Carolyn Wilke

Contributing Editor, Science News Explores

Carolyn Wilke earned her Ph.D. in environmental engineering at Northwestern University, where her research drew on the fields of environmental chemistry, materials science and toxicology. She got her start in science writing by blogging for HELIX, Northwestern’s science magazine and wrote as a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at The Sacramento Bee. Now a freelance science writer. Carolyn worked as a staff writer at Science News Explores and interned at Science News and The Scientist. When not delving into a new scientific discovery, you might find Carolyn behind her sewing machine or trying to amuse her cat. 

All Stories by Carolyn Wilke

  1. Physics

    Frozen’s ice queen commands ice and snow — maybe we can too

    In the Frozen movies, Elsa magically manipulates snow and ice. But scientists, too, make snowflakes. If they reinforce it, architects can build with ice and snow.

  2. Animals

    Congolese toads may avoid predators by copycatting deadly vipers

    If Congolese giant toads are mimicking venomous Gaboon vipers, this would be the first reported case of a frog imitating a snake.

  3. Animals

    Scientists Say: Species

    This word describes organisms grouped by their similarities in genetics and physical traits. But defining species can be tricky.

  4. Animals

    Newly discovered eel sets a jolting record for animal voltage

    Scientists have found two new electric eel species. One now holds the animal kingdom’s record for highest delivered voltage.

  5. Space

    A black hole slashed a star apart — and was caught in the act

    Scientists have gotten their earliest look yet at a black hole ripping up a star.

  6. Space

    Scientists Say: Black hole

    This is an object in space with such a strong gravitational pull that nothing, not even light, can escape

  7. Scientists Say: Hypothesis

    A hypothesis is an idea that scientists propose, then study and explore, to explain phenomena in the natural world.

  8. Fossils

    Scientists Say: Paleontology

    This is the study of prehistoric life based on fossils of microbes, plants, and animals found in rock.

  9. Brain

    Slower brain development ups a teen’s risk of getting into a car accident

    Lack of driving experience isn't the only factor in whether a teen gets into a car crash. Crash risk in young drivers is also related to development of their brains’ working memory.

  10. Life

    Scientists Say: RNA

    This is a molecule that helps cells make proteins from the instructions encoded in DNA.

  11. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Periodic table

    The periodic table is a chart showing all the known chemical elements. An element’s location in the table reveals a lot about its chemistry.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Could Wednesday Addams really jolt a frog back to life?

    A spark that recalls some science history brings a dead frog to life in The Addams Family. Scientists are now using electricity to build the body.

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