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. Oceans

    Explainer: What is a tsunami?

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Tech

    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.

  7. Earth

    Mornings become electric

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

  8. Tech

    ‘Smart’ clothes generate electricity

    Scientists in South Korea have developed a fabric that captures energy from its wearer’s motions and turns it into electricity.

  9. Physics

    Science in Hollywood

    Audiences are getting smarter, so the makers of movies, TV shows and video games are responding by enlisting scientists to make everything on screen appear even more authentic.

  10. Chemistry

    Why metals have a blast in water

    Alkali metals explode in water. Using high-speed cameras, scientists have finally figured out why.

  11. Brain

    Scans show aging brains can leak

    The blood-brain barrier gets leakier with age. That breakdown could contribute to memory problems.

  12. Fossils

    Snakes may have slithered amongst Jurassic dinos

    Newly analyzed fossils suggest snakes lived at the same time as the golden age of dinosaurs. These early snakes appear to have had flexible skulls and likely also had four small limbs.