JV Chamary
Science communicator
JV Chamary is an award-winning journalist with a PhD in evolutionary biology. He writes 'The Big Question' column for BBC Wildlife and specialises in explaining scientific concepts that appear in popular culture and covers health, nature and technology for Forbes. JV is the author of 50 Biology Ideas You Really Need to Know and was previously the features editor of BBC Science Focus magazine, writing about everything from gay genes and internet memes to the science of death and origin of life. Before switching to journalism and communication, he studied biology at Imperial College London and did his doctorate in molecular evolution and genetics at the University of Bath. His parents are from Mauritius, once home to the iconic Dodo bird. JV spends most of his spare time practising martial arts and lives in Bristol with two humans and one dog.
Recent articles by JV Chamary
Thermoregulation: What's the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals?
JV Chamary explains all you need to know about thermoregulation and the differences between cold-blooded animals and warm-blooded ones
Do eggs really need sperm?
Discover the intricate relationship between eggs and sperm.
What is a ruminant?
Most of us know cattle have rather a sophisticated digestive system that involves a stomach with four parts, but did you know they aren't the only ruminant - and some wild animals are ruminants too? JV Chamary explains what makes them special
All your blood questions answered, from why is it red to do all animals have blood? The answer is no...
What is blood? Why is blood red? Why is it so important? Do all animals have blood? JV explains all you need to know about blood
Speciation: what a species is, how new species form - and why deciding if a species is a new species can be complicated...
Planet Earth is filled with millions of animal, plant, fungi and bacteria species – but how do new species come about? Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains.
Algae: What it is, why algae blooms can be toxic and how it differs to plants
All you need to know about algae, from what it is to why algae blooms are toxic
Autotomy explained: how and why some animals shed body parts so they can grow a replacement
Just how are some animals able to regrow lost limbs and other body parts?
Poisons: what's the difference between venoms and toxins - and why are some so deadly?
The words toxin and venom are often used interchangeably, but actually mean two different things says JV Chamary explains
What is sleep and why do animals need to sleep?
JV Chamary explores the mysteries of sleep, from why we need it to whether animals dream or not...
King Charles III's coronation oil: why it won't contain ambergris from whale intestines
The new recipe for the holy oil used to anoint King Charles III at his coronation is cruelty free
Fight or flight response: what it is and why it's key for survival
Just what is the fight or flight response and why is it important? JV Chamary explains
How do plants breathe underwater?
We all know plants need air to survive, so how do aquatic and underwater plants cope?
Parasites: what they are, where they live and how parasites are transmitted
The weird and wonderful world of parasites, and how they have evolved to survive – including those that can exhibit mind control on their hosts.
Animal vision: how do animals see?
Animals see the world differently – from simple eyes that can only tell the difference between light and dark, to complex eyes that can see colours and depth perception.
Cells guide: what they are, the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and how they replicate
Cells are the basic units of life – but what are they, and how are they different between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and between plants and animals? Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains.
How big (or small) could animals get?
We take a look at what defines size
Asymmetry: what it is and why it exists in animals
JV Chamary explains all you need to know about asymmetry in animals
Habitats and ecosystems: what’s the difference, and how they affect biodiversity
Just what's the difference between habitats, ecosystems and niches? Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains.
Does the tree of life reflect evolution?
Does evolution's ‘tree of life’ accurately reflect the relationships between everything that has ever lived?
Phenotype guide: what it is, it’s relation to the genotype and the effect on evolution
An organism’s phenotype is something you can observe – whether that’s eye colour, behaviour, or even something physiological. JV Chamary explains how a phenotype is expressed and its link to the genotype.
Endosymbiosis guide: what it is and why complex life needs endosymbiosis
JV Chamary explains all you need to know about endosymbiosis.
Torpor: what it is, why it's important and how torpor differs to hibernation and sleep
Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains all you need to know about torpor, including how it differs to hibernation and sleep
Pearls: what they are, what pearls are made of and how they form
From what they're made of and how they form to what give pearls their colour, here is everything you need to know about beautiful and sought after, natural pearls
What are chromosomes and why are chromosomes important?
We explain all you need to know about chromosomes, from what they are and why they're important to their role in determining sex