Stephen Ornes

Freelance Writer

Stephen Ornes has been writing for Science News Explores since 2008, and his 2014 story "Where Will Lightning Strike?" won an AAAS/Kavli Gold Award. He lives in Nashville, Tenn., and he has three children, who are inventing their own language. His family has a cat, six chickens, and two rabbits, but he secretly thinks hagfish are the most fascinating animals. Stephen has written two books. One is a biography of mathematician Sophie Germain, who was born during the French Revolution. The other, which was published in 2019, features art inspired by math. Visit him online at stephenornes.com.

All Stories by Stephen Ornes

  1. Computing

    Genetic memory

    DNA is a chemical blueprint that effectively instructs cells on how to work.

  2. Animals

    Killer cats

    Puss may pose the single biggest threat to birds.

  3. Physics

    A smarter scan

    Scientists introduce a cheap and smart new device that gathers data in a flash.

  4. Planets

    Home on the moon

    Astronomers say rocky moons orbiting distant planets might support alien life.

  5. Climate

    Climate’s troublesome kids

    The recurring climate events El Niño and La Niña trigger long-lived changes to weather around the world.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Sleeping in space

    Volunteers face problems on a make-believe mission to Mars.

  7. Brain

    Baby brain, adult disease

    Scientists find signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of infants.

  8. Brain

    Learning language before birth

    Scientists find that newborns can recognize vowel sounds similar to those spoken by their parents.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Getting a grip

    Wrinkled fingers seem to be an advantage in wet environments.

  10. Math

    Hitting streaks spread success

    For baseball players who want to increase their batting success, a new study offers this tip: Get on a team with a slugger.

  11. Tech

    Strong and slimy

    Scientists spin threads from snotlike secretions of hagfish.

  12. Earth

    Less ice, more seawater

    Shrinking ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels, large-scale study confirms.