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Michael Hanlon

Michael Hanlon was a British science writer and newspaper science editor.

Last revised
May 26, 2026
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Michael Hanlon
Born(1964-12-20)20 December 1964
Bristol, England
Died9 February 2016(2016-02-09) (aged 51)
OccupationScience Writer/Journalist
Known forScience articles in newspapers and magazines, and writing books

Michael Hanlon (20 December 1964 – 9 February 2016) was a British science writer and newspaper science editor.

Early life

Hanlon was born in Bristol and grew up on the Dorset coast. He studied Earth Sciences at university.1

Career

Hanlon was the Science page editor at the Daily Telegraph2 having previously been Science Editor at the Daily Mail,3 and author of articles for the Daily Express, the Independent and Irish News. He also contributed on a regular basis to several magazines, including the Spectator. He was often seen on television, or heard on the radio, as an expert in explaining science to the general public.4 The Guardian called Hanlon a "top science writer".5

Hanlon turned heads, including that of Ed West, when he abandoned his skepticism about global warming.6 According to the Daily Telegraph, this followed a visit to the Greenland ice cap when he saw the extent of the melt for himself.2

Books

  • The Worlds of Galileo: A Jovian Odyssey (2001), co-authored with Arthur C. Clarke.7
  • The Real Mars (2004)
  • The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2006)
  • 10 Questions Science Can't Answer (Yet!): A Guide to Science's Greatest Mysteries (2007)
  • Eternity: Our Next Billion Years (Macmillan Science) (2008)38

Personal life

Hanlon was married to Elena Seymenliyska, also a journalist, who works for Aeon (digital magazine).

Hanlon died of a heart attack on 9 February 2016. He leaves behind a son, Zachary.2

References

References

  1. "Dorset's Jurassic Park Joël Lacey talks to Michael Hanlon, the man behind 'Jurassica' – a world-class visitor centre in a quarry on Portland". Dorset Life. March 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  2. "Michael Hanlon, science writer - obituary". Daily Telegraph. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  3. Kleiner, Kurt (2 February 2010). "What the hell is eternity, anyway? (Review of Hanlon's book: Eternity: Our Next Billion Years". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  4. Johnson, Greg L. "Eternity:Our Next Billion Years". SF Site. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. "Michael Hanlon on science writing: 'You need a bullshit detector'". The Guardian. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  6. West, Ed (16 August 2010). "Why shouldn't conservatives believe in man-made climate change?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  7. "Michael Hanlon". Amazon. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  8. Brooks, Michael (22 October 2008). "Review: Eternity: Our next billion years by Michael Hanlon". New Scientist. 200 (2679): 45. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(08)62711-6.
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