Michael Hanlon

Science Writer, London

Michael Hanlon (1964-2016) was a British science journalist whose work appeared in The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph, among others. His last book was In the Interests of Safety (2014), co-written with Tracey Brown.

Written by Michael Hanlon

A desert mountain range under a clear starry night sky with visible constellations and landscape shadows.

essayAstronomy

Save the Universe

It is only a matter of time before our Universe goes black, cold and dies. Must this be the end of the road for life?

Michael Hanlon

Four people with bicycles watch an aeroplane take off, seen from behind under a cloudy sky.

essayFuture of technology

The golden quarter

Some of our greatest cultural and technological achievements took place between 1945 and 1971. Why has progress stalled?

Michael Hanlon

Abstract digital artwork with a dense network of interlacing red, yellow, blue and black lines on a dark, almost black, background.

essayConsciousness and altered states

The mental block

Consciousness is the greatest mystery in science. Don’t believe the hype: the Hard Problem is here to stay

Michael Hanlon

Corn cobs with cartoonish angry faces on signs at a protest. A person in a yellow jacket is blurred in the background.

essayBiotechnology

Beyond belief

Unreason, like the poor, will always be with us. But why does quackery survive when science is making life better?

Michael Hanlon

A mountainous, rocky landscape under a clear sky, featuring layered rock formations and gently sloping terrain.

essayBiology

Is there life on Mars?

Our curiosity about the Red Planet has always been tinged with fantasy – but wishful thinking needn’t be mistaken

Michael Hanlon

A cityscape at night with buildings illuminated, featuring reflections and light trails, creating a layered, abstract effect.

essayPhilosophy of science

World next door

Nine theories of the multiverse promise everything and more. But if reality is so vast and varied, where do we fit in?

Michael Hanlon