Alison Pearce Stevens

Freelance Writer

Alison Pearce Stevens is a former duck wrangler, beekeeper and forever science geek who specializes in writing about science and nature for kids. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two kids and a small menagerie of cuddly (and not-so cuddly) critters. She writes for Science News Explores, Highlights, ASK (Arts and Sciences for Kids) magazine and National Geographic Kids' Books. Her next book, Rhinos in Nebraska, comes out in 2021. She is also an avid gardener who can often be found in her yard, checking out the critters that call it home.

All Stories by Alison Pearce Stevens

  1. Health & Medicine

    Chigger ‘bites’ may trigger an allergy to red meat

    Some people develop a food allergy to red meat, and researchers suspect chiggers bites are to blame.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Here’s what puts teen drivers at greatest risk of a crash

    Most teen car crashes trace to distraction and a driver’s inexperience. New studies point to how easily we can be distracted and by which activities.

  3. Psychology

    Smartphones may serve as digital security blankets

    In a new study, students in awkward social situations experienced less stress if they had — but didn’t use — their smartphones.

  4. Psychology

    Phones in the classroom hurt everyone’s grades

    When students use electronic devices in the classroom, their school performance may suffer. And so might their classmates’ grades, a new study finds.

  5. Psychology

    2016 election stressed out some teens and young adults

    Some teens and young adults felt stress, anxiety and fear during the 2016 election — no matter what political candidates they tended to prefer.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Finding and helping teens for whom sadness is a disease

    Adolescents should soon be screened for depression at their yearly check-up with their doctor.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Athletes’ head injuries can provoke surprisingly long-lasting harm

    Even as symptoms of an athletic head injury fade, the brain may remain impaired, new data show. The harm may last months — perhaps even a lifetime.

  8. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: What is a concussion?

    A concussion is a severe type of head injury that can damage a brain for weeks to years — perhaps even a lifetime.

  9. Plants

    Increasingly, chocolate-makers turn to science

    Chocolate is delicious and may even have health benefits. To make sure there’s enough to go around, scientists are growing heartier cacao trees.

  10. Agriculture

    How to grow a cacao tree in a hurry

    Chocolate is made from the pods of the cacao tree. To reproduce this plant quickly for research, scientists use clones.

  11. Chemistry

    Changing toothpastes? Change your toothbrush

    Scientists have found that toothbrush bristles absorb triclosan, then release the potentially toxic chemical when users switch toothpastes.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Long-lasting flu vaccine could replace yearly shots

    Researchers have developed a single vaccine that protects mice from many types of flu. Such a development could lead to where people only day might no longer need a yearly flu shot.