Avery Elizabeth Hurt

Freelance Writer

Avery Elizabeth Hurt is lucky that as a science journalist she gets to indulge her love of science and her insatiable curiosity. She writes articles and books about science and social issues for both adults and kids. When she’s not digging into the latest research or peppering scientists with questions about their work, she enjoys walking in the woods, riding her bicycle and perfecting her killer drop-shot in tennis.  

All Stories by Avery Elizabeth Hurt

  1. Brain

    Some screen time may aid kids’ recovery from concussions

    A few hours a day on digital devices may actually aid recovery by connecting kids with friends and giving their brains some stimulation.

  2. Chemistry

    Was that fingerprint left during a crime? A new test may answer that

    In what could be a boon to forensics, Iowa State University chemists have come up with a way to analyze the age of fingerprints.

  3. Tech

    Can computers think? Why this is proving so hard to answer

    In 1950, Alan Turing proposed a test to tell a human from a computer. Today, that Turing test may tell us more about ourselves than about machines.

  4. Psychology

    Lying won’t stretch your nose, but it will steal some brainpower

    The science of lying shows that most people don’t lie often. But when they do, it takes a surprising toll on their brains.

  5. Health & Medicine

    In an emergency, you may want to see Dr. Dog

    Emergency room visits by therapy dogs can reduce pain, anxiety and depression in patients waiting for care, a new study finds.

  6. Psychology

    To excel at basketball, it’s mind over matter

    Get your head in the game. Top basketball coaches value psychological traits more than physical ones when recruiting players, says a new study.

  7. Humans

    Want to improve your reading skills? You might just need more space

    A simple change by publishers and Web designers could help kids — both with and without dyslexia — read faster and better.

  8. Psychology

    Will you learn better from reading on screen or on paper?

    Some studies find students don’t learn as well by reading on screens as from paper. But that's not always true. Here’s how to make the most of reading in either format.

  9. Environment

    Cheatgrass thrives on the well-lit urban night scene

    Middle-grade campers team up with ecologists at Denver University to show that streetlights boost the growth of a reviled invasive species.

  10. Earth

    Earth as you’ve never seen it before

    Earth is a sphere. Flat maps distort features on that sphere, usually by a lot. Now three scientists think they may have the best solution yet for flattening the planet.

  11. Math

    Better data lead to better forecasts

    Scientists turn to mathematical models to make good predictions. But if they don’t put good data into those models, they won’t get reliable forecasts. So good data are key.

  12. Math

    Beyond crystal balls: How to make good forecasts

    Science shows mounds of data and some math are key to predicting future events.