Amit Katwala: The Journalist, Author and Science Storyteller Behind Today’s Big Ideas
From experimental psychology at Oxford to WIRED, bestselling books and international technology journalism, discover the career and achievements of Amit Katwala.
Amit Katwala is a British journalist, author, editor and presenter known for his work covering science, technology, sport, neuroscience and culture. Based in London, he studied Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and has written for major publications including The Guardian, The Times, WIRED and Sport. He is also the author of books including The Athletic Brain and Tremors in the Blood.
Over the years, Katwala has developed a reputation for explaining complicated subjects through engaging journalism. His work often sits where science meets society, technology, human performance and culture.
Who Is Amit Katwala?
Amit Katwala is an award-winning British journalist whose career has combined reporting, editing, broadcasting and book writing.
His professional interests include neuroscience, psychology, sport, emerging technology and the social impact of scientific developments. He has contributed to a wide range of respected publications and has appeared across television, radio, podcasts and live events.
Katwala became particularly associated with WIRED, where he worked as a writer and features editor. However, in 2026 he publicly announced that he was leaving WIRED after six years, describing his time there as an important period of international reporting, long-form journalism, podcasts, documentaries and technology events.
Early Life and Background
Public information about Katwala’s childhood is relatively limited. What is known is that he grew up in Bournemouth, before moving into higher education and eventually building his professional career in London.
His early academic interest in psychology proved important to his later journalism. Rather than concentrating solely on traditional news reporting, he developed an interest in the relationship between scientific research and everyday human behaviour.
That approach has remained visible throughout his career.
Education
Experimental Psychology at Oxford
Katwala studied Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, an academic background that has strongly influenced his writing.
His university education gave him a foundation in areas including human behaviour, cognition and scientific research. He later used that knowledge when writing about subjects such as athletic performance, neuroscience, deception and technology.
His academic background also helps explain why his journalism frequently examines the science behind subjects that might otherwise be treated purely as entertainment or popular culture.
Career Journey
From Journalism to Specialist Science Writing
Katwala established himself as a journalist covering sport, science and technology before taking on increasingly senior editorial positions.
His portfolio has included work for publications such as The Economist, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Telegraph and Sport magazine. He has also contributed to science and technology publications.
His writing career gradually expanded beyond individual articles. He became involved in editing, presenting, podcasts, video and live events, giving him a broader role in communicating complex ideas to general audiences.
His WIRED Career
WIRED became one of the most significant chapters of Katwala’s professional life.
He worked across features, science and culture and became a features editor. His responsibilities included long-form journalism and editorial work, while he also participated in podcasts, video projects and technology events.
In late 2025 or early 2026, Katwala announced that he was leaving WIRED after six years. His announcement highlighted reporting trips to countries including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United States, alongside work on major features, podcasts and a documentary series.
This makes his current professional position important when discussing Amit Katwala 2026: he is best described as a former WIRED features editor rather than assuming that he still holds that position.
Major Achievements
The Athletic Brain
One of Katwala’s best-known books is The Athletic Brain: How Neuroscience Is Revolutionising Sport and Can Help You Perform Better, published by Simon & Schuster in 2016.
The book examines how neuroscience can influence sporting performance and explores the relationship between the brain, training and athletic ability.
Tremors in the Blood
His second major book, Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession and the Birth of the Lie Detector, takes a very different approach.
Published in 2022, the book investigates the history of the lie detector and the people, crimes and scientific ideas surrounding the development of the polygraph. It combines true crime, history, psychology and technology.
The book was nominated for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction, adding to Katwala’s reputation as a long-form writer.
Journalism and Broadcasting
Katwala has also worked as a presenter and speaker. His work has included television and radio appearances, podcasts, video series and technology conferences.
He co-hosted the BBC podcast All Consuming and was involved with WIRED’s podcast and YouTube projects. SXSW London has also listed him as a science and technology journalist, author and presenter.
Why Is Amit Katwala Popular?
Katwala’s popularity comes largely from his ability to make complicated subjects accessible.
Science and technology can often be difficult for general readers to understand. Katwala approaches these topics through people, stories and real-world consequences, making subjects such as neuroscience, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and sporting performance easier to follow.
His journalism also crosses traditional boundaries. A story may begin with sport but lead into psychology, or start with technology and become an investigation into society and human behaviour.
That versatility has helped him build a distinctive profile as a modern science and technology journalist.
Personal Life
Amit Katwala Family
Katwala keeps much of his private life away from the public spotlight, so there is limited reliable information about his wider family background, parents or siblings.
He has, however, written publicly about a deeply personal family experience. In a 2023 Guardian article, he discussed the stillbirth of his son and the impact of the loss on him and his wife.
Because this is sensitive personal information, it is important not to speculate about his family beyond what Katwala himself has publicly discussed.
Amit Katwala Age
How Old Is Amit Katwala?
There is no reliably verified public date of birth for Amit Katwala, so his exact age cannot be established with confidence.
Some online biographies provide career and education information but do not publish a confirmed birth date. Therefore, claims about his exact age should be treated cautiously unless supported by a reliable primary source.
What can be established is that he attended Oxford between the mid-2000s and completed his studies in Experimental Psychology before developing his journalism career.
Amit Katwala Net Worth
What Is Amit Katwala’s Net Worth?
There is no verified public figure for Amit Katwala’s net worth.
As a journalist, author, editor, presenter and speaker, he has multiple professional income streams. However, publicly available sources do not provide reliable information about his salary, investments, property holdings or total wealth.
For that reason, assigning a specific net worth would be speculation rather than fact.
Amit Katwala Wikipedia
Does Amit Katwala Have a Wikipedia Page?
There does not appear to be a dedicated, established Wikipedia biography that can be treated as the definitive source for Katwala’s life and career.
Readers researching him will therefore find more useful information through his professional profiles, publisher biographies, journalism portfolios and event profiles.
This is also why information about his age, family and net worth should be checked carefully. Not every biography website provides independently verified details.
Interesting Facts
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- Katwala studied Experimental Psychology at Oxford.
- He grew up in Bournemouth and later became based in London.
- His journalism covers science, technology, sport, neuroscience and culture.
- The Athletic Brain was published in 2016.
- Tremors in the Blood was published in 2022.
- He has worked with major publications including The Guardian, The Times and WIRED.
- He has worked in podcasts, television, video and live events.
- He announced his departure from WIRED after six years.
Future Plans or Current Work
Following his departure from WIRED, Katwala’s professional direction appears to be moving towards further work as a writer, editor and presenter.
His own announcement invited opportunities for editorial, writing and presenting work, suggesting that his career is continuing rather than ending with his departure from WIRED.
His appearance at SXSW London in 2026 also demonstrates that he remains active within the international science and technology conversation.
Given his background, future work is likely to continue exploring the relationship between technology, science, culture and human behaviour.
Conclusion
Amit Katwala has built a distinctive career by bringing together journalism, science, technology, sport and human psychology. His Oxford education provided a scientific foundation, while his work with major publications helped establish him as an accomplished writer and editor.
His books have further expanded his reputation, from the neuroscience of athletic performance in The Athletic Brain to the history of deception detection in Tremors in the Blood. His work across podcasts, documentaries, broadcasting and live events has also made him more than a traditional print journalist.
Although details such as Amit Katwala age, Amit Katwala family and Amit Katwala net worth remain largely private or unverified, his professional achievements are well documented. His departure from WIRED marks the beginning of another chapter for a journalist whose work continues to explore some of the most fascinating questions surrounding science, technology and modern life.
