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. Tech

    Patches and robotic pills may one day replace injections

    Instead of a shot in the arm, a light-activated patch or robotic pill may one day deliver your medicine.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Like bloodhounds, worms are sniffing out human cancers

    Scents emitted by diseased cells may usher in a new era of safe, low-cost screening tests for cancer and other illnesses.

  3. Materials Science

    New cloth cools you when you’re hot, warms you when you’re cold

    Scientists 3-D printed the new fabric, which has even more tricks up its sleeve — such as conducting electricity and resisting radio waves.

  4. Environment

    Widely used pesticides may threaten Earth’s ozone layer

    Data show a major class of long-used “eco-friendly” copper chemicals unexpectedly react with soil, making gases harmful to Earth’s protective ozone layer.

  5. Environment

    Clothes dryers may be a major source of airborne microplastics

    Scientists thought washing machines were a leading contributor of microplastics. Now it appears dryers may be an even bigger problem.

  6. Chemistry

    Explainer: What are fats?

    A fat molecule's three long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms repel water, stash energy and keep living things warm — even in the bitter cold.

  7. Chemistry

    Snail slime + gold could boost the power of sunscreens and more

    These two strange ingredients could make skin-care products that are better for both our skin and the environment.

  8. Chemistry

    Explainer: What is a metal?

    Metals can bend and pull without snapping, and conduct electricity. The reason: Their atoms tend to lose electrons to neighboring atoms.

  9. Chemistry

    Could reusable ‘jelly ice’ cubes replace regular ice?

    These hydrogel “jelly ice cubes” are made mostly of gelatin and water. They won’t melt, even when thawed, and may provide new food cooling options.

  10. Environment

    A new way to make plastics could keep them from littering the seas

    Borrowing from genetics, scientists are creating plastics that will degrade. They can even choose how quickly these materials break down.

  11. Genetics

    Explainer: What is RNA?

    A partner to DNA, cells use this molecule to translate the instructions for making all of the many proteins that your body needs to function.

  12. Chemistry

    Explainer: In chemistry, what does it mean to be organic?

    These are molecules formed by combining carbon with other elements, especially hydrogen.