People think in linear narratives, with a beginning followed, by a series of causal events, leading to a conclusion. This is a useful way to think, but only if you are able to keep in mind that it is often not what is actually happening. Many natural science disciplines are focussed on understanding dynamic, multi-scale systems that do not have a beginning and middle and an end. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Most scientists have to navigate this challenge when writing a paper up for publication. It is essential to tell a story to bring readers along with the data you are presenting and how you are interpreting them. The arc you present often bears little relation to how you conducted the work, which involved twists and turns, serendipitous discoveries, and the putting together of two things you had not previously connected. Meanwhile, everyone, including scientists, live in a world with dominant stories about who does science and how science works. Simplifying only slightly, this often centres on a lone genius, using pure logic and brilliant inspiration to march toward the truth and save the world. All these science stories are problematic for everyone. They restrict who does science, and how it interacts with society and with wider human endeavours, at a time when technological advance is proceeding at lightening pace. Changing the science story has become an urgent priority in successfully capturing the opportunities and addressing the challenges we face, locally, nationally and globally.