Bethany Brookshire was a longtime staff writer at Science News Explores and is the author of the book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She has a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in philosophy from The College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She was a 2019-2020 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, the winner of the Society for Neuroscience Next Generation Award and the Three Quarks Daily Science Writing Award, among others.

All Stories by Bethany Brookshire

  1. Planets

    Scientists Say: Exoplanet

    Eight planets orbit our sun. We give a slightly different name to the millions of similar bodies orbiting other stars.

  2. Climate

    Scientists Say: Hurricane or typhoon?

    Sometimes you read about hurricanes, and sometimes about typhoons. The difference? Location, location, location.

  3. Planets

    Scientists Say: Satellite

    When we think of satellites, we often think of objects we send into space from Earth. But most satellites are actually all natural.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Zoonosis

    Sometimes diseases in people come from animals. These diseases have a special name.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Carcinogen

    We have all heard that some things — such as ultraviolent rays from the sun or dangerous chemicals — can cause cancer. These agents have a special name.

  6. Science & Society

    Scientists Say: Forensics

    When there’s blood, bones and fingerprints on a crime scene, it’s time to bring in the scientists. Their research is called forensics.

  7. Physics

    Scientists Say: Photovoltaic

    This effect allows us to convert sunlight into electricity and is a popular renewable energy source.

  8. Environment

    Scientists Say: Eutrophication

    When a body of water is filled with nutrients, algae and plants may take advantage. And their presence isn’t always a good thing.

  9. Animals

    Scientists Say: Autopsy and Necropsy

    Sometimes when animals die, they need to be investigated. These examinations have two special names. One is for people, the other for non-human animals.

  10. Ecosystems

    Scientists Say: Taphonomy

    Studying what happens to plants and animals after they die can teach us about ecosystems and evolution. This study has a special name.

  11. Brain

    Scientists Say: MRI

    MRI is a technique used to diagnose diseases and to study the body. The machine can map internal structures, all the way down to tiny blood vessels.

  12. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Ion

    Some atoms and molecules have a positive or negative electrical charge. These are called ions.