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. Brain

    Baby’s stress can last decades

    Early stress may impair adult behavior, especially in girls.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Healthier mice, through X-rays

    In sickly mice, small doses of radiation helped while vitamins harmed.

  3. Tech

    How to stop a speeding bullet

    Scientists take a close look at a plastic that has Superman’s ability to stop a speeding bullet.

  4. Space

    Twinkle, twinkle oldest stars

    Astronomers find traces of ancient light in the activity of bright, distant galaxies.

  5. Fossils

    Shoulder bones fuel debate

    Fossil shoulder blades suggest an ancient humanlike species may have been at home in the trees as well as on the ground.

  6. Climate

    Evolution of a Frankenstorm

    Huge, late October hurricane turned into a superstorm that savaged much of the eastern United States.

  7. Fossils

    Four-winged dinosaur

    Hind wings helped a small dino make tight turns in midair.

  8. Earth

    Groundwater removal linked to quake

    Pumping water from the ground in southeastern Spain may have triggered a deadly 2011 earthquake there.

  9. Planets

    New planetary neighbor

    Nearest star system has a world that's Earthly in size, but too hot for human visitors.

  10. Physics

    Helium: Not so super after all

    An exciting discovery in physics turns out to be merely a case of mistaken identity.

  11. Health & Medicine

    Magnets that kill cancer cells

    Researchers devise a way to use magnets to make cells self-destruct.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Of fish and brain health

    Moms-to-be who eat a diet rich in the right fish may pass along benefits to their children