Amy Lyall
@amylyall.bsky.social
Freelance science writer and reporter. Into: biology, films, clothes, tattoos, animals and kickboxing. https://www.amylyall.co.uk/
Norwich, UK
Norwich, UK
envying everyone who has never had to bring Sally up
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
envying everyone who has never had to bring Sally up
Watched Together last night. Interesting premise. Very effective. Those of you watching with a long-term partner should ready yourselves for feeling slightly uncomfortable with each other afterwards
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Watched Together last night. Interesting premise. Very effective. Those of you watching with a long-term partner should ready yourselves for feeling slightly uncomfortable with each other afterwards
I'm enjoying the new Simpsons/Battle Royale Fortnite crossover. Marge Simpson just beat me to death with a hoover
November 9, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I'm enjoying the new Simpsons/Battle Royale Fortnite crossover. Marge Simpson just beat me to death with a hoover
The best thing about AI transcription tools is that I can now capture quotes without having to take my attention away from the conversation. The worst thing about them is that I have to reread my own questions. A reporter's job is to get other people to talk, but you do end up sounding inane
November 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
The best thing about AI transcription tools is that I can now capture quotes without having to take my attention away from the conversation. The worst thing about them is that I have to reread my own questions. A reporter's job is to get other people to talk, but you do end up sounding inane
Last night I reconnected with my primal instinct to stare into a fire. Bonfires always make me think of that small bunch of hairless apes cowering in the Ethiopian jungle. Completely unaware their descendants would cover the entire planet and invent social media, fireworks, Guy Fawkes and s'mores
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Last night I reconnected with my primal instinct to stare into a fire. Bonfires always make me think of that small bunch of hairless apes cowering in the Ethiopian jungle. Completely unaware their descendants would cover the entire planet and invent social media, fireworks, Guy Fawkes and s'mores
Traditional Halloween rewatch of the Shining
October 31, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Traditional Halloween rewatch of the Shining
Been watching Game of Thrones. I didn't watch it at the time because I get stubborn when people insist I will LOOVE IT (see also The Wire, James Ellroy, cronuts, and Fleetwood Mac). However, I grudgingly admit I do love it (again, see all of the above). So you were right. And I hope you're happy
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Been watching Game of Thrones. I didn't watch it at the time because I get stubborn when people insist I will LOOVE IT (see also The Wire, James Ellroy, cronuts, and Fleetwood Mac). However, I grudgingly admit I do love it (again, see all of the above). So you were right. And I hope you're happy
Another piece.
I faced a writer's dilemma here - you've had several interesting conversations, but you also have a limited amount of space. This is one of the pieces I wished I could have written longer.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/cov...
I faced a writer's dilemma here - you've had several interesting conversations, but you also have a limited amount of space. This is one of the pieces I wished I could have written longer.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/cov...
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
October 28, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Another piece.
I faced a writer's dilemma here - you've had several interesting conversations, but you also have a limited amount of space. This is one of the pieces I wished I could have written longer.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/cov...
I faced a writer's dilemma here - you've had several interesting conversations, but you also have a limited amount of space. This is one of the pieces I wished I could have written longer.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/cov...
Phone bot: would you like to hear a softer repeated tone, rather than hold music?
Me: yes that sounds nicer than one of my least favourite bands combined with PLEASE HOLD
Phone bot: startling chord that sounds like someone repeatedly passing out on a piano PLEASE HOLD
Me: a beep would have been fine
Me: yes that sounds nicer than one of my least favourite bands combined with PLEASE HOLD
Phone bot: startling chord that sounds like someone repeatedly passing out on a piano PLEASE HOLD
Me: a beep would have been fine
October 23, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Phone bot: would you like to hear a softer repeated tone, rather than hold music?
Me: yes that sounds nicer than one of my least favourite bands combined with PLEASE HOLD
Phone bot: startling chord that sounds like someone repeatedly passing out on a piano PLEASE HOLD
Me: a beep would have been fine
Me: yes that sounds nicer than one of my least favourite bands combined with PLEASE HOLD
Phone bot: startling chord that sounds like someone repeatedly passing out on a piano PLEASE HOLD
Me: a beep would have been fine
New website! www.amylyall.co.uk
Amy Lyall
www.amylyall.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 11:29 AM
New website! www.amylyall.co.uk
Saw One Battle After Another last night. Some genuinely fantastic character names. Ghetto Pat. Perfidia Beverly Hills. Steven Lockjaw. (It was also funny, tense, and resonant)
October 22, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Saw One Battle After Another last night. Some genuinely fantastic character names. Ghetto Pat. Perfidia Beverly Hills. Steven Lockjaw. (It was also funny, tense, and resonant)
Another one of my favourite Earlham articles. This was a new perspective to me. It hadn't occurred to me that DNA mixtures might be an issue in forensics, but like all these things it is a no-brainer once someone actually explains the issue properly
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/eve...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/eve...
Every cell tells a story: single-cell analysis in forensic science
DNA analysis has transformed forensic science - but interpreting mixtures of DNA from multiple individuals can be a challenge. Could single-cell analysis help?
www.earlham.ac.uk
October 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Another one of my favourite Earlham articles. This was a new perspective to me. It hadn't occurred to me that DNA mixtures might be an issue in forensics, but like all these things it is a no-brainer once someone actually explains the issue properly
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/eve...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/eve...
Article I wrote on AI and fair data. It was an interesting discussion - the issue with how we choose what to input doesn't just apply to biology. AI can be a very useful tool, but there are a lot of questions around what we put in and how we use the results.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ai-...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ai-...
October 17, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Article I wrote on AI and fair data. It was an interesting discussion - the issue with how we choose what to input doesn't just apply to biology. AI can be a very useful tool, but there are a lot of questions around what we put in and how we use the results.
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ai-...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ai-...
Yes thank you, I think I would quite like to read Sutter Cane
October 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Yes thank you, I think I would quite like to read Sutter Cane
The second article I'm going to showcase is this one, which I really enjoyed writing. I think it's a fascinating project. And also, I would find it deeply useful if my houseplants would glow when they need watering. I need this to stop me committing leafy murder :( www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/lig...
Light-up plants and tunable roots signal new solutions for climate crisis
There has been no rain for a month. The soil around a farmer’s wheat plants is bone-dry. In the past this could have led to the loss of the whole crop – but one flick of a genetic switch means the roo...
www.earlham.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The second article I'm going to showcase is this one, which I really enjoyed writing. I think it's a fascinating project. And also, I would find it deeply useful if my houseplants would glow when they need watering. I need this to stop me committing leafy murder :( www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/lig...
I've decided to revisit some of my favourite articles. This one was not only a lot of fun to write but I also used it as the basis for designing the Earlham Institute's activity at Norwich Science Festival (children learned about the fusarium threat to bananas)
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ban...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ban...
October 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I've decided to revisit some of my favourite articles. This one was not only a lot of fun to write but I also used it as the basis for designing the Earlham Institute's activity at Norwich Science Festival (children learned about the fusarium threat to bananas)
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ban...
www.earlham.ac.uk/articles/ban...
Recently I have found myself bothering all the cats of the neighbourhood for their furry attention, especially the big fluffy one with chocolate points. I've given them all names. To be fair, I am officially middle-aged now, so I guess this is when I break out in chronic cats. Normal aging.
October 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Recently I have found myself bothering all the cats of the neighbourhood for their furry attention, especially the big fluffy one with chocolate points. I've given them all names. To be fair, I am officially middle-aged now, so I guess this is when I break out in chronic cats. Normal aging.
currently trying to decide which website colour palette best represents me as a person. murky browns? navy blues? shocking pink? this is much harder than I expected
October 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
currently trying to decide which website colour palette best represents me as a person. murky browns? navy blues? shocking pink? this is much harder than I expected
I spent approximately 5 hours today trying to recreate Wednesday Addams looks with items from my own wardrobe.
This kind of freedom is one of the luxuries of being a grownup
This kind of freedom is one of the luxuries of being a grownup
October 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I spent approximately 5 hours today trying to recreate Wednesday Addams looks with items from my own wardrobe.
This kind of freedom is one of the luxuries of being a grownup
This kind of freedom is one of the luxuries of being a grownup
I think I've been overdoing the the horror films. Just got terrified in marks and spencers by a life size percy pig waving at me in the food hall.
October 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I think I've been overdoing the the horror films. Just got terrified in marks and spencers by a life size percy pig waving at me in the food hall.
First social media in a decade...
October 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
First social media in a decade...