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. Space

    The dark side of the universe

    Most of the cosmos is invisible, but that doesn’t stop scientists from searching for it.

  2. Space

    A curious cosmic explosion

    A bright blowup far, far away keeps astronomers guessing.

  3. Health & Medicine

    New source for healthy fats

    Scientists found a way to produce fish oil without harming a single fish.

  4. Animals

    Big fish in troubled waters

    Overfishing cuts number of large predator fish in the ocean.

  5. Physics

    Planetary paparazzo

    NASA satellite snaps historic photographs of Mercury.

  6. Chemistry

    Superslim silicene

    Lab-made sheets of silicon are only one atom thick.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Fat weighs heavy on the brain

    New study shows obesity interferes with memory, thinking and reasoning.

  8. Enthusiasm and reward for science

    Meet the high schoolers who won the 2011 Intel Science Talent Search.

  9. Oceans

    Sea changes

    Carbon dioxide is making the oceans more acidic.

  10. Tech

    Cell phones on the brain

    When an active cell phone is pressed against the ear, the brain gets busier.

  11. Materials Science

    Battery powered to heal

    With its own first-aid kit, this battery can really keep going.

  12. Environment

    Floor of Gulf got slimed

    Oil from BP spill was likely dragged down by bacterial goo.