Jo Marchant is an English freelance journalist and author specialising in science and history. She holds a BSc in genetics from University of Leicester [1] and a PhD in genetics. [2]
Marchant began her career as a science writer and editor, serving as an editor at the science journal Nature and as opinion editor at New Scientist magazine in London. [2] She has contributed to several major publications, including Scientific American [3] , New Scientist [2] , Aeon [4] , and Smithsonian Magazine . [5]
She is the author of several books, including:
Marchant has said the idea for her first book, *Decoding the Heavens*, "came about in November 2006, when I was an editor at the science journal Nature. A research paper was due to be published revealing the workings of a sophisticated ancient device called the Antikythera mechanism. The story grabbed me immediately, and I was desperate to find out more about this mysterious contraption. I travelled to Athens to see the remains of the mechanism, and to meet those who have studied it and hear their stories." [10]
Marchant lives in Herne Hill, South London, with her partner and their two children. [11]