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. Earth

    Bright night lights, big science

    When the northern lights flare, blame the sun. Scientists say auroras “surge” when energy from solar wind builds up on the night side of the Earth.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Cool Jobs: Making electronics to wear

    Forget tablets and cell phones. These flexible electronic devices stick to the skin and can perform many tasks, from taking your temp to tracking the sun’s tanning rays.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Back off the bacon and cold cuts?

    Here’s how to make sense of the World Health Organization report that has just linked certain meats to a dangerous cancer.

  4. Health & Medicine

    How to print shape shifters

    3-D printing was only the beginning. Scientists are pursuing 4-D printing, creating objects that can move and interact with their surroundings.

  5. Earth

    Cool Jobs: Finding foods for the future

    What's for dinner... tomorrow? Scientists are developing new foods to meet the demands of the growing population in a changing world.

  6. Earth

    Explainer: What is a tsunami?

    Earthquakes and landslides can create huge waves that travel across oceans.

  7. Science & Society

    Retractions: Righting the wrongs of science

    Retractions let scientific journals remove bogus studies from the record. It's part of a self-correction process that helps move science forward.

  8. Tech

    This battery stretches without losing oomph

    Engineers have made a durable lithium-ion battery that can stretch to 150 percent of its original length. One day it could power wearable electronics.

  9. Animals

    Biowarfare saves bats from killer fungus

    Good news for bats. Those infected with white-nose syndrome may be cured by a brief exposure to fumes from therapeutic bacteria.

  10. Brain

    Back off, bullies!

    Mental health is another reason to stop bullies. Victims of bullying are more likely to develop anxiety problems than are victims of abuse or neglect, a new study finds.

  11. Archaeology

    Laser vision reveals hidden worlds

    From discovering ancient ruins to forecasting climate change, the laser mapping technology called lidar is changing many fields of science.

  12. Climate

    Mornings become electric

    Lightning packs a wallop in the morning. The most powerful lightning strikes in the continental United States usually peak before noon.