Alison Pearce Stevens

Freelance Writer

Alison Pearce Stevens is a former duck wrangler, beekeeper and forever science geek who specializes in writing about science and nature for kids. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two kids and a small menagerie of cuddly (and not-so cuddly) critters. She writes for Science News Explores, Highlights, ASK (Arts and Sciences for Kids) magazine and National Geographic Kids' Books. Her next book, Rhinos in Nebraska, comes out in 2021. She is also an avid gardener who can often be found in her yard, checking out the critters that call it home.

All Stories by Alison Pearce Stevens

  1. Health & Medicine

    Internet use may harm teen health

    Using the Internet more than two hours a day puts teens at risk of high blood pressure, a new study finds.

  2. Brain

    Explainer: What is anxiety?

    Anxiety is the stress linked to worries about an upcoming event — one that may not even happen. But anxiety can affect the body every bit as much as does the stress provoked by staring down a hungry lion.

  3. Earth

    The dirt on soil

    More than just dirt, soils teem with microbes essential for growing crops. Soils also help prevent floods and even play a role in climate change.

  4. Brain

    Study challenges safety for teens of two depression drugs

    Scientists reanalyze data on the safety of common drugs to treat depression and find that they don’t seem to help teens. Worse, the drugs may harm them.

  5. Animals

    Cool Jobs: Finding new uses for nature’s poisons

    Scientists study toxins and other natural compounds in search of alternatives to ineffective antibiotics and dangerous pesticides.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Teen friendships may make for healthier adults

    Scientists find that strong teen friendships — and a tendency to follow the crowd — may lead to better health in their 20s.

  7. Agriculture

    ‘Wildlife-free’ farms don’t make salads safer

    Scientists find that removing wildlife from farms did not make raw vegetables safer to eat.

  8. Brain

    Soccer: Watch out for collisions!

    Scientists discover that concussions among high school soccer players stem more from aggressive contact between players than from heading the ball.

  9. Tech

    Cool Jobs: Big future for super small science

    Scientists using nanotechnology grow super-small but very useful tubes with walls no more than a few carbon atoms thick. Find out why as we meet three scientists behind this huge new movement in nanoscience.

  10. Environment

    Tiny plastic, big problem

    Unsightly plastic bottles, bags and other trash give just a hint of the largely unseen problem of plastic pollution. Scientists have found tiny bits of it throughout the ocean. The bad news: Sea life can’t tell the difference between plastic and food.

  11. Life

    How DNA is like a yo-yo

    When not in use, DNA coils tightly. But it must uncoil for the cell to ‘read’ its genes. Physical forces affect how easily that happens, new data show.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Stress for success

    Stress and anxiety can lead to serious mental and behavioral problems. Identifying stressors can help people cope with anxiety. Even better, viewing stress as a strength can tone down anxious feelings and boost productivity.