Eva Emerson

Editor In Chief, 2012-2017

Eva Emerson joined the Science News staff in December 2007 and, as managing editor, helped oversee redesign of the magazine and a relaunch of the website. She was promoted to editor in chief in 2012. A native of Los Angeles, Eva previously was associate director of the office of communications at the University of Southern California College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, where she edited the alumni magazine and wrote about science for campus publications. She has also held staff positions at the Magic School Bus television show, the Honolulu Weekly and the California Science Center. She is the coauthor of a book of classroom activities, Naturescope Kit: Habitats, published by the National Wildlife Federation and has freelanced for UPI, Discovery.com, ScienceNOW and Highlights for Children. She earned a B.A. in biological sciences and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

All Stories by Eva Emerson

  1. Tech

    ‘Ex Machina’ explores humanity as much as AI

    Sci-fi thriller delves into hubris and power relationships.

  2. Space

    Driving Curiosity to discovery

    Discovery is driven by curiosity, on Mars and closer to home.

  3. Science & Society

    One anniversary to celebrate, one to contemplate

    In this issue, both feature articles focus on anniversaries, though of two very different kinds.

  4. Astronomy

    What’s in a name? In science, a lot

    Classification systems are essential to science. But any classification system, however useful, is ultimately simplistic.

  5. Cosmology

    In era of collaboration, individual initiative can still pay off

    A risky venture to study cosmic ray particles offers no guarantee of success, but it may help answer two of the biggest questions in physics.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Why stress doesn’t just stay in your head

    Chronic stress may start in the brain, but new research reveals that its influences on the body roam far and wide.

  7. Astronomy

    Finding joy and inspiration in the pursuit of knowledge

    Editor in Chief Eva Emerson ruminates on the power of knowledge, and the ways scientists are refining how we think about the aging human brain, far away comets and even the speed of light.

  8. Science & Society

    Contemplating the coming of the drones

    Editor in Chief, Eva Emerson, contemplates the pros and cons of small drones flocking to our skies and the science behind them, discussed in this issue's feature on animal flight research.

  9. Science & Society

    Science’s self-criticism makes the enterprise stronger

    Editor in Chief, Eva Emerson, considers the the tensions between statistical correctness and headline grabbing research discussed in this issue's part one of a two part feature examining the state of science in the age of publish-or-perish.

  10. Ecosystems

    Lessons for the new year

    SN Editor in Chief, Eva Emerson, reflects on looking to nature for insights on how to constructively look ahead - even if just a year -drawing from a handful of this issues natural science stories for her 2015 resolutions.

  11. Science & Society

    Science inspires awe — and arguments

    As an eventful year in the sciences concludes, one that sparked both triumph and tragedy, SN's Editor in Chief contemplates 2014's most interesting stories.

  12. Planetary Science

    Preparing for disaster, celebrating success

    Science cannot prevent all disasters or solve all the problems they spawn, but it can point to the best ways to prepare, making disasters less damaging than they might otherwise be