a headshot showing Katie Grace Carpenter

Katie Grace Carpenter

Katie Grace Carpenter is a science writer and curriculum developer, with degrees in biology and biogeochemistry. She also writes science fiction and creates science videos. Katie lives in the U.S. but also spends time in Sweden with her husband, who’s a chef.

All Stories by Katie Grace Carpenter

  1. Brain

    Scientists Say: Hallucination

    Humans are not the only ones who can hallucinate. When a chatbot confidently generates a plausible but incorrect response, this error is called a hallucination.

  2. Earth

    Scientists Say: Haboob

    Thunderstorms in the desert create downdrafts that lift desert sand into a moving, wall-like cloud.

  3. Life

    Scientists Say: Taxonomy

    This field of study does more than just organize living things. It also reflects the history of life's evolution.

  4. Math

    Scientists Say: Logarithm

    Think of this math function as just another way to solve equations involving exponents.

  5. Materials Science

    Scientists Say: Tenebrescence

    Under ultraviolet light, some minerals adopt long-lasting new hues.

  6. Earth

    Scientists Say: River Piracy

    This happens when one river captures another’s water.

  7. Humans

    Scientists Say: Chronohygiene

    Artificial lights and other aspects of modern life can confuse our body’s internal sleep clock. But a few minor changes may grant us much-needed control.

  8. Math

    Scientists Say: Exponent

    These powerful little superscripts may be simpler than you thought.

  9. Earth

    Scientists Say: Van Allen belts

    Astronomers have detected these radiation belts around Earth and beyond. Jupiter’s belt is thousands of times as intense as Earth’s.

  10. Physics

    Scientists Say: Blue whirl

    Four types of smaller flames create the perfect firestorm of elegantly efficient combustion.

  11. Health & Medicine

    A little shape-up helps these pimple patches get a grip

    These zit patches use some innovative geometry to anchor onto skin. This solves one problem that’s hindered other uses of microneedles for drug delivery.

  12. Earth

    Scientists Say: Supermoon

    This supersized lunar event occurs when a full moon or new moon coincides with the moon’s perigee — the point where it is the closest to Earth.