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
Did you know amber is fossilized resin and millions of years old? It might look nice as jewellery but it also reveals secrets from ancient animals...
Amber is fossilised resin that can preserve the structures of small creatures, but, sadly, can’t bring back the dinosaurs.
Spitting deadly venom and launching ‘bullet-like’ blobs – these are the most lethal projectiles in the natural world
Plenty of animals, plants and fungi launch explosive projectiles – here's how they do it
This electric fish has half the voltage of a taser in its tail – leaving its potential meals and enemies with little chance of survival
Ever wondered how electric eels shock their prey – or whether any other animals can? JV Chamary explains all you need to know about electroreception.
What and how do animals see? Mysteries of animal vision explained
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.
What would happen to the Earth if humans went extinct? Here's what scientists think
Climate change is causing a mass extinction that may eliminate our species. But if we disappear could Mother Nature eventually recover?
Can pigs breathe through their bums? The weird ways vertebrates breathe – and how it could help humans
And is it really true that frogs breathe through their skin? We take a look at the various ways vertebrates breathe
Killing off the sickest and creating brains: The secrets behind super organisms
Ever wondered what a superorganism is? Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains all.
It can produce a litre of slime in under 0.1 seconds, causing would-be predators to drown in a sea of mucus
Death by slime. JV Chamary introduces us to the slimiest animal in the world who can use its slime to carry out deadly actions
How do animals smell? The difference between taste and smell and whether fish can smell underwater
A good sense of smell is essential for animals to survive and reproduce. But have you ever wondered how it works? Evolutionary biologist JV Chamary explains all.
What is carbon, and is it bad for the environment? All you need to know about carbon, including where it comes from
There wouldn't be any life on earth without carbon – evolutionary biologist JV Chamary takes a look at this incredible element
Could any animals live on other planets?
Could any animals live on other planets? JV Chamary investigates
The secrets of metamorphosis revealed: The fascinating reasons behind why some animals transform and others stay the same
Why does metamorphosis occur in some animals and not others? Evolutionary biologist and BBC Wildlife columnist JV Chamary explains the process of metamorphosis
Why are nature's deadliest poisons so lethal?We explain the difference between venoms and toxins - and why some are so severe they kill
The words toxin and venom are often used interchangeably, but actually mean two different things says JV Chamary explains
How do birds, mammals and other animals navigate? Discover the incredible ways animals find their way around the world
From homing pigeons to the great migrations of monarch butterflies, when it comes to finding their way home, or to breeding or feeding grounds, animals use a variety of techniques. But what is the science behind animal navigation?
Dinosaur teeth: what were they like, how ferocious were they - and what do they tell us about a dinosaur's diet?
Dinosaur teeth come in all sorts of sizes, shapes - and sharpness - and can tell us a lot about what they ate
Were dinosaurs good parents - and how on earth do we know?
Did dinosaurs look after their young - or were they terrible parents? We take a look at the evidence
Monotremes: meet nature’s oddballs that bridge the evolutionary gap between mammals and reptiles
All you need to know about monotremes, weird egg-laying mammals
Do we know what dinosaurs sounded like?
Do we know what dinosaurs sounded like? A few, says JV Chamary
Dinosaur sex: how these huge animals mated with all those dangerous spikes, claws and plates
Wondering how dinosaurs mated? With difficulty, says JV Chamary.
Could any dinosaurs fly? Probably fewer than you think...
There were probably only a few dinosaurs that could actually fly, says JV Chamary
A real Jurassic Park could be possible. Here's the science of how to make it
Could a ‘Jurassic Park’ ever work? JV Chamary takes a look
Unveiling the secrets of cloning: How does cloning work, are clones exact copies and what will the future hold?
All you need to know about cloning - but were afraid to ask
How big (or small) could animals get? Uncover nature's limiting factors
We take a look at what defines size
Mucus and slime: Is there a difference and why the natural world can't get enough of the lovely gunk
It's time to talk about mucus and slime - lovely stuff! JV Chamary explains all you need to know - but were afraid to ask...