Lauren Leffer

Lauren Leffer is a science, technology and environmental reporter based in Baltimore. She has published work in National Geographic, Scientific American, Hakai Magazine, Popular Science, Audubon Magazine, Gizmodo and elsewhere. Previously, she was a research entomologist, park naturalist and curriculum developer. She writes on many subjects including artificial intelligence, climate and weird biology because she’s curious to a fault. When she’s not typing, she’s hopefully hiking.

Bluesky:  @laurenleffer.bsky.social

All Stories by Lauren Leffer

  1. Artificial Intelligence

    AI is helping scientists decode previously inscrutable proteins

    A new set of artificial intelligence models could make protein sequencing even more powerful for better understanding cell biology and diseases.

  2. Artificial Intelligence

    As AI advances, the meaning of artificial general intelligence remains murky

    AI models are growing ever-more capable, accurate and impressive. The question of if they represent “general intelligence” is increasingly moot.

  3. Artificial Intelligence

    Generative AI is an energy hog. Is the tech worth the environmental cost?

    Generative AI and the hype around it has rung in excitement and alarm bells this year. Here’s how to consider climate, energy and AI's intersection.

  4. Chemistry

    Scientists may have an explanation for why some batteries don’t last

    A long-standing idea of why lithium ion batteries die focuses on lithium movement into the cathode. Instead, hydrogen may be to blame.