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. Climate

    Did Columbus contribute to a Little Ice Age?

    Scientist shows a surprising link between the explorer and a dip in temperatures.

  2. Brain

    The brain looks at the bright side of things

    Scientists find good news changes people’s predictions more than bad news.

  3. Planets

    Ripples in one of Saturn’s rings

    Scientists study pattern created by 600-year-old comet crash.

  4. Environment

    Ozone hits a new low

    Scientists discover a major thinning in the protective atmosphere over Arctic.

  5. Science & Society

    Introducing the 2011 Nobel Prize winners

    Scientists in 2011 won for making unexpected discoveries about crystals, the human body and the universe.

  6. Chemistry

    DEET confuses mosquitoes

    Scientists suspect the repellant messes with a mosquito’s sense of smell.

  7. Physics

    Breaking the universal speed limit

    Particles appear to race faster than the speed of light.

  8. Environment

    Cleaning clothes dirties oceans

    Washing polyester fabrics sends plastics to sea.

  9. Planets

    Double sunsets on a distant world

    Astronomers discover for the first time a planet circling two stars.

  10. Tech

    Cars of the future

    New cars will be smarter, safer, more efficient — and able to drive themselves.

  11. Humans

    Old bones ignite fresh debate

    Scientists try to understand how 2 million-year-old fossils fit among ancient species.

  12. Animals

    Glow kitties

    Cats light up when an experiment is successful.