Science news is a critical topic for many Americans. About a third get science news at least a couple times a week, and three-in-ten actively seek it out. But the public’s relationship with science news is complex. A significant percentage believes the media misrepresents scientific findings. And the public also cites problems with how scientists communicate their work, particularly with click bait-style headlines that suggest every new study is a major breakthrough.
Using a variety of visual elements, including scrollytelling and a mix of quotes and photographs, this piece makes readers feel like they are there to witness the impact of climate change on local ecosystems. It also highlights the importance of natural habitats as carbon sinks and provides a window into how researchers track temperature trends in lakes.
A recurring feature of Science News stories is the use of words such as “could,” “may” and “suggests.” It’s important to put a research finding in context, as most studies do not fully answer a particular question. Science News writers and editors work hard to place a research discovery in its appropriate framework.
Science News Explores serves middle- and high-school teachers, students and parents with timely accounts of new developments throughout STEM. Each story includes a glossary of key terms, called Power Words, and classroom materials such as teacher citations and questions. Many online stories also include an areadability score and Next Generation Science Standards codes to help educators align our news with core concepts taught in U.S. classrooms.