Martin McGuigan

Martin McGuigan

Live Science Contributor

Martin McGuigan is an Irish writer based in Norwich, England. His work has appeared in The Mays XIX, Cabinet of the Heed and SHE magazine. His writing explores the bizarre questions of everyday life, the mysteries of human psychology, and environmental issues. He studied English literature at the University of Cambridge and creative writing at the University of East Anglia.

Articles by: Martin McGuigan

The nearly-full daytime moon hangs dimly in a blue sky near clouds

Daytime moon: Why can we sometimes see the moon in broad daylight?

By Martin McGuigan last updated

The daytime moon is visible almost every day of the month, except those closest to the full moon and new moon. Here's why the moon and sun often share the daytime sky.

Could the coldest, driest, windiest continent ever support the kinds of human communities seen elsewhere in the world?

Will Antarctica ever be habitable?

By Martin McGuigan published

As global temperatures rise, the ecology of Antarctica is already changing, but Earth's climate would have to change drastically before the continent could support agriculture and permanent settlers.

A cross-section of a sloth's brain displayed in a museum.

Which animal has the largest brain relative to its body size?

By Martin McGuigan published

Although bigger animals usually have bigger brains, this isn't a perfect measure of their intelligence.

A poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) sits on a leaf in the tropical rainforest. It's a small frog with a yellow head and alight blue body.

Why is there so much biodiversity in the tropics?

By Martin McGuigan published

Ecologists say there are three explanations for the abundance of species in the tropics.

Two senior multi-ethnic woman, one Caucasian and the other African American, sitting on a porch enjoying each other's company. They are facing each other, laughing, talking and drinking coffee.

Does drinking coffee help you live longer?

By Martin McGuigan published

Habitual coffee consumption may lower your risk of heart disease and death in a given time period, but the jury is still out on whether it promotes longevity.

Here we see at least nine large open boxes filled with gold coins and jewelry that was collected by the Nazis from their victims. These were found in a cave adjoining the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Is Nazi gold real?

By Martin McGuigan published

Nazi soldiers looted numerous valuable items and tons of gold, but the chances of locating buried treasure are tiny.

Fragile corals grow in the shallows of Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

The 6th mass extinction hasn’t begun yet, study claims, but Earth is barreling toward it

By Martin McGuigan published

Earth has experienced five mass extinction events over its 4.5 billion-year history. A sixth mass extinction is underway as a result of human-driven climate change.

Here we see a big pink pig lying in the mud to cool itself down. It's snout is all covered in mud. There are some dirt, rocks, and trees in the background.

Do pigs sweat?

By Martin McGuigan last updated

Pigs have sweat glands, but regulate their body temperature in other ways.

A very crowded Istiklal Street in the Beyoglu District of Istanbul, Turkey

How many people can Earth support?

By Martin McGuigan last updated

The number of people the planet can sustain depends on both the natural constraints of our environment and human choices.

This is a picture that shows the interior of King Tutankhamun's tomb and wall paintings in the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt. The background is gold and there are six people in total, each wearing elaborate headdresses and neck pieces.

Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?

By Martin McGuigan published

Egyptian art is easily recognizable, but many cultures used similar approaches to represent people and objects.