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. Animals

    Silky spider footprints

    Tarantulas use foot-spun silk to hold tight in slippery situations.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Microbes in the music

    A new study finds germs linger on musical instruments.

  3. Oceans

    Life beneath the ‘berg

    Scientists find Antarctic icebergs play a new and bigger role in the climate cycle.

  4. Tech

    Lasers of a feather

    A nifty light trick in bird feathers inspires researchers to create a new kind of laser.

  5. Space

    End of an era

    As NASA’s space shuttles land for the last time, they leave behind a sound scientific legacy.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Sunlight worsens jet pollution

    Chemical reactions caused by the sun’s rays worsen air pollution from idling jets at airports.

  7. Animals

    When the giant ants went marching

    A new study of an ancient fossil suggests that 50 million years ago, supersized ants went on a cross-continental trek.

  8. Tech

    Roll, robot, roll

    Caterpillars inspire researchers to build a robot that rolls to safety.

  9. Animals

    Open eyes, dozing minds

    Scientists find that rats that stay up late are neither fully asleep nor fully awake.

  10. Animals

    Ants aweigh!

    In a flood, fire ants cling together to keep afloat.

  11. Earth

    Ash blast

    Tiny particles ejected from a 2010 volcanic eruption pose big problems.

  12. Fossils

    Dangerous dinos in the dark

    Eye fossils reveal predatory dinosaurs’ preference for hunting at night.