Andrew Collins
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Latest Articles
Writing About Space and Astronomy for Beginners
Reading Time: 13 minutesSpace is one of the most exciting subjects a writer can explore. It includes planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, telescopes, spacecraft, and questions about the origin of the universe. It is also easy to explain badly. Astronomy depends on enormous distances, unfamiliar time scales, invisible forms of radiation, and scientific models that cannot always be […]
How to Explain Probabilities and Risk in Science Writing
Reading Time: 7 minutesProbability and risk are central parts of science writing. They appear in stories about health, climate, safety, technology, medicine, psychology, education, and the environment. Yet they are often difficult for readers to understand. A number may look clear, but without context it can mislead, confuse, or create unnecessary fear. Good science writing does not only […]
Science Communication in the Age of Misinformation
Reading Time: 5 minutesScience communication has become more important than ever. People see scientific claims every day in news articles, social media posts, videos, podcasts, and online discussions. Some of this information is accurate and helpful. Some of it is incomplete, confusing, or false. In the age of misinformation, science communicators have a serious responsibility. They must explain […]
Translating Technical Reports Into Readable Articles
Reading Time: 6 minutesTechnical reports often contain valuable information, but they are not always written for a general audience. They may be created for engineers, researchers, analysts, managers, regulators, or internal teams who already understand the terminology and context. A readable article has a different purpose. It does not simply repeat the report in shorter form. It explains […]
How to Communicate Scientific Consensus to Readers
Reading Time: 7 minutesScientific consensus is one of the most important ideas in science communication, but it is also one of the easiest to misunderstand. When readers hear that “scientists agree” on a topic, they may assume that science works like a vote, that disagreement has disappeared completely, or that the conclusion is being presented as unquestionable truth. […]
Writing About Environmental Issues With Impact
Reading Time: 8 minutesWriting about environmental issues often begins with concern. A writer wants to draw attention to pollution, climate change, habitat loss, waste, water quality, or another urgent problem. But concern alone does not create a strong article. A topic can be important and still be written in a way that feels too general, too emotional, or […]
What Makes a Science Topic Newsworthy
Reading Time: 8 minutesEvery week, journals publish new studies, research groups share fresh data, and universities promote discoveries they believe matter. Yet only a small portion of that work becomes a news story. Some findings stay inside academic circles, while others appear in headlines, newsletters, podcasts, classrooms, and public debate. The difference is not always the quality of […]
Explaining Emerging Technologies (CRISPR, Quantum, AI) Clearly
Reading Time: 5 minutesCRISPR edits genes. Quantum computers break classical limits. Artificial intelligence is changing how decisions are made. These statements sound clear—until someone asks a simple question: “How?” This is where most explanations fail. They either collapse into jargon or dissolve into vague simplifications. The result is the same: the reader walks away either confused or misinformed. […]
Covering Scientific Controversies: A Writer’s Guide
Reading Time: 5 minutesTwo experts say completely different things. Both use scientific language. Both cite studies. Both sound confident. For a reader, this creates confusion. If science is supposed to provide answers, why does it sometimes look like a debate with no clear resolution? This is where science writing becomes difficult—and important. Not all controversies are equal. Some […]
How to Write About Health Risks Without Spreading Fear
Reading Time: 5 minutesScroll through health headlines for a few minutes, and a pattern quickly emerges. “This common habit may increase your risk.” “Experts warn about a hidden danger.” “New study links everyday behavior to serious disease.” These phrases are effective at capturing attention. They are also effective at creating anxiety. For readers, the result is often confusion […]
Turning a Research Paper Into a Public-Facing Story
Reading Time: 6 minutesA researcher spends months—sometimes years—working on a study. The final result is a carefully structured paper: precise, detailed, and written for a narrow audience that knows how to read it. Then comes the next challenge: explaining that same work to people who don’t. This is where many good ideas quietly disappear. Not because they lack […]
Why Scientific Discoveries Often Get Misreported (And What Gets Lost Along the Way)
Reading Time: 4 minutesYou’ve seen this pattern before. One week, a headline says coffee protects your heart. A month later, another claims it might increase health risks. Same topic. Different conclusions. Same confusion. And the natural reaction is simple: “Scientists keep changing their minds.” But in most cases, that’s not what’s happening. The science hasn’t flipped. The way […]
Communicating Climate Science Without Causing Confusion
Reading Time: 5 minutesClimate science is not the problem. How we talk about it often is. Most people have heard the key ideas: global warming, rising temperatures, extreme weather, emissions. And yet, ask ten people what it all actually means, and you’ll likely get ten very different answers. Some think the problem is exaggerated. Others think it’s immediate […]
How to Explain AI Breakthroughs to a General Audience
Reading Time: 5 minutesAI news moves fast. One week it’s a new model, the next — a “breakthrough” that supposedly changes everything. But if you try to explain these updates to someone outside the field, the reaction is often the same: confusion. The problem isn’t that people can’t understand AI. It’s that most explanations are written either for […]