Kerry Taylor-Smith

United Kingdom

Science Writer, Journalist and Editor at Freelance

#Journalist covering all areas of #science, #environment #weather #climatechange #medicine #health #cleantech #materials. Open to commissions. Views are my own

Articles

Why don’t seals drown? New research has the answer

1 month ago | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Seals and other marine animals spend long periods underwater, but what stops them from drowning? New research sheds light on a unique capability shared by breath-hold divers. Many species of mammals, reptiles and birds breath-hold dive, meaning they hold their breath and stay underwater for long periods, yet they don’t drown.
Met Office uses flight data to enhance weather forecasting

1 month ago | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Following a successful trial, the Met Office will continue to use aircraft-generated data to improve their weather forecasting models. The accuracy of weather forecasting models from The Met Office has been improved by incorporating data received from thousands of aircraft every day.
Starquakes transform understanding of nuclear matter

2 months ago | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Asteroseismology could offer new insight into the properties of neutron stars and nuclear matter, with important implications for physics and astronomy, health, security and energy. Starquakes are like earthquakes, only in neutron stars. Studying them promises to transform scientists’ understanding of the properties of neutron stars and nuclear matter.
NASA probe makes history as it 'touches’ the Sun

Jan 4, 2025 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history after surviving its record-breaking closest approach to the solar surface on 24th December 2024. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe successfully ‘touched’ the solar atmosphere on Christmas Eve, passing just 3.8 million miles above the surface of the Sun at 430,000 miles per hour – faster than any man-made object has ever travelled.
Don't get caught out; be weather ready

Nov 2, 2024 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Met Office research shows 43% of people in the UK have been caught out unexpectedly by severe weather over the past year. Heavy rain stopped 36% of people from getting to work on time or going out, while one in five was affected by issues with public transport, slipping on ice, and power cuts. The survey coincides with the launch of the Met Office’s #WeatherReady winter campaign to help people stay prepared for any weather. Are you ready for winter?
Future-proofing your cup of tea against climate change

Nov 1, 2024 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Climate change is affecting tea-growing across the world, but the Tea-CUP project aims to provide useful climate information to help tea-farmers adapt to changing weather conditions. Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world, second only to water. Around 43% of global tea production occurs in China, with important tea-growing regions also found in South America, Africa, and Asia – even in the UK and Europe.
Testing the waters with fossil-free marine diesel

Oct 5, 2024 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

The National Oceanography Centre are trialling a new type of fuel on two of their research ships in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint. Fossil-free marine diesel is being used to fuel the Royal Research Ships (RRS) James Cook and Discovery as part of a trial by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
Striking Air Quality Stripes project illustrates how air pollution has changed

Sep 9, 2024 | theweather.com | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Inspired by the famous Climate Warming Stripes, researchers create Air Quality Strips to demonstrate how air quality has changed since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. A graphical representation of one of the main air pollutants known to affect human health shows how significant improvements have been made in air quality across much of Europe, whilst parts of Africa and Central Asia have seen an alarming deterioration.
Deep sea influences pathways of pollution

Aug 7, 2024 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Deep-sea currents on the seafloor change intensity with the seasons and can even change direction within hours, with important implications for the pathways of nutrients and pollutants. Changes in the oceanfloor impacts currents; currents speed up, slow down, change direction, and even reverse direction entirely, depending on the shifting and irregular surfaces and features of the ocean floor.
Historic hurricane of 1987 exposed growing disconnect with nature

Jul 30, 2024 | yourweather.co.uk | Kerry Taylor-Smith

Personal accounts of the hurricane evoked memories of the Blitz and Dunkirk spirit, but also revealed how people lost their sense of personal safety and connection with nature. Winds of over 100mph whipped across the South and East of Britain in the early hours of 15th October 1987, causing destruction and devastation to households and infrastructure which conjured memories of the Blitz.