Rutherford published a book on the topic of the creation of life. The United Kingdom printing has been called "two books in one",[19] sinceCreation: The Origin of Life andCreation: The Future of Life[20] are printedback-to-back so that one can read the book from either end.[21] Among its topics, the first part of the book argues in support of the theory, first proposed byThomas Gold, that life emerged not in primordial warm ponds, but inextremophile conditions in the deep ocean,[22] while the second part discussessynthetic biology – the use ofgenetic modification to createnew organisms.[23] In the U.S., this book is published in a more conventional format with the titleCreation: How Science Is Reinventing Life Itself.[24][20] He was also one of the authors whose works are included in the compilationThe Atheist's Guide to Christmas.[25][26]
Rutherford was the Podcast Editor[27] and the audio-video editor for the journalNature until 2013, being responsible for all the publication's published audio, video, and podcasts. He also published audio interviews with notable personalities, includingPaul Bettany on his role playingCharles Darwin in the movieCreation,[28] andDavid Attenborough in his documentaryCharles Darwin and the Tree of Life.[29] He wrote editorials on diverse other topics, ranging from the overlap of art and science[30] to reviews of science-themed movies.[31]
Rutherford is a frequent contributor toThe Guardian, writing primarily on science topics.[32] He wrote a blog series covering his thoughts and analysis while re-reading Charles Darwin'sOn the Origin of Species,[33] and has written articles supporting the teaching ofevolution in schools,[34][35] and criticizing the teaching ofcreationism as science.[36]
He also writes on religion, notably a 10-part series on his experience participating in theAlpha course,[37] and onNew Age themes andalternative medicine, including a review critical ofRupert Sheldrake'sA New Science of Life,[38] and criticism of the lack of controls on advertising claims forhomeopathy.[39]
As a guest writer, he published an article inWired on the possibility of using DNA for information storage.[40]
Rutherford has returned[when?] to University College London, where he is anhonorary senior research associate in the division of biosciences and teaches courses on genetics and communications.[9]
Rutherford frequently appears onBBC science programmes, on both radio and television.[13] Since 2013, he has been the host[41] of the programmeInside Science onBBC Radio 4.[42] In 2012 he was featured on the seriesHorizon onBBC Two television in the documentaryPlaying God,[43] which covered synthetic biology using the example of the "Spider Goat", a goat genetically modified to producespider silk in its milk.[44]
In 2011 he conceived and directedSpace Shuttles United,[54] a video and musical tribute to all theSpace Shuttlemissions.[55]
He co-presentedThe Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry withmathematicianHannah Fry. In 2023 the programme aired its 21st series on BBC Radio 4. In October 2024 the series returned asCurious Cases, still with Fry butDara O'Briain replacing Rutherford as co-presenter.[56]
In late 2022, he presented the seriesBad Blood: The Story of Eugenics, on BBC Radio 4. The series is based on his book,Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics.[57]
He is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 4'sStart the Week.[58]
Adam Rutherford speaking at QEDCon 2013, on the Origin and the Future of Life
Rutherford is a frequent speaker at scientific and academic events[59] and a guest at local science and sceptical events, such asSkeptics in the Pub.[60][61][62]
^David, Patrice; Hingle, Andrew; Greig, Duncan; Rutherford, Adam; Pomiankowski, Andrew; Fowler, Kevin (1998), "Male sexual ornament size but not asymmetry reflects condition in stalk–eyed flies",Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,265 (1411):2211–2216,doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0561,ISSN0962-8452,PMC1689512
^Percin, E Ferda; Ploder, Lynda A; Jessica, J Yu; Arici, Kemal; Horsford, D Jonathan; Rutherford, Adam; Bapat, Bharati; Cox, Diane W; Duncan, Alessandra MV; Kalnins, Vitauts I (2000), "Human microphthalmia associated with mutations in the retinal homeobox gene CHX10",Nature Genetics,25 (4):397–401,doi:10.1038/78071,PMID10932181,S2CID9508022
^Rutherford, Adam D; Dhomen, Nathalie; Smith, Hazel K; Sowden, Jane C (2004), "Delayed expression of the Crx gene and photoreceptor development in the Chx10-deficient retina",Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science,45 (2):375–384,doi:10.1167/iovs.03-0332,ISSN1552-5783,PMID14744875
