Nancy Shute

Editor in Chief

Nancy Shute joined the staff in February 2018 as the editor in chief of Science News. Shute is a science journalist in print, digital and broadcast, and a lecturer and trainer in science writing and multimedia journalism.  She is a past president of the National Association of Science Writers, the United States’ largest and oldest science writing membership organization. Before joining Science News, Shute was cohost of NPR’s health blog, Shots, and contributed news coverage and radio features to NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition.  She also has written for national publications, including National Geographic and Scientific American. While serving as assistant managing editor at U.S. News & World Report, Shute led the magazine’s award-winning coverage of science and technology.  As a senior writer for U.S. News, she led group investigations and reporting projects, and authored dozens of cover stories. Shute trains journalists and scientists in the uses of social media and other new media technologies. She taught science writing at Johns Hopkins University’s Advanced Academic Programs. Additionally, Shute has been a science writer in residence at the University of Wisconsin, and guest lecturer at major universities, including Columbia, NYU, the University of Maryland, Georgetown and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

All Stories by Nancy Shute

  1. A changing climate means changes on the plate

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the future of food through the lens of climate change.

  2. To solve mysteries, scientists look to muons

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses how researchers are using subatomic particles called muons as tools for scientific discovery

  3. In Pandemic Year Three, still so many questions

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses what we've learned about COVID-19, and what questions remain in the pandemic's third year.

  4. An extraordinary era in 80,000-plus articles

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute looks back at 100 years of Science News coverage and ahead to the future.

  5. Why aren’t we listening to what science is telling us?

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses how the last century of climate science has mapped our understanding of today's climate crisis and solutions.

  6. Computing has changed everything. What next?

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the last century's extraordinary advances in computing, and what they might mean for the future

  7. How machines help us decipher our genes

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the evolution of the Human Genome Project.

  8. Science explores the nature of time and space

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses how science tries to make sense of time and space.

  9. The triumph and fallibility of science in a historic year

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the last year in science, including lessons we've learned about COVID-19, human evolution and amazing animal feats.

  10. Rethinking psychedelics and mental health

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the growing scientific interest in psychedelics as a treatment for mental health problems such as depression and PTSD

  11. How analogies can make complex science clear

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses how analogies can help break down complex science concepts, such as a new particle accelerator that will search for rare isotopes.

  12. Good things come to astronomers who wait

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the long-awaited launch of the James Webb Space Telescope and an update on our SN 10: Scientists to Watch.