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About Dr. Russell Moul

Dr. Russell Moul

Dr. Russell Moul

Science Writer

About the Author

Russell has a PhD in the History of Science, Medicine and Technology. He started his career in international policy working on the disarmament of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. Russell’s academic research explored ethics, science governance, and medical involvement in violent contexts. He has written for the Guardian and Wellcome Collection and is particularly drawn to strange stories from science’s past, to new archaeological discoveries and challenging conspiracy claims. Outside his professional role, Russell is an avid hiker, climber and all round gamer.

Read IFLScience Editorial Policy

ACADEMIC HISTORY

Imperial College, London , MSc History of Science, Medicine and Technology , 2012

University of Kent , PhD History of Science, Medicine and Technology , 2020

TIME AT IFLSCIENCE

2023 - PRESENT

731 PUBLISHED ARTICLES

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

History Archaeology Ancient Ancestors Inconceivable Debunking Conspiracy
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Latest from Dr. Russell Moul

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Ann Hodges: The Only Confirmed Person To Be Hit By A Meteorite And LiveA photo showing three meteorites falling through the sky. They appear as three streaks of burning light set against a blue background. The largest meteorite is the closest, and the two behind it are progressively smaller.

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Ann Hodges: The Only Confirmed Person To Be Hit By A Meteorite And LiveA photo showing three meteorites falling through the sky. They appear as three streaks of burning light set against a blue background. The largest meteorite is the closest, and the two behind it are progressively smaller.
space-iconAstronomy

Ann Hodges: The Only Confirmed Person To Be Hit By A Meteorite And Live

clock-icon4 days ago
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Hate Doubling Back On Yourself? Psychologists Have Described A New Bias That May Explain WhyA photo of a male figure walking through a white maze. The image is looking down on the figure from above. His shadow is being cast in front of him as he walks through this white space.

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Hate Doubling Back On Yourself? Psychologists Have Described A New Bias That May Explain WhyA photo of a male figure walking through a white maze. The image is looking down on the figure from above. His shadow is being cast in front of him as he walks through this white space.
technologypsychology

Hate Doubling Back On Yourself? Psychologists Have Described A New Bias That May Explain Why

clock-icon4 days ago
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New AI Model May Predict Success Of Future Fusion Experiments, Saving Money And FuelA digital model showing the hohlraum - shaped like a faded yellow cylinder - being bombarded by lasers from either end. The faded cylinder contains a white orb at the center which is surrounded by smaller yellow/orange circles indicating where the laser beams are touching the interior and bouncing towards the orb.

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New AI Model May Predict Success Of Future Fusion Experiments, Saving Money And FuelA digital model showing the hohlraum - shaped like a faded yellow cylinder - being bombarded by lasers from either end. The faded cylinder contains a white orb at the center which is surrounded by smaller yellow/orange circles indicating where the laser beams are touching the interior and bouncing towards the orb.
technology-iconenergy

New AI Model May Predict Success Of Future Fusion Experiments, Saving Money And Fuel

clock-icon4 days ago
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“Smoking Gun” Causing Parts Of Antarctic Ocean To Shine Weirdly Bright In Satellite Images DiscoveredA microscope photo of a diatom. It appears as a pill-shaped organism with pinched ends. It's outer membrane is a brownish color and its interior is made up of fine blue lines surrounding a central mass that runs its length. The image has also captured portions of other microorganisms.

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“Smoking Gun” Causing Parts Of Antarctic Ocean To Shine Weirdly Bright In Satellite Images DiscoveredA microscope photo of a diatom. It appears as a pill-shaped organism with pinched ends. It's outer membrane is a brownish color and its interior is made up of fine blue lines surrounding a central mass that runs its length. The image has also captured portions of other microorganisms.
nature-iconanimals

“Smoking Gun” Causing Parts Of Antarctic Ocean To Shine Weirdly Bright In Satellite Images Discovered

clock-iconAugust 8, 2025
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"We Have No Idea": Decades-Old Mystery About Great White Sharks Just Got Even StrangerA great white shark is lifting its head out of the water as it attempt to bite on something. It's top row of teeth are hyperextended and visible above the water along with the top of its dorsal fin.

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"We Have No Idea": Decades-Old Mystery About Great White Sharks Just Got Even StrangerA great white shark is lifting its head out of the water as it attempt to bite on something. It's top row of teeth are hyperextended and visible above the water along with the top of its dorsal fin.
nature-iconanimals

"We Have No Idea": Decades-Old Mystery About Great White Sharks Just Got Even Stranger

clock-iconAugust 8, 2025
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Californian Wild Pigs Found With Bright Blue Flesh, Officials Warn Public To “Be Aware”A close up photo showing the heads of three wild pigs snuffling in the mud. The Camera is focused on two in the center of the shot with a third sticking its nose in from the right. The first pig on the left has slightly lighter muddy brown fur and two short tusks are just visible.

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Californian Wild Pigs Found With Bright Blue Flesh, Officials Warn Public To “Be Aware”A close up photo showing the heads of three wild pigs snuffling in the mud. The Camera is focused on two in the center of the shot with a third sticking its nose in from the right. The first pig on the left has slightly lighter muddy brown fur and two short tusks are just visible.
nature-iconanimals

Californian Wild Pigs Found With Bright Blue Flesh, Officials Warn Public To “Be Aware”

clock-iconAugust 8, 2025
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80 Years On, Chilling Photos Of The Hiroshima Bombing Remind Us Why Nuclear Weapons Are TerrifyingAn aerial photo of the mushroom cloud looming over Hiroshima. It is a large thin stalk of cloud with the top starting to bud into the classic shape.

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80 Years On, Chilling Photos Of The Hiroshima Bombing Remind Us Why Nuclear Weapons Are TerrifyingAn aerial photo of the mushroom cloud looming over Hiroshima. It is a large thin stalk of cloud with the top starting to bud into the classic shape.
humans-iconhistory

80 Years On, Chilling Photos Of The Hiroshima Bombing Remind Us Why Nuclear Weapons Are Terrifying

clock-iconAugust 8, 2025
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Loch Ness Monster Sightings Don’t Match “Impossible” Images Of The Beast – So What Are People Seeing?A photo taken on the shore of Loch Ness on a grey cloudy day. In the foreground a stone monument is visible with the words "Lock Ness" on it. It has a square metal plaque on top. The beach leading down to the water is covered in shingle stone and then there is a flat body of water stretching off. In the distance, a deep green landmass is visible set against low hanging clouds.

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Loch Ness Monster Sightings Don’t Match “Impossible” Images Of The Beast – So What Are People Seeing?A photo taken on the shore of Loch Ness on a grey cloudy day. In the foreground a stone monument is visible with the words "Lock Ness" on it. It has a square metal plaque on top. The beach leading down to the water is covered in shingle stone and then there is a flat body of water stretching off. In the distance, a deep green landmass is visible set against low hanging clouds.
technologyculture

Loch Ness Monster Sightings Don’t Match “Impossible” Images Of The Beast – So What Are People Seeing?

clock-iconAugust 6, 2025
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Forecasting Tomorrow: How Science Fiction Is Helping Scientists Explore Possible FuturesA book with pages flipping oopen and images of future scenarios like climate affected dry earth, AI robots, habitats on Mars and extreme weather like typhoons flying out

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Forecasting Tomorrow: How Science Fiction Is Helping Scientists Explore Possible FuturesA book with pages flipping oopen and images of future scenarios like climate affected dry earth, AI robots, habitats on Mars and extreme weather like typhoons flying out
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technologysociety

Forecasting Tomorrow: How Science Fiction Is Helping Scientists Explore Possible Futures

clock-iconJuly 31, 2025

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There's A Hidden Code In Your DNA And Scientists Have Just Identified ItDNA double helix with secret code.

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There's A Hidden Code In Your DNA And Scientists Have Just Identified ItDNA double helix with secret code.
health-icongenetics

There's A Hidden Code In Your DNA And Scientists Have Just Identified It

clock-iconJuly 25, 2025
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850,000-Year-Old Remains Suggest Prehistoric Child Was Decapitated And Eaten By Its Own KindDetail of the cervical vertebra from a child aged between 2 and 5 years, with cut marks evidencing cannibalistic practices by other humans.

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850,000-Year-Old Remains Suggest Prehistoric Child Was Decapitated And Eaten By Its Own KindDetail of the cervical vertebra from a child aged between 2 and 5 years, with cut marks evidencing cannibalistic practices by other humans.
humans-iconHumans

850,000-Year-Old Remains Suggest Prehistoric Child Was Decapitated And Eaten By Its Own Kind

clock-iconJuly 25, 2025
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Common Cannabis Substitute May Be Far More Psychoactive Than Previously Thoughtvial of yellow liquid on a bench with a hemp leaf on it; there's a microscope out of focus in the background

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Common Cannabis Substitute May Be Far More Psychoactive Than Previously Thoughtvial of yellow liquid on a bench with a hemp leaf on it; there's a microscope out of focus in the background
health-iconmedicine

Common Cannabis Substitute May Be Far More Psychoactive Than Previously Thought

clock-iconJuly 25, 2025
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Ötzi The Iceman’s DNA Reveals He Belonged To A Previously Unknown Genetic LineageA photo showing a model reconstruction of what Ötzi may have looked like. He appears like a grizzled middle-aged man with a long bears and thin-though long hair. His skin is tanned and he is portrayed without another clothes on his upper body.

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Ötzi The Iceman’s DNA Reveals He Belonged To A Previously Unknown Genetic LineageA photo showing a model reconstruction of what Ötzi may have looked like. He appears like a grizzled middle-aged man with a long bears and thin-though long hair. His skin is tanned and he is portrayed without another clothes on his upper body.
humans-iconarchaeology

Ötzi The Iceman’s DNA Reveals He Belonged To A Previously Unknown Genetic Lineage

clock-iconJuly 25, 2025
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Your Dog Is Not A Good Judge Of CharacterA photo of a Labrador looking at the camera. The dog has its head tilted to the right. The dog is set against a blue background.

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Your Dog Is Not A Good Judge Of CharacterA photo of a Labrador looking at the camera. The dog has its head tilted to the right. The dog is set against a blue background.
nature-iconanimals

Your Dog Is Not A Good Judge Of Character

clock-iconJuly 24, 2025
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New “Different Form” Of Type 1 Diabetes Found In Sub-Saharan African And Black American PatientsThe photo shows a black patient having their blood glucose level monitored by a black nurse. The photo is framed so that it focuses on the patient's hand as they extend their finger to the monitor while the nurse, wearing green scrubs holds it for them.

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New “Different Form” Of Type 1 Diabetes Found In Sub-Saharan African And Black American PatientsThe photo shows a black patient having their blood glucose level monitored by a black nurse. The photo is framed so that it focuses on the patient's hand as they extend their finger to the monitor while the nurse, wearing green scrubs holds it for them.
health-iconmedicine

New “Different Form” Of Type 1 Diabetes Found In Sub-Saharan African And Black American Patients

clock-iconJuly 24, 2025
share74