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. Humans

    AAAS: Climate-friendly fish

    Many intangibles determine how big — or small — the carbon footprint is of that fish you're thinking about eating.

  2. Earth

    AAAS: Climate-friendly dining … meats

    The carbon footprints of raising livestock for food.

  3. Humans

    AAAS: A pyrotechnic display

    Fireworks came to AAAS, or was it the other way around?

  4. Science & Society

    AAAS: The New Masters of Science

    A new master's degree program is emerging that is creating "a new type of scientist" and a new professional class.

  5. Humans

    AAAS: March of the Hungry Penguins

    Patagonian penguins have become sentinels of climate change and human impacts on the marine world.

  6. Humans

    AAAS: Darwin is the 1000th Steve

    The amusing list of living scientists supporting evolution was topped, this evening, by a man named Darwin.

  7. Agriculture

    AAAS: Stress Can Make Plants More Nutritious

    People who aren't veggie lovers might want to seek out types of produce that deliver an especially big nutrient bang for the gram.

  8. Chemistry

    Supergoo Erases ‘Monument-al’ Nuclear Fallout

    From disposable diapers comes a technology that can be used to extract radionuclides off of the porous surfaces of buildings.

  9. Humans

    Bloggers Need News Too

    News media are ailing, and even bloggers realize that's a big problem.

  10. Health & Medicine

    Electronic Records: A Way to Stretch Nurses

    Cost savings are perhaps not even the primary benefit of the White House proposal for national electronic medical recordkeeping.

  11. Earth

    California may yet get the first greenhouse gas limits for cars

    President Obama decides to revisit a controversial decision made less than a year ago by his predecessor.

  12. Humans

    Obama’s new directive on energy efficiency

    New appliance standards are coming, the president reported today.