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. Oceans

    Analyze This: Climate change may worsen the spread of ocean noise

    Some parts of the ocean may become five times as loud in the future.

  2. Archaeology

    Analyze This: Stonehenge’s ‘Altar Stone’ has mysterious origins

    After a century of searching for the source of the Altar Stone, scientists have yet to figure out where ancient people got the rock.

  3. Planets

    Jupiter has a never-before-seen jet stream — and it’s speedy

    Spotted in images from the James Webb telescope, the high-altitude current may help untangle the workings of the giant planet’s atmosphere.

  4. Planets

    Analyze This: Neptune’s cloud cover syncs up with the solar cycle

    Telescope observations hint how sunlight-driven chemistry may boost cloud cover on our solar system’s farthest planet.

  5. Earth

    Analyze This: Tropical forests have gotten patchier

    Although many of the world's forests have gotten less fragmented since 2000, tropical forests have gotten more chopped up, putting animals at risk.

  6. Animals

    Analyze This: White wing spots may help monarch butterflies fly far

    Monarchs with more white on their wings are more successful migrants, new research shows

  7. Materials Science

    Analyze This: A new fabric mimics polar bears’ pelts for warmth

    With layers that work like polar bears’ skin and fur, a material absorbs light and keeps it from escaping.

  8. Plants

    Analyze This: Plants sound off when they’re in trouble

    When dry or cut, tomato and tobacco plants make sounds too high for humans to hear. Such sounds could provide a way to snoop on crops.

  9. Animals

    Analyze This: Puppies naturally mimic human actions

    Unlike cats, whose ancestors hunted alone, dogs evolved from a species that hunted in packs. Being social might explain why pups copy humans.

  10. Materials Science

    Analyze This: Algae behind blue-glowing waves light up a new device

    Some algae glow blue when they experience forces. Held in transparent plastic, they now make devices light up in response to gentle pushes and tugs.

  11. Earth

    Analyze This: Salt may quash lightning over the sea

    Bits of airborne salt may help raindrops form, removing water from clouds before it can freeze as part of the process that makes lightning.

  12. Earth

    Analyze This: Wildfires are pumping more pollution into U.S. skies

    Researchers wanted to study the health effects of wildfire smoke. But they realized they didn’t know where it was and how much exposure people had.