Editing Simon Singh

{{short description|British physicist and popular science author (born 1964)}}{{Not to be confused with|Simone Singh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Simon Singh
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}}
| birth_name        = Simon Lehna Singh
| image             = Simon Singh at the Merseyside Skeptics Society (cropped).jpg
| image_size        =
| alt               =
| caption           = Singh in 2013 at the [[Merseyside Skeptics Society]]
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1964|09|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Wellington, Somerset]], England
| death_date        = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place       =
| resting_place             =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} -->
| citizenship       =
| nationality       = British
| fields            =
| workplaces        = [[CERN]]<br />[[BBC]]
| education         = [[Wellington School, Somerset]]
| alma_mater        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Imperial College London]] ([[BSc]])
* [[University of Cambridge]] ([[PhD]]) <!--Emmanuel College doesn't award degrees-->}}
| thesis_title      = Heavy flavour physics at the CERN PP̄ collider
| thesis_url        = http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.385498
| thesis_year       = 1991
| doctoral_advisor  =
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students  =
| known_for         = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[BCA v. Singh|BCA v Singh]]'' libel case<ref name="libel"/>
* [[Fermat's Last Theorem (book)|''Fermat's Last Theorem'' (book)]]
* [[Big Bang (Singh book)|''Big Bang'' (book)]]
* ''[[The Code Book]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk_Kjpl2AaA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/bk_Kjpl2AaA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Simon Singh: "The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets" – Talks at Google|date=4 December 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
| awards            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Science Writing Award]] (2006)<ref>{{cite web|title=Book awards: Science Writing Award|url=https://www.librarything.com/bookaward/Science+Writing+Award|publisher=Library Thing|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Kelvin Prize]] (2008)
* [[HealthWatch|HealthWatch Award]] (2010)
* [[Leelavati Award]] (2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=Simon Singh wins Maiden Leelavati Award|url=https://www.mathunion.org/fileadmin/IMU/Prizes/Leelavati/LeelavatiPrizeWinner2010-PressRelease.pdf|publisher=Math Union|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Author Simon Singh Will Receive First-Ever Lilavati Award at ICM 2010|url=https://www.maa.org/news/math-news/author-simon-singh-will-receive-first-ever-lilavati-award-at-icm-2010|publisher=[[Mathematical Association of America]]|date=9 August 2010|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=13 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213020710/https://www.maa.org/news/math-news/author-simon-singh-will-receive-first-ever-lilavati-award-at-icm-2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| signature         = <!--(filename only)-->
| signature_alt     =
| website           =  {{URL|simonsingh.net}}
| footnotes         = [[Tom Singh]] (brother)
| spouse            = {{marriage|[[Anita Anand (journalist)|Anita Anand]]|2007}}
| children          = 2
| module =  <span align="center">{{Listen|embed=yes|filename = Simon Singh voice.ogg  |title = Simon Singh's voice |type = speech |description = <span align="center">[[:File:Simon Singh voice.ogg|recorded August 2014]]</span> }}</span>
}}

'''Simon Lehna Singh''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 19 September 1964) is a British [[popular science]] author and theoretical and particle physicist.  His written works include ''[[Fermat's Last Theorem (book)|Fermat's Last Theorem]]'' (in the United States titled ''Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem''),<ref name="fermatslast">{{cite book | last=Singh | first= Simon | title=Fermat's Last Theorem | publisher=Fourth Estate | year=1997 | isbn=1857026691}}</ref><ref name="fermatsenigma">{{cite book | last=Singh | first= Simon | title=Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem | title-link= Fermat's Enigma | publisher=Anchor | year=1998 | isbn=0385493622}}</ref> ''[[The Code Book]]''<ref name="codebook">{{cite book | last=Singh | first= Simon | title=The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography | title-link= The Code Book | publisher=Anchor | year=2000 | isbn=0385495323}}</ref> (about [[cryptography]] and [[history of cryptography|its history]]), ''[[Big Bang (Singh book)|Big Bang]]''<ref name="bigbang">{{cite book | last=Singh | first= Simon | title=Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe | title-link= Big Bang (Singh book) | publisher=Fourth Estate | year=2005 | isbn=0007162200}}</ref> (about the [[Big Bang]] theory and the origins of the universe), ''[[Trick or Treatment|Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial]]''<ref name="trick">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1= Simon | last2= Ernst | first2= Edzard | author-link2=Edzard Ernst | title=Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial| title-link= Trick or Treatment | publisher=Transworld | year=2008 | isbn=978-0593061299}}</ref> (about complementary and alternative medicine, co-written by [[Edzard Ernst]]) and ''[[The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets]]'' (about mathematical ideas and theorems hidden in episodes of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[Futurama]]'').<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Simon|title=The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets|year=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1620402771|url=http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-simpsons-and-their-mathematical-secrets-9781620402771/}}</ref> In 2012 Singh founded the [[Good Thinking Society]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://goodthinkingsociety.org/about/ |title=About |author=Simon Singh |work=GTS website |date=2 September 2012 |publisher=Good Thinking Society |access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> through which he created the website "Parallel" to help students learn mathematics.

Singh has also produced documentaries and works for television to accompany his books, is a trustee of the [[National Museum of Science and Industry]], a patron of [[Humanists UK]], founder of the [[Good Thinking Society]], and co-founder of the [[Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme]].

==Early life and education==
Singh was born in a Sikh family<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/a-life-in-architecture-simon-singh|title=a life in architecture: simon singh|date=8 June 2000|work=[[Architects' Journal]]|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref> to parents who emigrated from [[Punjab, India]] to Britain in 1950. He is the youngest of three brothers, his eldest brother being [[Tom Singh]], the founder of the UK [[New Look (store)|New Look]] chain of stores. Singh grew up in [[Wellington, Somerset]], attending [[Wellington School, Somerset|Wellington School]], and went on to [[Imperial College London]], where he studied [[physics]]. He was active in the student union, becoming President of the [[Royal College of Science]] Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperial.ac.uk/college.asp?P=2579|title=The Simon Singh Interview|date=October 1999|publisher=Imperial College London|access-date=29 November 2009}}</ref> Later he completed a [[PhD]] in [[particle physics]] at the [[University of Cambridge]] as a postgraduate student of [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]] while working at [[CERN]], Geneva.<ref name="singhphd">{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Simon Lehna|last=Singh |title=Heavy flavour physics at the CERN PP̄ collider |publisher=University of Cambridge |date=1991 |url=http://ulmss-newton.lib.cam.ac.uk/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=13830|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.385498}}|website=lib.cam.ac.uk|oclc=59965980}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1983, he was part of the [[UA2 experiment]] in [[CERN]].<ref name = "MTS">{{cite web|url = http://meettheskeptics.libsyn.com/mts-meet-simon-singh|title = Meet Simon Singh|date = 20 July 2013|access-date = 15 January 2014}}</ref>
In 1987, Singh taught science at [[The Doon School]], an independent all-boys' boarding school in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/brunch-stories/there-s-math-in-simpsons-simon-says/article1-1171686.aspx|title=There's math in Simpsons, Simon says|work=Hindustan Times|date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112004638/http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/brunch-stories/there-s-math-in-simpsons-simon-says/article1-1171686.aspx |archive-date=12 January 2014 }}</ref> In 1990 Singh returned to England and joined the BBC's Science and Features Department, where he was a producer and director working on programmes such as ''[[Tomorrow's World]]'' and ''[[Horizon (BBC TV series)|Horizon]]''. Singh was introduced to [[Richard Wiseman]] through their collaboration on ''[[Tomorrow's World]]''. At Wiseman's suggestion, Singh directed a segment about politicians lying in different mediums, and getting the public's opinion on whether the person was lying or not.

[[File:Simon Singh.jpg|thumb|Simon Singh signing a book for a fan, Brisbane, 23 May 2005]]
After attending some of Wiseman's lectures, Singh came up with the idea to create a show together, and ''Theatre of Science'' was born. It was a way to deliver science to normal people in an entertaining manner. Richard Wiseman has influenced Singh in such a way that Singh states:
{{quote|My writing initially was about pure science but a lot of my research now has been inspired by his desire to debunk things such as the paranormal – we both hate psychics, mediums, pseudoscience in general.<ref name="Richard Wiseman and Simon Singh: How we met">{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-wiseman-and-simon-singh-how-we-met-9757880.html | title=Richard Wiseman and Simon Singh: How we met | newspaper=[[The Independent]] | author= Jacques, Adam|date=29 September 2014 | access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref> }}

Singh directed his [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] award-winning documentary about the world's most notorious mathematical problem entitled ''Fermat's Last Theorem'' in 1996. The film was memorable for its opening shot of a middle-aged mathematician, [[Andrew Wiles]], holding back tears as he recalled the moment when he finally realised how to resolve the fundamental error in his proof of [[Fermat's Last Theorem]]. The documentary was originally transmitted in January 1996 as an edition of the BBC ''Horizon'' series. It was also aired in America as part of the [[Nova (American TV program)|NOVA series]]. ''The Proof'', as it was re-titled, was nominated for an [[Emmy Award]].

The story of this celebrated mathematical problem was also the subject of Singh's first book, ''[[Fermat's Last Theorem (book)|Fermat's Last Theorem]]''. In 1997, he began working on his second book, ''The Code Book'', a history of [[codes]] and [[codebreaking]]. As well as explaining the science of codes and describing the impact of [[cryptography]] on history, the book also contends that cryptography is more important today than ever before. ''The Code Book'' has resulted in a return to television for him. He presented ''The Science of Secrecy'', a five-part series for Channel 4. The stories in the series range from the [[cipher]] that sealed the fate of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], to the coded [[Zimmermann Telegram]] that changed the course of the [[First World War]]. Other programmes discuss how two great 19th-century geniuses raced to decipher [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]] and how modern encryption can guarantee privacy on the Internet.

[[File:Simon Singh TAM London 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Singh speaking at [[The Amaz!ng Meeting|TAM London]] in October 2009]]
On his activities as author he said in an interview to [[Imperial College London]]:

{{quote|When I finished my PhD, I knew I wasn't exceptionally good and would never get the Nobel prize. As a kid, I wanted to be a footballer then a commentator. If I couldn't be a physicist, I'd write about it.<ref>[http://www.imperial.ac.uk/college.asp?P=2579 The Simon Singh interview] Imperial College, 1999</ref>}}
In October 2004, Singh published a book entitled ''Big Bang'', which tells the history of the universe. It is told in his trademark style, by following the remarkable stories of the people who put the pieces together.

[[File:Singh and Wiseman - EdSciFest 2014 (1).JPG|thumb|Simon Singh speaks to [[Richard Wiseman]] on the ''[[Edinburgh International Science Festival]]'' (2014)]]
He made headlines in 2005 when he criticised the [[Katie Melua]] song "[[Nine Million Bicycles]]" for inaccurate lyrics referring to the size of the [[observable universe]]. Singh proposed corrected lyrics, though he used the value of 13.7 billion light years; accounting for expansion of the universe, the [[comoving distance]] to the edge of the observable universe is 46.5 billion light years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,9828,1581826,00.html|title=Katie Melua's bad science|last=Singh|first=Simon|date=30 September 2005|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=12 December 2008 | location=London}}</ref><ref name=ly93>{{cite magazine | last1 = Lineweaver | first1 = Charles | first2 = Tamara M. |last2=Davis | year = 2005 | url = http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=misconceptions-about-the-2005-03&page=5 | title = Misconceptions about the Big Bang | magazine = [[Scientific American]] | access-date = 6 November 2008}}</ref> [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''Today'' programme brought Melua and Singh together in a radio studio where Melua recorded a tongue-in-cheek version of the song that had been written by Singh.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/listenagain_20051015.shtml |title= Listen Again |publisher= BBC Radio 4 |work= Today Programme |date= 15 October 2005 |access-date= 18 May 2008}}</ref>

Singh was part of an investigation about [[homeopathy]] in 2006. This investigation was made by the organization [[Sense about Science]].<ref name=MTS/><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/malaria-and-homeopathy.html|title = Malaria and homeopathy
|access-date = 15 January 2014}}</ref>
In the investigation, a student asked ten homeopaths for an alternative to her preventive malaria medication. All ten homeopaths recommended homeopathy as a substitute.<ref name = "skepticality">{{cite podcast|url =http://www.skepticality.com/dodgy-homeopathy/|title = Dodgy Homeopathy |publisher= [[Skeptic (U.S. magazine)|Skeptic]]|host=[[Fraser Cain]]|date = 24 October 2006|time=8:50|access-date = 29 July 2014}}</ref>
This investigation was reported by the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/5178122.stm|title = Malaria advice 'risks lives'|publisher = [[BBC News]]|date = 13 July 2006|access-date = 15 January 2014}}</ref>

Singh is a member of the Advisory Council for the [[Campaign for Science and Engineering]].<ref name="CaSE Advisory Council">{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/who/advisory.htm|title=Advisory Council of the Campaign for Science and Engineering|access-date=11 February 2011|archive-date=28 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828110110/http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/who/advisory.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Singh has been involved in television and radio programmes, including ''Five Numbers'' (BBC Radio 4, 11 March 2002 to 20 September 2005).<ref name="bbc.co.uk/p00cl73s">{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Simon |title=Simon Singh's Numbers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cl73s/episodes/player |publisher=BBC Radio 4|access-date=24 December 2022}}</ref>

==Honorary degrees==
In 2003 Singh was awarded an honorary degree of ''Doctor of Letters (honoris causa)'' by [[Loughborough University]], and in 2005 was given an honorary degree in mathematics by the [[University of Southampton]].

In 2006, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Design degree by the [[University of the West of England]] "in recognition of Simon Singh's outstanding contribution to the public understanding of science, in particular in the promotion of science, engineering and mathematics in schools and in the building of links between universities and schools".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/UWEnews/article.asp?item=961|title=UWE awards honorary degree to Dr Simon Singh MBE|date=28 November 2006|work=News 2006|publisher=[[University of the West of England]]|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> This was followed up by his receipt of the [[Kelvin Prize|Kelvin Medal]] from the [[Institute of Physics]] in 2008, for his achievements in promoting Physics to the general public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iop.org/about/awards/education/kelvin/medallists/page_38639.html|title=The Kelvin Medal and Prize: 2008 Medallist|work=Subject Awards|publisher=[[Institute of Physics]]|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> In July 2008, he was also awarded a degree of Doctor of Science (''Honoris Causa'') by [[Royal Holloway, University of London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/honorarygraduatesandfellows.aspx|title=2008 Honorary Graduates and Fellows become part of a prestigious network|work=Media & Events |publisher=[[Royal Holloway, University of London]]|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref>

In July 2011, he was awarded another degree of Doctor of Science (''Honoris Causa'') by the [[University of Kent at Canterbury]] for services to Science. In June 2012, Singh was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (''honoris causa'') for his contribution to science communication, education and academic freedom by [[The University of St Andrews]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/title,87946,en.php|title=Laureation Address&nbsp;– Dr Simon Singh|author=Tobin, Alyson|publisher=[[University of St Andrews]]|date=22 June 2012|access-date=1 June 2013|archive-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032809/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/title,87946,en.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Other awards and honours==
In 2003, Singh was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to science, technology and engineering in education and science communication.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56963 |date=14 June 2003 |supp=y |page=22 }}</ref>

In 2010 he became the inaugural recipient of the [[Lilavati Award]].<ref name=icm2010>{{cite web |url = http://www.icm2010.org.in/wp-content/icmfiles/uploads/Leelavati_award_Simon_singh.pdf | title = Simon Singh wins maiden Leelavati Award |publisher=ICM 2010 webpage | date=27 September 2010 }}</ref>

In February 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_announces_new_fellows |title= CSI announces new Fellows |date= 7 February 2011 |access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref>

Singh was awarded the 2022 [[Institute of Mathematics and its Applications|IMA]]-[[London Mathematical Society|LMS]] [[Christopher Zeeman Medal]] in recognition of his "excellence in the communication of mathematics". The award citation mentioned his work in television, his published books, and his work in mathematics education.<ref name="zeemanmedal">{{cite web |last1=Kidwell |first1=Eugene |title=Simon Singh is awarded 2022 Christopher Zeeman Medal |url=https://ima.org.uk/19983/simon-singh-is-awarded-2022-christopher-zeeman-medal/ |website=IMA |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=20 July 2022}}</ref>

==Chiropractic lawsuit {{anchor|Chiropractic lawsuit}}==
{{main|British Chiropractic Association v Singh}}
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On 19 April 2008, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published Singh's column "Beware the Spinal Trap",<ref name="beware">{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Simon |date=19 April 2008 |title=Beware the spinal trap |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/controversiesinscience-health |access-date=21 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113000000/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/health |archive-date=13 November 2008 }} [http://svetlana14s.narod.ru/Simon_Singhs_silenced_paper.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120722132746/svetlana14s.narod.ru/Simon_Singhs_silenced_paper.html |date=22 July 2012 }} [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/19/controversiesinscience-health reinstated on 15 April 2010]</ref><ref>[http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_singh/ Comment is Free], ''The Guardian''</ref> an article that was critical of the practice of [[chiropractic]] and which resulted in Singh being sued for [[libel]] by the [[British Chiropractic Association]] (BCA).<ref name=Eden>{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/2570744/Doctors-take-Simon-Singh-to-court.html | title = Doctors take Simon Singh to court |last=Eden |first=R | date=16 August 2008 | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref>
The article developed the theme of the book that Singh and [[Edzard Ernst]] had published, ''[[Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial]]'', and made various statements about the lack of usefulness of [[chiropractic]] "for such problems as [[otitis media|ear infections]] and [[baby colic|infant colic]]":

{{quote|You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact they still possess some quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything. And even the more moderate chiropractors have ideas above their station. The British Chiropractic Association claims that their members can help treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.<ref name=beware/>}}

When the case was brought against him, ''The Guardian'' supported him and funded his legal advice, as well as offering to pay the BCA's legal costs in an [[out-of-court settlement]] if Singh chose to settle.<ref name="guardianeurope">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/may/13/simon-singh-british-chiropractic-association|title=Science writer accused of libel may take fight to European court|last=Boseley|first=Sarah|date=14 May 2009|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=19 May 2009 | location=London}}</ref>
A "furious [[Backlash (sociology)|backlash]]"<ref name=Robbins>Martin Robbins. [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/mar/01/simon-singh-libel-case-chiropractors Furious backlash from Simon Singh libel case puts chiropractors on ropes]. "One in four chiropractors in Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters." ''[[The Guardian]]'', 1 March 2010</ref> to the lawsuit resulted in the filing of formal complaints of false advertising against more than 500 individual chiropractors within one 24-hour period, with one national chiropractic organisation ordering its members to take down their websites,<ref name=withdraw>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/06/chiropractic_group_advises_mem_1.html |title=The Great Beyond: Chiropractic group advises members to 'withdraw from the battleground' |publisher=Nature.com |author=Lucas Laursen |access-date=20 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/2014/1
|title = The Skeptic Zone episode 273
|date = 13 January 2014
|access-date = 15 January 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Nature Medicine]]'' noting that the case had gathered wide support for Singh, as well as prompting calls for the reform of English libel laws.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nm0709-723b | year = 2009 | last1 = Willyard | first1 = C. | title = Lawsuit sparks calls for libel law reform | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 15 | issue = 723 | pages = 723| doi-access = free }}</ref> On 1 April 2010, Simon Singh won his court appeal for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/apr/01/simon-singh-wins-libel-court | newspaper=The Guardian|location=London | title=Simon Singh wins libel court battle | access-date=1 April 2010 | date=1 April 2010}}</ref> On 15 April 2010, the BCA officially withdrew its lawsuit, ending the case.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.elyplace.com/index.aspx?p=1&articleId=208 | publisher=Ely Place | title=British Chiropractic Association v Singh&nbsp;— BCA admits defeat | access-date=15 April 2010 | archive-date=17 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417064047/http://www.elyplace.com/index.aspx?p=1&articleId=208 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

To defend himself for the libel suit, Singh's out-of-pocket legal costs were tens of thousands of pounds. The trial acted as a catalyst. The outrage over the initial ruling{{Clarify|reason=An "initial ruling" has not been mentioned – there needs to be a sentence further up saying what the verdict in the court of first instance was. Is this the "furious backlash" of the previous paragraph?|date=May 2024}}  brought together several groups to support Singh<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grossman |first1=Wendy |authorlink=Wendy Grossman|title=Minding the Gaps: Simon Singh |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/minding-the-gaps-simon-singh/ |website=Skeptical Inquirer |date=8 October 2021 |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012021101/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/minding-the-gaps-simon-singh/ |archive-date=12 October 2021}}</ref> and acted as a focus for libel reform campaigners, resulting in all major parties in the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]] making manifesto commitments to libel reform.<ref name="libel">{{Cite journal | last1 = Singh | first1 = Simon | author-link1 = Simon Singh| title = How English libel law has a global chill on free speech | doi = 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.03.007 | journal = Cortex | volume = 47 | issue = 6 | pages = 643–644 | year = 2011 | pmid =  21458790| s2cid = 20001290 }} {{closed access}}</ref>

On 25 April 2013 the [[Defamation Act 2013]] received [[Royal Assent]] and became law. The purpose of the reformed law of defamation is to 'ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to [[freedom of expression]] and the protection of reputation'. Under the new law, [[claimant]]s must show that they suffer serious harm before the court will accept the case. Additional protection for website operators, defence of 'responsible publication on matters of public interest' and new statutory defences of truth and honest opinion are also part of the key areas of the new law.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/defamation.html|title=Defamation Act 2013|author=British Parliament|date=25 April 2013|author-link=British Parliament}}</ref>

== Publications ==
* ''[[Fermat's Last Theorem (book)|Fermat's Last Theorem]]'' (1997)&nbsp;– the theorem's initial conjecture and eventual proof
* ''[[The Code Book]]'' (1999)&nbsp;– a history of cryptography&nbsp;– {{ISBN|978-1857028799}}
* ''[[Big Bang (Singh book)|Big Bang]]'' (2004)&nbsp;– discusses models for the origin of the universe&nbsp;– {{ISBN|0007193823}}
* ''[[Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial]]'' (2008) (with [[Edzard Ernst]])&nbsp;– examines various types of [[alternative medicine]], finds lack of evidence&nbsp;– {{ISBN|0593061292}}
* ''[[The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets]]'' (2013)&nbsp;– highlights mathematical references in ''[[The Simpsons]]''&nbsp;– {{ISBN|1620402777}}

==Personal life==
Singh married [[journalist]] and broadcaster [[Anita Anand (journalist)|Anita Anand]] in 2007. The couple have two sons and live in [[Richmond, London]].<ref name="Levin">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/my-perfect-weekend/9459673/My-perfect-weekend-Anita-Anand-radio-and-TV-presenter.html |title=My perfect weekend: Anita Anand, radio and TV presenter |last=Levin  |first=Angela |date=7 August 2012 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London |access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="Richmond Society">{{cite news | url=https://twickenhamtribune.com/PDF/Twickenham%20Tribune%200248.pdf | title=New Richmond Society Patron: Anita Anand|work=Twickenham and Richmond Tribune| date=7 August 2021 | issue=248 | page= 9|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=1320877|name=Simon Singh}}
* [https://simonsingh.net/ Official website]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Simon Lehna}}
[[Category:Simon Singh| ]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Imperial College London]]
[[Category:Critics of alternative medicine]]
[[Category:The Doon School faculty]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British writers of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English humanists]]
[[Category:English sceptics]]
[[Category:English science writers]]
[[Category:Mathematics popularizers]]
[[Category:Mathematics writers]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People associated with CERN]]
[[Category:People educated at Wellington School, Somerset]]
[[Category:People from Wellington, Somerset]]
[[Category:Recreational cryptographers]]