Tom Howarth
Tom is trends editor at BBC Science Focus. He obtained an MPhil degree in advanced chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge, where he conducted research into amyloid protein folding using fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Before joining BBC Science Focus, Tom worked as a science communicator at the European Southern Observatory and has previously written GreenBiz and Geographical Magazine too. Today, he covers all types of trending science stories, from ecology to epidemiology, chemistry to computer science.
Recent articles by Tom Howarth
This new drug may have cracked the 'cheat code' for reversing ageing
Scientists are literally turning back the clocks in our cells, with the first drugs about to go to human trials
We might finally know what will burst the AI bubble
Many experts and analysts are warning that the AI industry is overvalued and heading for a crash. But why?
‘It’s completely out of control’: Scientists warn bird flu could spark a human pandemic in 2026
Bird flu has been rampaging through wildlife and farm animals worldwide. Will it make the long-feared jump to people?
Climate change will soon make Earth's days longer. Here’s what that means for the planet
Two recent studies have shown that global warming is changing things in ways we couldn’t imagine
Swearing could give you a hidden physical edge, study finds
Cursing isn't just when you stub your toe or get road rage. Science says it can boost your physical performance
1,000 AIs were left to build their own village, and the weirdest civilisation emerged
Inside the strange experiment that turned AI agents into workers, leaders and believers
Major ‘megafires’ are now primed to ignite across the US. All it needs is a spark
The US is a tinderbox, just waiting to go up in flames
4 key numbers that could reshape the ‘masculinity crisis’ debate
Are gender-equality gains coming at men’s expense, as some claim? The data tells a more complex story
A mysterious glow surrounding the Milky Way could be first evidence of dark matter
The hunt for the Universe’s most enigmatic material may be over
Scientists may have just found a new way to hunt for aliens
A brand new technique is uncovering Earth’s oldest secrets, and could soon be turned to the stars
Why aliens are (probably) too lazy to make first contact
Space is big. Why not kick back, relax, and wait for them to come to you?
This sleepy squirrel could unlock a new way to treat heart disease
Inspired by hibernating squirrels, scientists have developed a promising new drug that could transform how we treat heart failure
This tiny worm’s brain could transform artificial intelligence. Here’s how
‘Liquid neural networks’ promise smaller, smarter and more transparent AI – and they’re already running on devices from drones to self-driving cars
Elon Musk? AI? ‘Crazy left-wing activists’? The man who built Wikipedia explains its biggest threats
25 years and millions of articles later, Wikipedia is the biggest bank of human knowledge on the web
How one man made six million Wikipedia edits (and counting)
He’s touched a third of all articles on English Wikipedia. But the site’s founder says it's not all about the numbers
6 (very weird) new inventions that could change your life
From real-life holograms to smart contact lenses – these inventions are bringing science fiction into reality
I survived the worst fire in space history – and was told to keep it secret
New nightmare unlocked
How AI could soon be used by Wikipedia, according to its founder
Jimmy Wales, internet entrepreneur and founder of Wikipedia, reveals major changes coming to the web’s biggest bank of human knowledge
Wikipedia not run by ‘left-wing activists’, says founder after Elon Musk criticism
Jimmy Wales told BBC Science Focus the Tesla CEO’s claims are “just factually wrong"
Landmark ‘ageing atlas’ reveals how your organs change over a lifetime
Scientists are building the clearest picture yet of how we age – right now to your cells and DNA
New DNA evidence reveals how Napoleon’s army was actually defeated
Not to self: never attempt an invasion of Russia in the winter
A flesh-eating parasite has almost reached the US border. Should we be worried?
A deadly fly once wiped out across North America has resurfaced in northern Mexico
The surprising ways Parkinson’s can now be spotted years early
A wave of new breakthrough tech could detect the disease years – even decades – before major symptoms strike
The hidden trigger behind Parkinson’s has finally been spotted
The findings mark a major advancement in our understanding of the world’s fastest-growing neurological disease