Brooks' website states that he holds a PhD in Quantum Physics. He was previously an editor for New Scientist magazine, and currently works as a consultant for that magazine. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, The Times Higher Education Supplement, and Playboy. His first novel, Entanglement, was published in 2007. His first non-fiction book, an exploration of scientific anomalies entitled 13 Things That Don't Make Sense, was published in 2009. The book expands an article that Brooks wrote for New Scientist.

Brooks' latest book, The Big Questions: Physics, was released in February 2010. It contains twenty 3,000-word essays addressing the most fundamental and frequently asked questions about science.

Brooks currently appears as a regular guest on George Lamb's BBC Radio 6 Music show. His slot on the show, entitled Weird Science, features weird and wonderful stories from the world of science.

In 2010 Brooks set up the Science Party to campaign in the UK general election on a pro-scientific manifesto. Brooks stood for the seat of Bosworth against incumbent MP David Tredinnick, who Brooks described as "a champion of pseudo-science and a hindrance to rational governance". Tredinnick is a supporter of Alternative medicine and critical of science, in 2009 it was revealed that Tredinnick had spent £700 of public money on astrology software, which he then repaid following media publicity (see United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal). Brooks received 197 votes in the election, more than he expected, but certainly not enough to unseat Tredinnick.