
Ian Taylor
A former deputy editor at Science Focus, Ian once undertook a scientific ranking of the UK's best rollercoasters on behalf of the magazine. He is now a freelance writer, which is frankly a lot less fun.
Recent articles by Ian Taylor

These two simple numbers can predict your heart disease risk
Could a new calculation based on two commonly tracked metrics offer a cheat code for your long-term health?

Where does the ink go when you get a tattoo removed?
If you have had a tattoo removed by a laser-based treatment, you may be wondering where the ink particles go

This is the optimal morning routine, according to science
Wakey wakey. Science is here and it wants to give you the best possible start to your day

Flexibility helps you live longer and age well. Here's how to boost yours in minutes
It’s one of the tenets of physical fitness, so why is flexibility overlooked by researchers and the average person putting on their gym kit? Find out how being more flexible could change your life – and even extend it

Scientists could soon reverse daylight savings clock changes. Here’s why
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health.

Why you feel awful when the clocks go back (and how to fix it)
The end of British Summer Time can be a wake-up call for our circadian health

Would I be healthier if I moved next to a golf course?
Living near a golf course might improve your access to greenery, but all that grass has a dark side

I swapped booze for a drink that tricks your brain into feeling tipsy. Here's what happened
This functional drink claims to calm the brain without the hangover, addictive qualities or calories of alcohol

This overlooked habit might be your best stress relief tool
Psychologists want us to carve out more alone time, to give our brains a chance to relax and recharge

How to become a morning person, according to science
If you’re a night owl, you probably have a hard time waking in the morning. Here's how you can tinker with your body clock to make it easier to rise with the larks.

How can I find out if I smell?
Nose blindness/olfactory fatigue can make you unaware of your own stink but there might be a way to find if you do smell bad

I tried sticking magnets to my face to improve my sleep. Here's what happened
Can a magnetic nasal strip open your airways, improve your breathing and stop you snoring?

What you're getting wrong about hydration (and how much is really enough)
Here are six science-backed ways to drink yourself healthy

The 9 weirdest (and most secretive) futuristic weapons
Lasers, AI sentinels and orbital bombers are part of a new technological arms race of futuristic weapons

The simple habit elite snipers use to crush stress in seconds
How to use one of the body's stress responses to quieten the mind and make better decisions

Why 'food noise', not willpower, could be the key to weight loss
Could we find a volume control for intrusive thoughts about food?

After decades of guesswork, science might have found a real hangover hack
It may not seem as appealing as eggs and bacon for breakfast, but science says you might be able to run off your hangover

Most doomsday preppers have it wrong. This is actually how to survive the apocalypse
Should you join the underground movement? And if so, how?

How can I look after my knees as I get older
Here's how to improve the strength of your knees, to reduce stiffness, aches and pains as you get older

Here's how the powerful lose touch with reality, according to neuroscience
Evidence suggests power, like alcohol, has a tangible effect on the brain. But are its impacts always negative?

Are receipts really covered in chemicals?
Should you be concerned by 'forever chemicals' on your shopping receipts?

Mindfulness doesn't work on you? Try this instead
Optimism trumps mindfulness when things get tough, says the science.

Here’s what your pooping frequency says about your health
It turns out your toilet time can reveal a lot about your gut health, diet and more

When does a runner's high kick in?
Running feels like a drug – here’s the molecule that explains why