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

    Pipefish power from mom

    When pop's a shrimp of a fish, mom passes on extra protein boost.

  2. Tech

    The science of disappearing

    Invisibility cloaks and other new materials that play with light are in the works.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Physics of running bared

    Running without shoes softens the blow.

  4. Earth

    Watering the air

    Crop irrigation and farming practices could mean a cooler, wetter Midwest.

  5. Brain

    Teaching Math, teaching anxiety

    Teachers' math worries could affect students' performance.

  6. Tech

    Supersonic Splash

    Coming soon to a pond near you: air moving faster than the speed of sound.

  7. Plants

    Surprise Visitor

    Newly discovered cricket pollinates orchids in nighttime rendezvous.

  8. Animals

    Making the most of a meal

    Sea slug swipes recipe for food-producing chemical from algae it eats.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Slumber by the numbers

    Fewer than 1 in 10 teens get ideal amount of sleep.

  10. Animals

    The nerve of one animal

    Cancer that's killing Tasmanian devils probably began in a single creature's nervous system.

  11. Environment

    A global warming flap

    Differences in butterfly and moth breeding patterns are linked to a changing climate.

  12. Fossils

    Dino-bite!

    Study suggests dinosaur's teeth packed poison.