Sophia Moss

Sophia Moss Journalist & Communications Specialist

Versatile writer and editor specialising in bringing diverse subjects to life through clear, engaging, and human-centred storytelling. Experienced in healthcare, wellbeing, mental health, travel, finance, lifestyle, culture, and science.

Examples of my work

WorldAtlas •

Which Planet Has The Most Extreme Seasons?

Imagine living on a planet where summer lasts for 21 years. You might want to think twice about wearing a T-shirt and shorts, though, because this isn't Earth. This is actually Uranus, where temperatures in the atmosphere can drop to around -224 degrees Celsius (-371 degrees Fahrenheit), while the core of this milky-colored ice giant reaches a scorching 4,982 degrees Celsius (8,996 degrees Fahrenheit). Either way, you're pretty doomed.

Uranus has the most extreme seasons in the solar system. Be...
ellaone UK •

History of contraception: when was contraception invented?

Imagine a world without contraception; no pill, no condoms, no emergency contraception. What does your life look like?
We’re going on a journey through history to celebrate how birth control and the morning after pill have given women the power to decide what happens to our bodies.









Early Methods Of Contraception


What do crocodile dung, weasel testicles and lemons have in common? They were all used as early contrac...
WorldAtlas •

The Trees That Can Live For Thousands Of Years

High in the mountains of the American West, bristlecone pine trees have been standing for thousands of years. They were young when Stonehenge was being built and were already hundreds of years old when most of the Egyptian pyramids were constructed. The oldest known individual non-clonal trees on Earth have survived more than 4,800 years of changing climates and civilizations. These small, gnarly trees grow incredibly slowly in arid environments where few other plants can challenge them for reso...
ellaone UK •

How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects You - And What To Do About It - ellaone UK

Do you ever feel like sometimes you wake up buzzing with energy and feel ready to take on the world, and other times you want to curl up under a blanket and snuggle with your phone, like a chrysalis in a cocoon? Many different factors affect your energy levels, including where you are in your menstrual cycle.
You might’ve heard that people who menstruate have two body clocks, while men only have one. We all have a circadian rhythm, which is our natural 24-hour biological clock. Our circadian rhy...

Home education: can we really trust parents to know what’s best for their children?

Chloe’s tooth fell out when she was seven. Why? Because a boy punched her in the face at primary school. When she was older, Chloe’s classmates held her down and made her eat an old sandwich off the floor on the school bus, they threatened to stab and drown her, and the teachers did nothing. Desperate to avoid school, Chloe would go to bed every night, hide under the covers with her Nokia phone and spend hours purposely hyperventilating so her bed would be drenched in sweat and her parents would think she was sick. Six months later, Chloe’s parents decided to home educate her.
WorldAtlas •

How Deep Does The Ocean Actually Go?

Lurking 11,000 meters beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean is a dark, extreme underwater desert populated with sea cucumbers, huge white and pink amphipods, and the occasional plastic bag. This is Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in Earth's ocean, plunging down approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) below sea level. The water pressure here is 1,086 bar, which is like having an estimated 1,800 elephants standing on top of you in a bizarre pyramid. For context, if Mount Everest were...
WorldAtlas •

Could Life Exist Beneath Europa's Ice?

One of Jupiter's moons hides more water than every ocean on Earth combined, sealed under a shell of ice. Europa is only about the size of Earth's Moon, yet it has become one of the strongest candidates for life beyond Earth in our solar system. Like Earth, it is built from an iron core, a rocky mantle, and a layer of salty water. Unlike Earth, its surface temperature never climbs above roughly -256 Fahrenheit (-160 Celsius) and can fall to around -364 Fahrenheit (-220 Celsius). Recent measuremen...
FlexSEQ •

True Or False: Arthritis Myths - FlexSEQ

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about arthritis. How many of you have heard and been disheartened by things like “there’s nothing you can do about arthritis symptoms,” or “I shouldn’t exercise,” or even “one of my habits, like cracking my knuckles, gave me arthritis”?It’s so important to know what’s true and false when it comes to arthritis, so you have enough information to make informed decisions and not avoid things that could actually help your arthritis.It’s not true at all that...
WorldAtlas •

What's the Emptiest Place in Space?

Cosmic voids are vast underdense regions that occupy much of the universe's volume (about 80% of the observable universe's volume), and astronomers have cataloged over 8,000 of them, with current and upcoming surveys expected to identify many more.

The universe is organized into a giant cosmic web, with galaxies and galaxy clusters forming long, interconnected strands known as galaxy filaments. Over billions of years, gravity pulled matter into these dense threads, leaving enormous low-density...
Movicol EN •

What Is Your Gut Microbiome? | Movicol®

Did you know you have a bustling community of tiny creatures living inside your gut? Our bodies have trillions of microorganisms (also known as microbes) living all over our bodies, but the majority of them are in the gastrointestinal tract, which starts at the mouth and ends in the anus. These microbes can live in the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon or rectum.   
The collective term used for the microorganisms living in the gut is the gut microbiome. Bacteria, fungi...
The Upcoming •

Heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics? Here’s how to do it

If you’re heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, you’re probably wondering how to get there, where to stay and what else you’re going to do in between watching the swimming, breakdancing or sailing.How does one get to Paris? Flying is always an option, yet it can often be quicker, more convenient, and more enjoyable to take the Eurostar, which travels from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord, Paris in just two hours and 19 minutes. For those not residing in London – or those in London who simply...
WorldAtlas •

The Lakes That Used to Be Part of the Ocean

Earth looks very different today than it did millions of years ago. Some of the lakes we see today were once connected to ancient seas and oceans, but due to tectonic uplift, falling sea levels, evaporation, and other geological changes, they became isolated and cut off from the global ocean system. The Caspian Sea, for example, is actually the world’s largest lake because, despite its name and salty water, it is completely surrounded by land and no longer has a natural connection to the ocean....
FlexSEQ •

7 Of The Best Supplements for Arthritis - FlexSEQ

Arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people around the world. It causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the joints, which can make it hard to move and do everyday activities. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, which occurs when the cartilage (the strong and flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones), which cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are many ways to manage the s...
WorldAtlas •

11 Towns Made For A Quiet Getaway In Nevada

If you're looking for a getaway, head out to the wide desert roads of Nevada. You could drive the Loneliest Road in America and learn about Nevada's silver-mining past in Austin. You could also go off-grid in the most isolated town in the state. There are haunted houses here too, plus a terrifying clown-themed motel that sits next door to a cemetery. Nevada also brims with natural wonders and wild desert landscapes. One town even runs a stargazing train deep into the desert to watch the Milky Wa...
WorldAtlas •

Is the Universe Getting Bigger?

The universe is bigger now than it was when you started reading this sentence. Every distant galaxy is drifting away from us as the space between them stretches. Astronomers spotted this a century ago in the reddened light of far-off galaxies. They still argue over exactly how fast that stretching happens. Dark energy seems to be pushing the whole process faster every year. Where it all leads remains the strangest open question in cosmology.

The stretching has been going on ever since the Big B...
WorldAtlas •

9 Old-Timey General Stores In Florida

Long before you could shop for groceries from the comfort of your own couch, general stores were the original marketplace and one-stop shops. They were also important community spaces for people in isolated rural areas. Old-timey general stores that you’ll want to check out in Florida include the 1889 Dudley Store, located in a historic state park where you can take a guided tour and learn about how to work the land in a 20th-century style. There is also the Bean Depot Cafe, an “Old Florida”-sty...
Flo.health - #1 mobile product for women’s health •

5 main types of gynecological cancer

Gynecological cancer is the broad term that describes all of the cancers that start in the female reproductive organs. These include the cervix, uterus, vulva, vagina, and ovaries. Depending on where the cancer starts, symptoms can look pretty different.“Most cancers in the body do not develop in the same way or along the same timeline. There are no screening tests for ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulva cancer, so it is important to pay attention to your body,” says OB-GYN (obstetrician and gy...
Flexiseq •

The Science of Osteoarthritis

“Arthritis is a broad term referring to inflammation and degeneration of the joints, causing pain, swelling, and decreased mobility,” says Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD, a medical advisor for the Health Reporter. “There are various forms of it, with osteoarthritis being the most prevalent.” Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Each type has different causes and symptoms, but they all involve inflammation and damage to the joints.”...
WorldAtlas •

9 Offbeat Idaho Towns To Visit In 2026

In 2004, the mayor of Wallace declared his town the "Center of the Universe" and dared anyone to prove him wrong. That is the kind of place Idaho is full of. Blackfoot serves potato ice cream at its potato museum, Yellow Pine throws a summer festival built entirely around the harmonica, and a drilling crew in Soda Springs accidentally created a geyser that now shoots carbonated water 70 feet into the air on a timer. Add 400-foot sand dunes outside Saint Anthony and the ghost stories at Lava Hot...
The Upcoming •

“Flamenco is changing all the time”: Paco Peña on Solera at Sadler’s Wells

For over 50 years, Paco Peña has been bringing the art of Flamenco to British audiences. Paco moved from Córdoba to London in the 1960s, and by the early 70s, he had established the Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, and Solera, their latest work. After premiering at Sadler’s Wells and enjoying a successful run in 2022 and 2024, Solera is back at Sadler’s Wells theatre from 2nd to 4th April. The Upcoming had a chat with the maestro himself to discover more about how the blending of intergeneratio...
WorldAtlas •

9 Best Towns In England For A Two-Day Recharge

With so many small towns and diverse regions within a short drive of its major cities, it's easy to score a quick getaway in England. St Ives looks more like a Mediterranean destination than a town in the UK, and is the perfect place to spend the day lazing on golden sands and watching the turquoise waves roll in. Frome boasts cobbled streets and an award-winning independent market. In Bakewell, visitors can sample the town's famous pudding and explore the scenic Monsal Trail. Read on to discove...
Islands •

California's One-Of-A-Kind Lunar Landscape Is Like Something Out Of Sci-Fi And Free To Visit - Islands

Imagine strolling around a 20,000-year-old landscape that looks like it was teleported out of a sci-fi movie set on the moon. If a fossilized waterfall with intriguing rock formations sounds worth a visit, hit up Fossil Falls next time you're in southeastern California. Located 46 miles from Red Rock Canyon State Park (one of California's most underrated state parks), Fossil Falls is an incredibly unique and free-to-visit archeological district listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
The Upcoming •

A Tupperware of Ashes at the National Theatre | Theatre review

A crimson sunset ripples over a deep blue backdrop as Queenie (Meera Syal) stands by an Indian shore as her enthusiastic husband Ameet (Zubin Varla) splashes around in the water (to aptly timed sound effects) and coaxes her to get in. She refuses, he huffingly gives up and then she relents, edging into the water and spinning towards him as he holds open a red saree, pulling her closer as she gets engulfed in the cloth. A disjointed clash of noise startles us and the soft sunset light is replaced...
Islands •

Colorado's Most Daring Trail Is A Bucket-List Thrill With Waterfalls And White-Knuckle Views - Islands

Imagine being surrounded by multi-colored mountaintops that reach into the sky as you snake through the San Juan Mountains and ascend the infamous Black Bear Pass in Colorado. Your 4x4 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) gently jolts across the rocky, uneven ground as you reach Black Bear summit and are greeted by expansive views of jagged peaks and pastoral valleys. This trail has been ridiculously beautiful and surprisingly calm so far, and you're starting to wonder whether Black Bear Pass really deserv...
Flexiseq •

Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is persistent pain which has lasted for at least three months. Chronic pain is different from acute pain, which is pain that happens suddenly - as a result of injury, for example - and goes away when the body heals itself. Acute pain is a normal response to tissue damage or potential harm, and it often serves as a warning sign to alert you to notice the danger and do something about it. If you touch a hot stove, you will feel acute pain and quickly withdraw your hand. This pain help...
Hana •

How can exercise affect your menstrual cycle? | Hana

Exercise on your period has been shown to be beneficial for a number of reasons. Some women and people with uteruses experience painful cramps just before and during their period, and regular exercise can help to reduce them. The main reason believed for this is due to the endorphins and pain-relieving hormones that are released during exercise. 
This is why exercising during your period can help boost your mood and counteract the fatigue you may be feeling. This could be from something as simpl...
Hearnes •

When to sell your house | Hearnes

Why do you want to sell your house? Maybe you’re getting married and looking for your first home, or relocating for work, or downsizing now that the kids have left. Alternatively, you might be looking for a bigger property to accommodate your growing family. There are many reasons, aside from financial that someone may want to sell their home, and it makes sense that you may just want to sell and move forwards. You might think that there is a better time to put your property on the market, but i...
Islands •

Between Houston And Waco Is The 'Blues Capital Of Texas' With A Walkable Downtown And Small-Town Charm - Islands

You may associate blues music with Memphis, or perhaps Clarksdale (the "Home of the Blues" in Mississippi), but Texas also played a key role in the genre's history. Navasota was officially named the blues capital of Texas in 2005 because of the town's on-going celebration of the genre through its festivals, street art, music-themed venues, and melodious events. When visiting Navasota, you can stroll past historic 19th century buildings and take photos of large murals created by local artists as...
Hana •

The Pill Through The Ages - The '70s and '80s

To celebrate the launch of Hana, a contraceptive pill available to buy over the pharmacy counter with a pharmacy consultation and without a doctor’s appointment, we are exploring 6 decades of the pill to see how it has impacted society since it first became available in 1961.
Until 1967, the contraceptive pill was only licensed for married women and some doctors would even require the husband’s consent before they would prescribe it.
Compare that with today, where women and people with uteruses...
The Upcoming •

Nutcracker at London Coliseum | Theatre review

What was the first ballet you ever saw? Chances are, it was Nutcracker. The story follows Clara, who is presented with a Nutcracker by eccentric toymaker Drosselmeyer at her family’s Christmas party. When everyone has gone to bed, the Nutcracker comes to life and takes Clara on an adventure to the land of the Sugarplum fairy.This brand new adaption of Nutcracker takes advantage of the wonder and magic at the heart of this story. The show begins with Miniature Overture in eccentric toymaker and s...
Hana •

My decade with the pill | Hana®

What do the Game of Thrones premiere, Rihanna’s song ‘We Found Love (In a Hopeless Place)’ and the ten-year anniversary of Wikipedia have in common? They all began ten years ago in 2011!
A lot can change in a decade. Your life can transform, the world around you might have changed dramatically, and you’re mortified by Facebook’s ‘on this day’ reminder of the outfit you wanted to forget.
Some things, however, stay the same. Our recent survey on people’s relationships with the contraceptive pill s...
The Upcoming •

“The sea is a paradox, it reflects the extremes of the human condition”: An interview with Rhiannon Faith, director and choreographer of Drowntown

Rhiannon Faith is a choreographer and filmmaker who uses her work to raise awareness and lobby for change. Performed by a cast of six, Drowntown is an autobiographical exploration of loneliness, isolation and broken community set beside the vast, bleak ocean in a seaside town. Although originally set to perform in spring/summer 2020, the coronavirus has forced the show to be postponed until 2021. In the meantime, Faith has created a 15-minute film, Drowntown Lockdown, which visits the cast in th...
FlexSEQ •

7 Arthritis Superfoods To Add To Your Diet - FlexSEQ

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’, but how much truth is in it? While there isn’t one ‘super diet’ which can fix all your problems, the food you eat does have a big effect on your health and wellbeing.Everyone needs to eat enough vitamins and minerals to keep their bodies working properly. People with arthritis may especially benefit from certain nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids, Glucosamine and curcumin (which is found in the yellow spice Turmeric).To find out what foods...
ellaone UK •

Is The Morning After Pill Only For Cis Women? | ellaOne®

For too long, sex education has focused on the heteronormative, cis-gender experience – which can make others feel excluded.   This sexual health awareness week is all about getting your Relationship and Sexual Education into gear – and we’re starting with what we know best: the morning after pill!
While the morning after pill is often associated exclusively with cis-women, we know that they are not the only people who may seek emergency contraception.
Cis-gender refers to people whose gender id...
Hana •

Does your menstrual cycle really 'sync up' with your friends? - Hana

Whilst anecdotal evidence may point to the fact that many menstruating people notice that they get their period around the same time as their friends, there hasn’t been much scientific data to back this up. One attempt to do this was a research paper in the 1970s.
“This (idea that your menstrual cycle will sync up with other people with uteruses who are close to you) is based on a 1971 research paper based on 135 students, and it has not yet been proven that it happens – rather it is due to the...
ellaone UK •

What happens at a cervical screening/smear test? | ellaOne®

Does the idea of having a cervical screening (otherwise known as a cervical smear or pap smear) make you uncomfortable?
We understand that the idea of taking off your underwear and having a stranger stare into the depth of your cervix doesn’t sound like a great Tuesday afternoon, but smear tests can and do save lives so it’s really important that you get checked out.
A recent survey of 2000 young women by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found that 915 respondents had either delayed going for a cervic...
The Upcoming •

Nutcracker! at Sadler’s Wells | Theatre review

Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! swaps the upper-class Christmas party of the standard version for a Dickensian orphanage run by the strict Mr and Mrs Dross. The orphans wear frumpy grey dresses, they sweep and scrub the floors and are bullied by the owners’ two spoiled children, Sugar and Fritz. It’s Christmas Eve and they’re having a modest party, presumably to show off to the local rich folk. Their tree is scraggly and only has three ornaments. The lighting is an icy blue, the walls are pale and...
Hana •

The pill through the ages - The journey to the ‘60s

But, from what I remember, the overwhelming feeling was, it wasn’t straightforward to access. We knew it was a landmark moment, but if you were not married you couldn’t access it.
But it changed my future. I didn’t end up having eight children like my Mother. I was able to build a career as a legal secretary, get married and actually have children, a lot later, well into my 30s. I actually had my son when I was 46. You’ve certainly made me think, would my life have been different without it? I’d...
Hana •

Hypermobility & the Pill - A Compatibility Guide | Hana®

If you have a hypermobility disorder, you may be wondering if you can take the contraceptive pill safely and effectively. The answer is not a simple yes or no, as different pills may have different effects on your condition.
There are two main forms of hormonal oral contraception in the U.K. They are combined contraceptive pills, which contain synthetic versions of the naturally occurring hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and progestogen-only pills, which contain the synthetic hormone progest...
Hana •

Why do I have a low sex drive? Causes of no or low libido - Hana

“Libido or sex drive can be affected by how women feel about themselves and how they feel about their vaginas,” says Julianne Arena, MD, FACOG, ABAARM and Cliovana Practitioner (double board certified physician)*.  “This leads to the next layer – how they think about their partner and relationship, then lifestyle factors as simple as how much sleep they get. Add on fluctuating hormones throughout a woman’s life, stress, anxiety, and other health issues, and there are numerous challenges to achie...
The Drinks Business •

Couple refused non-alcoholic beer because 33-year-old wife didn't have ID - The Drinks Business

The incident occurred on Saturday (16 December) when Konrad and Joanna Kasiske were doing their weekly shop at their local Countdown store in Ponsonby, New Zealand.
Konrad told the New Zealand Herald that he picked up a pack of non-alcoholic beer, went up to the cashier to pay and, when the beer came through, the till operator asked him for ID. He thought it was quite funny at first, but he gave his ID and thought all was well.
However, the cashier then proceeded to ask his wife for her ID which...
Islands •

An Abandoned Toll Road Stop In Colorado Is Now A Trail-Laced Escape Of Ruins, Ridges, And Stillness - Islands

Want to escape the 21st century? Under a 10-minute drive from Morrison and 14 miles from Denver is a quiet path that winds along a bumpy mountain, leading to an abandoned cemetery in what remains of a 19th-century ghost town.
Mount Vernon, Colorado – located in what is now Jefferson County — was one of the first settlements to spring up in Jefferson Territory during the Gold Rush era of the mid-1800s. Founded in 1859 by Joseph Castro, the settlement was, for a while, the de facto capital of what...
ellaone UK •

Why do people kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve? - ellaone UK

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in many different ways around the world, with different countries having their own unique traditions and customs. The tradition of kissing at midnight is thought to date back to two ancient winter festivals: Saturnalia in ancient Rome and Hogmanay, a Viking tradition still celebrated on New Year’s in Scotland. 
“Saturnalia was the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, where there was a ritual of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter...
Hana •

Contraception option for trans and non-binary folk | Hana®

Kirrin Medcalf, Head of Trans Inclusion, Stonewall said: ‘It’s vital that any cis woman, trans man and non-binary person who needs the pill can access it. This is a matter of reproductive equality.
Anyone who has periods or the ability to become pregnant has the right to control when and whether they become pregnant. But many trans men and non-binary people have struggled to access the pill as some providers are unsure whether they can give it to trans patients.’
According to the The Faculty of...
Hana •

Which method of contraception is right for me? | Hana®

Your choice of contraception is a big deal. When you’re comfortable and confident with your contraception, you can feel empowered to go about your day secure in the knowledge that you are helping to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy until you choose to have children – if you choose to have children.
It’s so important that you get on with your contraception and feel comfortable with what you’re putting in your body. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to contraception, so...
Hana •

Am I unusual to be 35 and still not ready for kids? | Hana®

If you do think you might want kids in the future, but you don’t feel ready to have them now, don’t panic. Fertility does typically decline with age, but it’s not like you go from being super fertile at 34 to barely fertile at 35. Everyone is different; some people may struggle with fertility in their early 20s, whilst others may find it easy to get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies in their mid 40s. 
“The ‘biological clock’ in fertility is used to describe a woman’s ovarian reserve, and is...
The Upcoming •

Evanescence at the O2 Arena | Live review

American goth rock band Evanescence headlined at the O2 last night, ably supported by Within Temptation, whose ethereal blend of classical gothic and heavy metal is a smouldering start to the evening. The Dutch symphonic support group (formed in 1996) treat the venue to an artistic, theatrical and meaningfully political show, featuring more special effects and pomp than the headliners. Highlights include shooting fire, a large, staring, otherworldly head, and the lead vocalist dressed in a stunn...