Jennifer Cutraro

Contributing Editor

Science writer Jenny Cutraro spent her elementary school years bringing home report cards declaring her to be “too talkative during class.” Today, she channels that love of talking into a career that’s all about sharing science with others. She’s the founder and director of Science Storytellers, a public program that puts kids in the role of science journalists. A longtime contributor to Science News Explores, she also has written for The Boston Globe, The LA Times, Science, National Geographic News, and other outlets. At WGBH in Boston, she developed an award-winning collection of education resources for the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS series Plum. Landing. She also has produced science education resources for PBS Learning Media, NOVA Science NOW, and The New York Times Learning Network. Jenny has a B.A. in biology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., a M.S. in biology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and studied science journalism at Boston University in Massachusetts. A Midwesterner at heart, Jenny hails from Milwaukee and now lives in the Boston area with her husband, their daughters, and two small furry carnivores that meow an awful lot.

All Stories by Jennifer Cutraro

  1. Problems with ‘the scientific method’

    Scientists rarely follow one straightforward path to understanding the natural world.

  2. How creativity powers science

    Some of the best ideas come not from poring over the facts but from a walk in the woods.

  3. Animals

    Speedy sharkskin

    Tiny, toothlike bumps boost sharks’ swiftness.

  4. Science fair as a family affair

    Parents share their tips on helping kids prepare for a science fair.

  5. Young scientists work together and win

    Broadcom MASTERS competitors qualified with individual projects, but won based on team challenges.

  6. Young scientists come to Washington

    Thirty middle school students compete in the inaugural Broadcom MASTERS science challenge.

  7. Environment

    Springing forward

    Climate change affects the timing of flowering, migration and other natural cycles, meaning spring is coming earlier in many parts of the world.

  8. Environment

    Mood-boosting drugs make unhappy fish

    Drugs called antidepressants find their way into lakes and streams, affecting the behavior of fish living there in unexpected ways.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Body clocks

    Scientists are finding that when you sleep is just as important as how much you sleep.

  10. Planets

    A new look at Saturn’s rings

    New information from space missions suggests Saturn's rings may be older and have more mass than scientists thought.

  11. Microbes

    Fast-flying fungal spores

    Using high-speed cameras, scientists identify the fastest spores on Earth.

  12. Planets

    Explainer: What is a planet?

    Over the years, definitions have changed several times.