UK readers: exciting new science writing competition opens

Fantastic! Bravo! The Guardian and Wellcome Trust have launched a new science writing prize for young talent. A similar prize (now defunct) organised by Roger Highfield at the Daily Telegraph helped to kickstart my career. All aspiring UK science communicators should enter this. Read Alok Jha’s advice too.

Top thirteen picks

Douglas Fox tells the story behind the story of his Antarctica features (with pitch letters too). A must-read for journalists and people who like good things.

The Man Who Dreamed He Was A Beetle. Robert Krulwich’s touching obituary for Tom Eisener.

“The anti-nuclear movement…has misled the world about the impacts of radiation on human health.” George Monbiot does an about-turn of opinion faced with evidence (or a lack of it) – the essence of good scepticism. In his own blog, he shouts “Citation needed” at the anti-nuclear industry

“The bacterial cause of cholera, rendered effectively untreatable. Think about that for a moment.” Maryn McKenna on NDM-1 in New Delhi water and sewage

What do you do if your pilot gets sucked out the cockpit window? A truly harrowing account.

Superb post ...