Janet Raloff

Janet Raloff

Editor, Digital, Science News Explores

Editor Janet Raloff has been a part of the Science News Media Group since 1977. While a staff writer at Science News, she covered the environment, toxicology, energy, science policy, agriculture and nutrition. She was among the first to give national visibility to such issues as electromagnetic pulse weaponry and hormone-mimicking pollutants, and was the first anywhere to report on the widespread tainting of streams and groundwater sources with pharmaceuticals. A founding board member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, her writing has won awards from groups including the National Association of Science Writers. In July 2007, while still writing for Science News, Janet took over Science News Explores (then known as Science News for Kids) as a part-time responsibility. Over the next six years, she expanded the magazine's depth, breadth and publication cycle. Since 2013, she also oversaw an expansion of its staffing from three part-timers to a full-time staff of four and a freelance staff of some 35 other writers and editors. Before joining Science News, Janet was managing editor of Energy Research Reports (outside Boston), a staff writer at Chemistry (an American Chemical Society magazine) and a writer/editor for Chicago's Adler Planetarium. Initially an astronomy major, she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (with an elective major in physics).

All Stories by Janet Raloff

  1. Chemistry

    Nonstick chemical pollutes water at notable levels

    Residues of nonstick chemicals — from unknown sources — appear to be approaching concentrations associated with adverse effects in laboratory animals.

  2. Astronomy

    New eyes on the cosmos

    The next constellation of telescopes will dramatically extend and sharpen scientists’ view of the universe.

  3. Humans

    Science receives a budget bonanza

    Obama's budget blueprint for fiscal year 2010 delivers large research and development increases, although some rely heavily on the stimulus package, a one-time spending boost.

  4. Tech

    White House commissions spaceflight-review panel

    Outside experts are being asked to advise NASA on how to get astronauts into space after the shuttle program dies next year.

  5. Earth

    Federal budget’s new ‘black book’

    The administration details a proposed $17 billion in budget savings in a new book.

  6. Earth

    U.S. radiation dose has doubled

    New analysis finds radiation-based medical procedures have skyrocketed.

  7. Earth

    Report of earlier, longer puberty in girls

    A Danish study finds young girls are entering puberty notably earlier than 15 years ago — for reasons that remain unknown.

  8. Health & Medicine

    Science budgets look rosy, AAAS finds

    The president and Congress have collaborated in targeting substantial increases for federal investments in R&D this year.

  9. Humans

    The boffo science budget won’t last

    Enjoy the largesse that Uncle Sam is doling out for research, a budget analyst warns, because it may disappear very soon.

  10. Climate

    On federal science — and science spending

    Things you might have gleaned at the AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy.

  11. Astronomy

    They’re calling Obama the ‘science guy’

    Speakers at a science forum offered support for the thesis that researchers have found a big ally in the new president.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Institute of Medicine takes on conflicts of interest

    The Institute of Medicine seeks to divorce medical research from undue influence by the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries.