Helen Pilcher
Science writer, presenter and performer.
Helen Pilcher is a tea-drinking, biscuit-nibbling science and comedy writer, with a PhD in cell biology. She contributes regularly to BBC Wildlife and BBC Science Focus, and has penned many popular science books. Life Changing: How Humans are Altering Life on Earth was The Times 2020 Science Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Writing on Global Conservation. Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-extinction was Radio 2’s Fact Not Fiction Book of the Week, and was described by comedian Sara Pasco as ‘science at its funniest.’ In other news, Helen is science advisor to the Beano, and owns a genetically-modified wolf called Higgs. Her favourite bird is the kakapo, her favourite moth is the Merveille du Jour and her favourite beverage is a warm, milky brew; no sugar.
Recent articles by Helen Pilcher
“Here, ‘weirdness’ abounds. One creature seemingly has the beak of a duck, the body of an otter and the tail of a beaver.”
Why does Australia have so many weird species that go against evolutionary norms? Helen Pilcher takes a look
It's as big as a Ford Fiesta, as heavy as a polar bear and can contain more than 200 ‘apartments'
Their nests are not only as large as a car, but often built in the weirdest of places...
“The first thing to go are the eyes. Eyes, apparently, cook very quickly. Flesh follows soon after, and as the animal becomes overwhelmed, water enters its mouth."
Deep in the Peru Amazon lies one of the world’s most mysterious natural wonders — a river that quite literally boils.
“It’s a bit like sea turtle forensics." Scientists looked inside 24 turtles – and uncovered secrets from the past
Sea turtle shells are helping researchers learn more about major environmental changes in the ocean's past.
“They bore the marks of an attack, including rib fractures, internal haemorrhages and specific teeth marks.” 5 animals that kill excessively – seemingly just for fun
Some animals have been observed to kill prey but not eat it – which is known as surplus killing. Meet the creatures that take part in it
"I would wonder if I was just seeing things.” Scientists make illuminating discovery in South Carolina swamp
Researchers in Congaree National Park have uncovered how fireflies synchronise their bioluminescent light shows.
"Totally unexpected.” Scientists just discovered yet another extraordinary thing about the platypus
It is venomous, can sense electricity and glows under UV light. Now researchers have uncovered something else remarkable about this strange, egg-laying mammal.
“Viewers have been absolutely hooked.” Over 100,000 tune in to watch rare New Zealand parrot raising her chicks
Reality TV meets conservation – Kākāpō Cam is the most heartwarming thing you'll see all day.
Huge carnivores are roaming the streets of this Ethiopian city. What they're doing could be saving people $100,000 USD per year
In the city of Mekelle, hyenas and other urban scavengers are helping save the waste disposal sector money while also curbing carbon emissions, new study finds.
Scientists looked beneath one of oldest trees on Earth. What they found is astounding
The researchers discovered a hidden world of life among the roots of Chile's ancient alerce trees. Here's why that's important.
Can a human outrun a crocodile? Just how fast are these deadly, ferocious reptiles?
Just how fast are crocodiles?
It's a staggering 300 metres underground, features amazing 11-metre-tall crystals – and has a deadly 90% humidity level
The 'Great Texas Freeze' killed thousands of beloved songbirds. Scientists are worried about what might happen next
North America’s largest swallow, the purple martin, was hit hard by winter storms in 2021. With erratic weather events becoming more common, experts are concerned about the bird's long-term survival.
"First-of-its-kind event." Whale shark swims "astounding" 1,200km from Madagascar to Seychelles
The gentle giant’s epic journey highlights the need for transboundary conservation strategies, say researchers.
“It secretes a matcha-coloured substance from its anal gland that smells of rotting flesh.” This animal is insanely good at faking death
Whether it’s to deter predators or to avoid mating, plenty of animals fake their own death
Birdwatching may slow ageing of the brain, say neuroscientists
Learning to identify birds could be beneficial for cognition as people get older, according to a new study.
10 USA sewer dwellers: Alligators, sea cows, snakes, turtles – the surprising animals lurking in the country's sewers...
From alligators to sea cows these are the astonishing creatures discovered beneath America’s streets.
Kidnapped, brainwashed, enslaved: the animal that steals the young and forces them to work
The enslaved ants have no chance of escaping
It's been sealed off for an inconceivable 5 million years and is rich in toxic chemicals. Life shouldn't survive here – but it does...
Life thrives in bizarre ecosystem, sealed off for 5 million years
“Torture. You are chained in the flow of an active volcano.” One scientist was stung by over 150 insects over 35 years. Why?
Entomologist Justin Schmidt decided to find out just how painful the stings of venomous insects were
It's the biggest snake den on the planet – 100,000 crammed into a small cavern
Not a place to visit if you're scared of snakes...
1.6 million years ago, a bird flew over this mountain range in Haiti. It helped create a plant wonderland
Research reveals the flight paths of ancient birds kickstarted the evolution of an exceptionally biodiverse mountain range in the Caribbean nation.
Weighing a tonne and packed with hundreds of rooms – each home to a family — it can house a staggering 500 households. Is this the ultimate apartment block?
It’s the heaviest, largest, most densely populated bird nest… that's been built and extended over decades
Mystical 'phantom of the forest' caught on camera in remote Asian mountains
The rarely seen serow was one of many species spotted during a recent survey in the Annamites mountain range.
