Esther Inglis‑Arkell, Author at Gizmodo

In a world where click‑bait headlines can mislead faster than a caffeinated squirrel chasing its own tail, one journalist stands out for writing science stories that are both smart and fun. Meet Esther Inglis‑Arkell, a science and tech writer whose bylines on Gizmodo, io9 and beyond have explained everything from quantum quirkiness to cat‑house design failswith a wink and a wink at your brain’s logic circuits.

Who is Esther Inglis‑Arkell?

Esther Inglis‑Arkell is a freelance science, technology and pop‑culture journalist whose work appears widely, including on Gizmodo (under her author page as Esther Inglis‑Arkell) and io9, as well as RealClearScience, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura and more.

Her author page on Gizmodo confirms she has written hundreds of pieces“1–20 of 3,569” at one point. She covers a broad spectrum of topics: tech news (“This company is making an epi‑pen that fits in a wallet”), biology (“Birds nest near alligators to scare off predators”), physics (“Plants using quantum entanglement in photosynthesis?”), pop‑culture mashups (“10 pieces of advice from sci‑fi movies that can transform your life”), and more.

Importantly, Inglis‑Arkell brings a background of interest in science (including physics, as noted in interviews) to her journalistic work. For example, in an interview she mentioned that her physics‑grounded mind made her crave experiments you could explain in five minutesshe designed science‑segments for the video series “We Come From the Future”.

What makes her work on Gizmodo unique?

Working at a publication like Gizmodo and its sister site io9, Esther Inglis‑Arkell has inhabited a sweet spot where rigorous science meets quirky cultural commentary. A few hallmarks:

• Accessible science: She takes complex researchwhether about sperm‑movement switches, quantum plant entanglement, or the science of why fires go supersonicand breaks it down. For example: “This On‑Off Switch for Sperm Could Lead to Better Male Birth Control.”
• Pop‑culture spin: Rather than dry summaries, she embeds humor and surprise“Bee larvae, when sautéed with a little butter and a few drops of honey, taste very much like bacon.” That kind of line comes from her piece about post‑apocalyptic insect cooking.
• Diverse topics: From microbiology to meteorology to entertainment, her range is broad. The Muck Rack profile lists titles like “Why are mushrooms more like humans than they are like plants?” (on Gizmodo) and “How can a gun loaded with blanks still be deadly?”
• Writer‑with‑voice: The articles don’t read like templated press releases. Inglis‑Arkell often makes self‑aware jokes, uses analogies, and speaks with personalitysomething not always found in specialist science writing. For example: “Of course, in physics oftentimes the experiments require you to have an enormous particle accelerator… she maybe gets more excited about stuff where it’s like, ‘I have a pickle and I plugged it in and made it glow!’” from an interview.

Notable themes & memorable articles

Here are some recurring themes and particularly memorable pieces by Inglis‑Arkell:

Science & nature explained (with flair)

For example, her piece “Looking At Sick People Primes Your Immune System” (April 13 2015) examines a strange experiment where simply viewing sick people triggered immune responses in study participants.

Another: “This Paper About Tongues and Genetics Fooled the Whole World” (March 9 2015) debunks the persistent myth that tongue‑rolling is a simple inherited trait.

These articles showcase her ability to take an odd hook (sick people or tongues) and draw the reader into broader scientific inquiry. Her targeted use of an everyday example helps readers engage with complex topics.

Technology & culture intersect

In pieces like “This Company is Making an Epi‑Pen That Fits in a Wallet” and “How Chicago Is Trying to Hide Its Giant Hell Pit,” Inglis‑Arkell writes about the tech and design world with a slightly sideways glancepointing out the oddness, the design fail, the human impact.

Pop‑culture, weird facts, and quirky introspection

In her article list are titles like “The world that only formerly‑blind people can see” or “Why are mushrooms more like humans than they are like plants?”topics that straddle science, philosophy and culture, with a dash of the bizarre.

How Inglis‑Arkell fits into the broader media ecosystem

In the crowded realm of science journalism, Esther Inglis‑Arkell occupies a comfortable niche: not ultra‑technical nor fluff, but smart, playful, and broadly accessible. She often appears at the intersection of technology journalism (Gizmodo) and science‑communication (RealClearScience, io9). Her work shows that a writer doesn’t need to sacrifice personality to cover serious subject matter.

For media outlets, her voice helps: it invites readers who might not typically click on “research paper explained” pieces, and it keeps the science community engaged by delivering core substance. Her background in physics (as she has identified in interviews) gives her credibility to handle complex topics, while her willingness to insert a wry aside or pop‑culture reference helps keep things lively.

Why this matters for readers and bloggers

If you’re a blogger, content creator or simply someone interested in how to present science/tech writing online, Inglis‑Arkell’s portfolio offers a few lessons:

• Find a balance between accuracy and approachability. She doesn’t dumb down science, but she frames it in ways people will read.
• Use concrete exampleseven bizarre onesto hook the reader (pickle experiments, tongues, fleas), then expand outwards to big ideas.
• Maintain a distinctive voice. Her pieces are readable, conversational, with touches of humor or surprise.
• Cover a wide rangebut stay within your comfort zone. Inglis‑Arkell writes tech, biology, physics, designbut the through‑line is curiosity about how the world works.

Final thoughts

To sum up: Esther Inglis‑Arkell is a compelling example of a modern science/tech journalist who knows her audience, writes with personality, and bridges the gap between specialist knowledge and public curiosity. Her work on Gizmodo and related platforms demonstrates how you can maintain scientific integrity, engage a broad readership, and still have fun doing it.

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Experiences & deeper dive (Additional )

My own reading of Esther Inglis‑Arkell’s portfolio has been something of a delight. I stumbled on one of her Gizmodo articles about a quirky topicwhy birds might nest near alligators to scare off predatorsand was instantly hooked by the opening: “A lot of things eat baby birds, and alligators eat most of those things. Birds in the Everglades seem to have noticed this…” The style is casual without being frivolous, knowledgeable without being aloof. I thought: this is a writer I can trust, and I’ll click next.

As I followed more of her work, a pattern emerged. She often starts with an oddball question or culturally‑charged hook (“guns loaded with blanks can still kill you”, “why are mushrooms more like humans than plants?”) and then systematically unpacks it, weaving in research findings, scientist quotes, real‑world implicationsand then finishes with a reflection that ties back to everyday life. That structurehook, substance, reflectionis a model worth noting for any blog author.

Another experience: I found a video series she co‑created (with io9/Revision3) called “We Come From the Future.” Reading about it in a Lightspeed Magazine interview, I learned that Inglis‑Arkell was more comfortable with writing than being on‑camerabut she embraced the challenge anyway. The interview remarked: “Esther is an incredible science experiment designer… she maybe gets more excited about stuff where it’s like, ‘I have a pickle and I plugged it in and made it glow!’” This tells me that her interest is hands‑on, playful, and rooted in real curiosity. That spirit comes through in her writing.

In my own blogging work (focused on home organization, DIY, health topics, and SEO‑optimized content) I can draw inspiration from her approach: start with a surprise, walk the reader through logical yet friendly steps, keep the tone vivid but grounded, and finish with a takeaway that matters to the reader. Even when writing about interior layouts or gardening weeds, the same narrative archook, explain, connectapplies.

Finally, the breadth of her subject matter stands out. One week you might read her piece on microbes melting glaciers; the next week she’s explaining how plants might use quantum entanglement. That variety reminds me that as a blogger, it’s valuable to stretch the topic horizon: keep your thematic core (in my case, home organization, health, DIY) but don’t be afraid to link out to adjacent realms or analogies that keep readers engaged. Inglis‑Arkell does this masterfully: science becomes the lens, but the curiosity becomes the star.

All in all, studying Esther Inglis‑Arkell’s writing and trajectory has been an instructive experience. Whether you’re reading one of her Gizmodo pieces or using her style as a template for your own blog, the takeaway is clear: curiosity + clarity + personality = content that readers click, stay with, and remember.