Sujata Gupta

Sujata Gupta

Social Sciences Writer

Sujata Gupta is the social sciences writer for Science News. She was a 2017-18 Knight Science Journalism fellow at MIT. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Nature, Discover, NPR, Scientific American, and others. Sujata got her start in journalism at a daily newspaper in Central New York, where she covered education and small town politics. She has also worked as a National Park Ranger, completing stints at parks in Hawaii, California and Maine, and taught English in Nagano, Japan.

All Stories by Sujata Gupta

  1. Climate

    Why we fail to notice climate change

    People quickly normalize extreme weather. Simple visuals highlighting abrupt change could help climate change break through our mental blind spots.

  2. Artificial Intelligence

    AI auto-complete may subtly shape views on social issues

    People are increasingly using AI auto-complete features when writing. Unbeknownst to them, that feature may change how they think.

  3. Anthropology

    When the fish stop biting, ice fishers follow the crowd

    Study showcases how modern-day foragers stick together when seeking food. Such social forces could help explain the emergence of complex thinking.

  4. Psychology

    With effort, procrastinators can change

    Procrastination in young adulthood is not set in stone, though change is difficult, a long-term study shows.

  5. Animals

    Among chimpanzees, thrill-seeking peaks in toddlerhood

    In humans, teens do the most dangerous things. In chimpanzees, that honor goes to toddlers. The difference may lie in caregiver supervision.

  6. Science & Society

    This new year, maybe resolve to quit

    Western cultural stories tend to emphasize perseverance. But science shows that knowing when to quit has a place in our success too.

  7. Psychology

    Chatbots spewing facts, and falsehoods, can sway voters

    Chatbots that dole out fact-laden arguments can sway voters. Those facts don’t have to be true.

  8. Science & Society

    Gratitude can increase joy, even if it feels a little cringe

    Like exercise, gratitude takes many forms. Finding the right practice, research shows, is up to the individual.

  9. Science & Society

    Why do we feel starved for time? New research offers answers

    Interruptions, to-do lists, lack of autonomy — “time poverty” depends more on perceived shortages of time than actual ones, recent research suggests.

  10. Animals

    Guppies fall for a classic optical illusion. Doves, usually, do too

    Comparing animals’ susceptibility to optical illusions can show how perception evolved.

  11. Science & Society

    Our relationship with alcohol is fraught. Ancient customs might inspire a reset

    As evidence of alcohol's harms mounts, some people are testing out sobriety. Look to ancient civilizations' ways for a reset, scholars suggest.

  12. Health & Medicine

    You’re probably eating enough protein, but maybe not the right mix

    Protein is having a moment. But even if most people are eating enough protein, studies suggest they may not be eating the right mix.