Nick Lane

Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small...

One of the most exciting science writers of our time. - Independent Why is life the way it is? Bacteria evolved into complex life just once in four billion years of life on earth—and all complex life shares many strange properties, from sex to ageing and death. If life evolved on other planets, would it be the same or completely...

One of my favourite science writers - Bill Gates Hugely important - Jim Al-Khalili For decades, biology has been dominated by information—the power of genes. Yet there is no difference in information content between a living cell and one that died a moment ago. A better question goes back to the formative years of biology: what processes animate cells and...

For decades, biology has been dominated by information—the power of genes. Yet in terms of information, there is no difference between a living cell and one that died a moment ago. What really animates cells and sets them apart from non-living matter? This question goes back to the flawed geniuses and heroic origins of modern biology. The answer could turn...