures the intense effort to protect the community from the advancing flames.

Burned to Earth

Wildfire retardants have been found to contain toxic metals, impacting soil and water.

This image features the side view of a mummified body, titled ‘Mummy and Painted Cartonnage of an Unknown Woman’, housed at the Walters Art Museum. Dating back to between 850 and 750 BC, the mummy is encased in a human-shaped covering made from layers of linen and plaster, known as cartonnage. The painted decoration is vivid and intricate, featuring a floral wreath on the wig, a broad collar, and a winged scarab beetle at the chest. Below this, the cartonnage is adorned with five registers showing protective deities, sacred symbols, and a hieroglyphic inscription. The artisanry highlights the Egyptian belief in the Ka, or life force, and the need to preserve the body as a home for this spirit after death. The background is a neutral grey, emphasizing the detailed colours and patterns of the mummification art.

Preserved in Scent

Current scents on ancient Egyptian mummies have been found to reflect original embalming materials.

A chain-link fence in the foreground encloses a dimly lit site with a concrete floor. Several rats are visible scurrying across the ground, one near a discarded popcorn container. Orange and white safety barriers line the edges of the site, and faint tire tracks mark the dusty pavement. The scene is illuminated by artificial lighting, casting a muted glow over the area.

Ruin’s Vermin

Rats are thriving in warming, expanding cities, with rising populations linked to climate change, posing risks to health and infrastructure.

A polluted section of the Huron River shoreline in Michigan, where foamy, discoloured water swirls around fallen tree trunks and debris. A slick, pale layer of contamination floats on the water's surface, contrasting with the dark, reflective river. Green leaves sprout from the foreground, juxtaposing natural growth with visible pollution.

Leavings

PFAS are persistent chemical pollutants, but bacteria can help degrade them over time.