Bethany Brookshire

Bethany Brookshire was a longtime staff writer at Science News Explores and is the author of the book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She has a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in philosophy from The College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She was a 2019-2020 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, the winner of the Society for Neuroscience Next Generation Award and the Three Quarks Daily Science Writing Award, among others.

All Stories by Bethany Brookshire

  1. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Atom

    An atom is the smallest possible piece of a chemical element.

  2. Brain

    Explainer: How our eyes make sense of light

    It takes a lot for images before the eyes to be 'seen.' It starts by special cells sensing the light, then signals relaying those data to the brain.

  3. Environment

    Let’s learn about hurricanes

    Hurricanes are huge, terrifying storms that form over warm ocean waters — and waters are getting warming.

  4. Ecosystems

    Scientists Say: Prairie

    Prairies are flat, fertile grasslands in North America. They are their own unique ecosystem.

  5. Archaeology

    Let’s learn about mummies

    A mummy is a preserved body. They’re fun and spooky, but also a great chance to learn about people of the past.

  6. Tech

    Scientists Say: GPS

    A GPS system relies on satellites orbiting the planet, constantly sending signals back to receivers on Earth.

  7. Animals

    Let’s learn about bioluminescence

    Some animals, bacteria and algae produce their own light. This bioluminescence can attract mates or protect from predators.

  8. Space

    Let’s learn about the sun

    The sun is our own personal star and the reason life exists on Earth.

  9. Life

    Scientists Say: Excretion

    Every living thing produces waste. Excretion is how organisms take out the trash.

  10. Environment

    Let’s learn about rain

    People need rain for their crops and their drinking fountains. But there sometimes can be too much of a good thing.

  11. Chemistry

    Let’s learn about colors

    The colors we see come from electromagnetic waves traveling through space and hitting our eyes.

  12. Life

    Why you’re spotting more wildlife during COVID-19

    People are seeing more animals than they did before the pandemic. There are many reasons why.

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