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
Snake Island, Anthrax Island and beyond: 9 deadly Islands you'd be a fool to visit...
When an island gets a dangerous-sounding nickname, such as Snake Island, Anthrax Island or Shark Island, you know it’s probably one to strike off the holiday list, says Helen Pilcher.
It contains the world’s deadliest snake and one of the only venomous mammals – so why does Australia have so much deadly wildlife?
Is the wildlife really more deadly 'down under'? Helen Pilcher takes a look at why Australia has so many dangerous animals
Megafish the size of grizzly bears. But now scientists say these giants of the Mekong River are shrinking – and they know why
Once weighing hundreds of kilograms, these enormous riverfish are decreasing in size, highlighting the need for enhanced protection.
From parasitic worms that attack their hosts with pinpoint accuracy to a sheepdog that walked over 230 miles home – these are nature's best navigators
Discover the animals that have an exceptional ability to navigate their way around the world
10 deadliest beaches in the world including Skeleton Coast – the world’s largest ‘ship graveyard'
Serpent eagles fight off toxic invasion on Japanese island in fascinating way - new study
Crested serpent eagles have evolved toxin resistance to invasive cane toads, say researchers.
Dogs take over a Californian beach for the World Dog Surfing Championships each year – but they’re not the only animals that surf
As the World Dog Surfing Championships take place at Linda Mar beach in California today, we look at other animals that let loose among the waves
Science may finally have discovered why humans are so good at drinking booze
Dietary habits of ancient great apes help to explain why humans are so good at metabolising alcohol, new study finds.
"Its mouth is actually bigger than its body": Meet the biggest mouths in the animal kingdom, including one that's 5m long, 4m high and 2.4m wide
Which animal has the biggest mouth? We take a look at the contenders
10 deadliest rivers in the world including a 'boiling river' that 'cooks' animals from the inside out
You don't want total a dip in these rivers
The world's weirdest lakes – including one that vanishes and one that contains a fluid that's not water...
From the deepest to the oldest, the deadliest to the smallest here are the weirdest lakes in the world
A chimp was adopted and taught sign language by humans in the 1960s – but it turns out that chimps already have their own 'language'
Are chimps capable of language? Helen Pilcher explores how they communicate with each other
10 deadliest lakes in the world, from a highly-lethal exploding one to a lake that turns animals to stone
You wouldn't want to take a dip in any of these deadly lakes...
Here's how deer meat could save Scotland's elusive capercaillie
In a new study, researchers say that 'diversionary feeding' reduces the chances of these iconic birds' eggs being eaten by predators.
Deadly African lake appears to turn animals to stone — but the truth Is even stranger
This lake is not one to go wild swimming in...
Scientists capture first-ever footage of killer whales making seaweed grooming 'tools'
Killer whales have been filmed using kelp to scratch each other — a behaviour that has never been documented before.
“It really is astonishing": animal uses Milky Way to navigate 1,000km across Australia, say scientists
The Bogong moth uses the stars to find its way to a remote group of caves in the Australian Alps – new study,
Sixth extinction could be far more catastrophic than first thought
For millions of years, large herbivores like mastodons and giant deer shaped the Earth's ecosystems, which astonishingly stayed stable despite extinctions and upheavals. But this will not be the case this time says Helen Pilcher
"Incredibly emotional": moving footage shows orphaned gorillas returning to wild after 10 years of rehabilitation
These four female eastern lowland gorillas were rescued from poachers a decade ago – discover their incredible journey back to the wild.
Nemo is shrinking: climate change is causing Disney's favourite fish to get skinnier and shorter
Clownfish, made famous by the movie Finding Nemo, shrink to survive heat stress and avoid social conflict during marine heatwaves, a new study finds.
"Stunned" fossil hunters just found the oldest ever reptile footprints on a riverbank in Australia
The incredible discovery rewrites the history of when animals evolved to live on land, say experts.
Scientists studied 164 mountain gorillas in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park – here's what they found out about friendship
The research reveals complex positives and negatives of friendship in these critically endangered primates.
"Extremely rare event": why an ancient bone found at Dinosaur Cove in Australia has got evolution scientists so excited
The small bone was discovered 30 years ago, but it wasn't until now that its significance was fully understood.
Can we use IVF on animals?
Can IVF help species at risk? Yes says Helen Pilcher
