Laura Helmuth
Scientific American
Washington, DC, United States
Contact Laura
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Laura:
Mammals’ Perseverance, Fast Radio Bursts and Health Justice
Research shows straightforward solutions to help children learn and thrive → Read More
Birdsong, Quantum Computing, Omicron’s Mutations, and More
How science helps us see, hear and fix things we can’t easily perceive → Read More
Bird Navigation, Dark Matter, Biblical Archaeology, and More
Highlights from the April 2022 issue of Scientific American → Read More
Celebrating Scientific American ’s 175th Anniversary
Enjoy some surprising history and the most dizzying discoveries → Read More
Nine Important Things We’ve Learned about the Coronavirus Pandemic So Far
Some early public health messages about COVID-19 have been overturned → Read More
Tipsheet: Covering the Coronavirus Epidemic Effectively without Spreading Misinformation
The coronavirus epidemic will be one of the most urgent, complex, and quickly moving stories of the year. For anyone reporting on this evolving public health crisis, here are some tips to keep in mind. → Read More
2017 Solar eclipse live updates: Weather, photos, traffic and more
NASHVILLE — Shortly before midnight Sunday, Lyft driver Veronica Bryant planned to pick up two more riders and call it a night. The clientele is wearying on the eve of a total solar eclipse. “Everybody’s wasted,” said Bryant, 43, laughing. “They’re wasted, but they’re also talking about the eclipse. Usually, they don’t talk that much.” Signs that this wasn’t your typical Sunday in Music City had… → Read More
These Are The Hardest Words to Spell in Health And Science
There are a lot of weird words you learn to pronounce and spell if you pay much attention to health, science and the environment. By the time Iceland's spectacular volcanic eruption simmered down in 2010, for instance, → Read More
These are the hardest words to spell in health and science
If you can read, spell or pronounce Eyjafjallajokull, this is the spelling bee for you. → Read More
The best science stories you may have missed amid all the sports and politics
It's been an exciting year for wildlife conservation, space, cancer research and a rescue mission to the South Pole. → Read More
People say they approve of interracial couples, but studies uncover bias
Even young adult college students reveal hidden discomfort, or even disgust, with mixed-race couples. → Read More
Red Peppers Are Just Ripe Green Peppers, and Other Mind-Blowing Fruit and Vegetable Facts
One of the great pleasures of gardening is growing enough food to share. At Slate’s D.C. office, Rachel Gross and Jamelle Bouie frequently bring in baked goods. I bring in tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. I realize it’s more fun for me to show off my harvest than it is for my... → Read More
Readers Recommend the Best Classes Everyone Should Take
This week, we at Slate have been sharing stories about our favorite high school, college, and adult education classes—the classes we think everyone should take. Now it’s readers’ turn to give the advice. We asked people to email us short descriptions of the best classes they’ve ever taken, and some... → Read More
What Classes Should You Take?
It’s one of the most agonizing questions in education, a question students face every semester, a question you never really finish answering, no matter how many degrees you earn: What classes should I take? The stakes are high: in cost, time, and lost opportunities to take other classes. It can... → Read More
Laura Helmuth Reads “James Watson Throws a Fit” (Audio)
“James Watson Throws a Fit,” originally published in Slate on Dec. 1, 2014, is about an auction for the co-discoverer of DNA’s Nobel Prize medal. Subsequent reporting revealed the high bidder to be a Russian billionaire named Alisher Usmanov, who announced plans to return the medal to Watson. For info... → Read More
Suburban Neighborhoods’ Christmas Lights Are Visible From Space
Satellite observations show that, starting the day after Thanksgiving and continuing through New Year’s Day, suburbs around major cities in the United States are lit up … well, like a Christmas tree. All those glowing Santas and sparkling snowflakes and blinking light–draped eaves are visible from space. The Suomi satellite... → Read More
James Watson Is Auctioning Off His Nobel Prize. Please Do Not Bid on It.
Jim Watson is one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. He is also a peevish bigot. History will remember him for his co-discovery of the structure of DNA, in 1953. This week, Watson is insuring that history, or at least the introduction to every obituary, will also... → Read More
Saving This Bird Is the Best Thing Humans Have Ever Done
Humans are really good at killing things. We always have been; it’s kind of what we do. The fossil record shows that whenever humans reached a new landmass for the first time, we slaughtered everything that couldn’t get away. Any large, juicy, poorly defended species went extinct about two weeks,... → Read More
Barack Obama Hugged an Ebola Victim. Ronald Reagan Refused to Even Say the Word AIDS.
Barack Obama displayed inspiring leadership on Friday. He also promoted public health, fought bigotry, and helped calm raging paranoia. His heroic act? He hugged somebody. Nina Pham, the first person to be infected with Ebola within the United States, had just been declared disease-free and discharged from the National Institutes... → Read More
The Best Summer Party Icebreaker (Next to Alcohol)
Throwing big parties, as many Americans will do this Labor Day weekend, is a great way to express affection for your friends, discharge multiple social obligations at once, get to know your co-workers better, and indulge in match-making (romantic or professional). It’s a real treat to see people from different... → Read More