
Andrea Thompson
Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Latest articles by Andrea Thompson

Why scientists are blown away by 'Twister' and 'Twisters'
By Andrea Thompson published
Weather experts talk about why the film "Twister" is often such a favorite among tornado researchers and what they think of its new stand-alone sequel, "Twisters"

50 amazing facts about Antarctica
By Andrea Thompson last updated
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest continent on the planet, and researchers are still discovering many of its secrets. Find out some of the most interesting facts about the southernmost continent.

Blue Bananas Surprise Scientists
By Andrea Thompson last updated
Products of chlorophyll breakdown make ripening bananas glow blue under black lights.

Night Vision Helps With Camouflage In Briny Deep
By Andrea Thompson last updated
Thanks to their keen night vision, cuttlefish can camouflage themselves against nocturnal predators in the briny deep.
Raging Debate: Should We Geoengineer Earth’s Climate?
By Andrea Thompson last updated
Geoengineering proposals could save Earth from climate change, or the schemes could make matters worse.

7 ways the election will shape the future of science, health and the environment
By Andrea Thompson, Tanya Lewis, Lee Billings, Sophie Bushwick, Clara Moskowitz, Kate Wong published
Climate change, nuclear arms control, the pandemic and more will be determined by whoever wins the White House and Congress.

Tea Strainers & Nail Polish: The 5-Star Reviews Scientists Are Writing for Everyday Products
By Andrea Thompson published
You may never look at tea strainers or dental floss in the same way again.

'Castle Cloud' Caught in Spectacular Astronaut Photo
By Andrea Thompson published
It looks like a ghostly medieval tower — like something out of "Game of Thrones" — looming over the crystal-blue Caribbean waters of the Bahamas.

Brrrr! Why It's So $#%*! Cold
By Andrea Thompson published
The "bomb cyclone," with its whipping winds and foot-plus snowdrifts, has passed. So what gives?

Bombogenesis: What's a 'Bomb Cyclone'?
By Andrea Thompson published
"Bomb cyclones" or "weather bombs" are wicked winter storms that can rival the strength of hurricanes and are so called because of the process that creates them: bombogenesis.

Flaky Weather: Why Tallahassee Got Its 1st Measurable Snow in Decades
By Andrea Thompson published
It may not be much – just 0.1 inches (0.25 centimeters) – but it's the first measurable snowfall Tallahassee, Florida, has seen in 28 years.

Frozen Family Fun: Try These Cold-Weather Science Experiments
By Andrea Thompson published
Stuck indoors while the Polar Vortex sends temperatures plummeting? Try these science experiments that are perfect for the frigid weather.

From American Cockroaches to Zebras, New Book Answers 'Does It Fart?'
By Andrea Thompson published
A new book chronicles flatulence behaviors from snakes to elephants, answering the basic question, "Does it Fart?"

Unusual 'Blob' of Hot Rock Found Beneath New England
By Andrea Thompson published
What caused the blob — and if there are others like it — remain mysteries.

Here's Why the Ventura Wildfire Is So Explosive
By Andrea Thompson published
California could see more wildfire events like this, even during the rainy season. That's because rising temperatures mean drier autumns.

How Did This Weird, Super-Salty Pond Form in Antarctica?
By Andrea Thompson published
The mystery of one of the world's saltiest bodies of water was just solved.

TL;DR: Here's the One Thing Scientists Want You to Know About Their Fields
By Andrea Thompson published
Scientists describe a fascinating tidbit about their work in 140 characters or less.

What Caused the Eruption of the World's Largest Mud Volcano?
By Andrea Thompson published
Suspected link to nearby volcano range found in world's largest mud volcano eruption.

Hurricane Ophelia on Rare Course Toward Ireland, U.K.
By Andrea Thompson published
Hurricane Ophelia, the 10th hurricane of the blockbuster 2017 hurricane season, is on an unusual course toward Ireland and the U.K.

NASA Satellite Reveals Source of El Niño-Fueled Carbon Dioxide Spike
By Andrea Thompson published
NASA's OCO-2 satellite observed carbon dioxide response to one of strongest El Niños on record.

'King Tides' Flood Florida Streets (Here's Why)
By Andrea Thompson published
The highest high tides that come each year are rising with sea levels.

Massive Calved Iceberg Comes into View as Antarctic Sun Rises
By Andrea Thompson published
An iceberg could shed light on warming-fueled fate of Antarctica.
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