Sarah has been writing about science, including its intersections with history, travel and art, for more than 15 years. Her work has included long features for major magazines, short blog posts, breaking news and more. Here are some examples:
Features
Warming pushes lobsters and other species to seek cooler homes: In response to climate change, plants and animals are moving toward the poles, changing timing of important events and more
Science News for Students, April 2019
Climate change sets people on the move: Many people are adapting to uncomfortable changes in their homelands by migrating elsewhere
Science News for Students, September 2018
Is weather control a dream or nightmare?: People are changing the weather, and that may not be good
Science News for Students, October 2017
Will water woes leave Americans thirsty?: Even in the United States, water quality and quantity can suffer
Science News for Students, October 2014
Quick Change Artists
(behind paywall*): Identifying how species might change in response to shifts in the environment is more than just an intellectual enterprise
Science News, July 2014
The Startling Intelligence of the Common Chicken (behind paywall*): Chickens are smart, and they understand their world, which raises troubling questions about how they are treated on factory farms
Scientific American, February 2014
(co-written with animal behavior scientist Carolynn “K-lynn” Smith)
The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Chemistry Set: Banning toys with dangerous acids was a good idea, but was the price a couple generations of scientists?
Smithsonian.com, October 2012
The Reluctant Toad Killer [pdf]: Australia’s cane toad problem has distracted Rick Shine from the animals he truly loves, but the biologist may have an effective way to slow their invasion
Science, June 2012
Ready for Contact: Humans have searched for extraterrestrial life for more than a century. What will we do when we find it?
Smithsonian, December 2010
Science News, Analysis and Commentary
Adults can sabotage a student’s path in science or math
Science News for Students, September 2016
Even some Olympic athletes cheat with drugs
Science News for Students, August 2016
The Size of the California Methane Leak Isn’t the Scariest Part of the Story
Smithsonian.com, February 2016
Some Rainbows Don’t Have Every Color of the Rainbow
National Geographic News, December 2015
Superbugs Are Everywhere
Slate, November 2015
What Will Really Happen When San Andreas Unleashes the Big One?
Smithsonian.com, May 2015
Do Not Buy Oceanfront Property
Slate, August 2014
The Secrets of Sherlock’s Mind Palace
Smithsonian.com, February 2014
Botanists Spread the Gospel That Breadfruit Can Be Manna
Science, October 2013
Henrietta Lacks’ ‘Immortal’ Cells
Smithsonian.com, January 2010
Travel
Go to Green Bank to listen to the stars (behind paywall)
Science News, September 2015
When swimming with manatees, mind the herd (behind paywall)
Science News, June 2015
Hunting fossils in England (behind paywall)
Science News, January 2014
Evolution World Tour: Jurassic Coast, England
Smithsonian, January 2012
History
Ranger School Grads Join Long History of Warrior Women
National Geographic News, August 2015
Ten Ancient Stories and the Geological Events That May Have Inspired Them
Smithsonian.com, April 2014
Ten Historic Female Scientists You Should Know
Smithsonian.com, September 2011
Hypatia, Ancient Alexandria’s Great Female Scholar
Smithsonian.com, March 2010
*Please contact Sarah to receive a copy of anything that is hidden behind a paywall