Stephen Ornes has been writing for Science News Explores since 2008, and his 2014 story "Where Will Lightning Strike?" won an AAAS/Kavli Gold Award. He lives in Nashville, Tenn., and he has three children, who are inventing their own language. His family has a cat, six chickens, and two rabbits, but he secretly thinks hagfish are the most fascinating animals. Stephen has written two books. One is a biography of mathematician Sophie Germain, who was born during the French Revolution. The other, which was published in 2019, features art inspired by math. Visit him online at stephenornes.com.
All Stories by Stephen Ornes
-
Chemistry
World’s largest lizard is venomous too
Komodo dragons kill prey in a way similar to some snakes, scientists find.
-
Health & Medicine
Brain cells take a break
As you fall into deep sleep, some neurons pause their electrical activity.
-
Health & Medicine
Taking the sting out of scorpion venom
Drug given to stung children in Mexico lessens symptoms.
-
Chemistry
Seeing red means danger ahead
A tiny molecule may make a big difference in future warning systems.
-
Chemistry
Night of the living ants
Chemicals make the difference between life and death for these insects.
-
Animals
A bird that keeps the beat
A dancing cockatoo shows that humans aren’t the only animals with rhythm.
-
Health & Medicine
Swine flu goes global
The disease is likely to keep spreading, but a vaccine may be in sight.
-
Life
Life trapped under a glacier
At Antarctica’s Blood Falls, scientists study microbes living in a dark and salty home.
-
Space
The hungry blob at the edge of the universe
Scientists have observed one of the oldest objects in the sky, possibly a galaxy in a growth spurt.
-
Fossils
Have shell, will travel
Fossilized tracks left by early land-dwelling animals reveal they brought shells ashore.