Sophie Hartley

Science Writing Intern, Fall 2024

Sophie Hartley is a Fall 2024 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Human Development and Creative Writing from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in science writing from MIT. Her work has appeared in Science Friday, The Boston Globe Magazine, Ars Technica, and elsewhere.

All Stories by Sophie Hartley

  1. Humans

     Is synthetic food dye bad for kids? Here’s what the science says

    California is banning some food dyes in school meals. Though FDA says the dyes are safe, some studies show they may alter kids’ behavior.

  2. Plants

    Explainer: How to identify tree species in the winter

    No leaves to be found? Then buds, bark and branches might help you ID what tree you see.

  3. Animals

    Giant rat border agents could help put a stop to wildlife poaching

    African giant pouched rats have been trained to ferret out elephant ivory, pangolin scales and more. They could be put to work preventing smuggling.

  4. Genetics

    The discovery of microRNA wins the 2024 Nobel Prize in physiology

    Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered tiny snippets of genetic material, called microRNAs, that play a big role in making sure cells work as they should.