Laura Baisas

Staff writer

Highlights

Former Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Journalism Fellow
Has reported on the offshore wind farms coming to the northeastern United States, climate epidemiology, space weather, and more.
Laura has completed numerous open-water marathon swims, including from the Tappan Zee Bridge to the George Washington Bridge (16 miles), from Battery Park, NY to Sandy Hook, NJ (17 miles), and around Manhattan Island (28.5 miles).

Favorite weird science fact

The Hawaiian blue rice coral produces a protein that not only gives it a beautiful deep blue color, but acts as a sunscreen. It’s thought that the natural sunscreen filters out harmful UV radiation that may be detrimental to coral reproduction.

About

Laura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life.

Experience

Laura joined Popular Science as a staff science news writer in 2022. She spent a decade at NBC News, first as a videotape engineer and eventually a producer/writer. Her freelance work has appeared in Inside Climate News and Hell Gate.

Education

Laura has a Master’s degree in science journalism from Columbia Journalism School. She received her BA at Marquette University, focusing on broadcast journalism and theology.

More from Laura Baisas

a microscope image of a small crustacean with a round body, two large antennae come from its head, and several small legs

Animals

Laura Baisas

Favorite weird science fact

About

Experience

Education

More from Laura Baisas

Sorry, zooplankton don’t want to eat your poop Sorry, zooplankton don’t want to eat your poop

Bottlenose dolphins ‘smile’ to say it’s time to play Bottlenose dolphins ‘smile’ to say it’s time to play

Astronomers discover a new exoplanet orbiting the closest single star to the sun Astronomers discover a new exoplanet orbiting the closest single star to the sun

Mount Everest is still growing taller Mount Everest is still growing taller

October’s skies bring an oddball meteor and a shiny new comet–if you’re lucky October’s skies bring an oddball meteor and a shiny new comet–if you’re lucky

4 endangered California condors will be released into the wild 4 endangered California condors will be released into the wild

This fish has 6 legs that act like tongues This fish has 6 legs that act like tongues

A 225-million-year-old fossilized jaw joint shifts evolutionary timeline A 225-million-year-old fossilized jaw joint shifts evolutionary timeline

Boo! New species of ghost shark uncovered in New Zealand Boo! New species of ghost shark uncovered in New Zealand

Extinct volcanoes could hold rare earth elements Extinct volcanoes could hold rare earth elements

Cranes can migrate 4,000 miles, but that’s not the hard part Cranes can migrate 4,000 miles, but that’s not the hard part

Is this the creepiest fungus in the forest? Yes, definitely. Is this the creepiest fungus in the forest? Yes, definitely.

Extreme 3D ocean waves can reach heights 4x steeper than previously thought Extreme 3D ocean waves can reach heights 4x steeper than previously thought

New tool helps scientists identify venomous snakes New tool helps scientists identify venomous snakes

Elusive whale’s vocalization could be their version of ‘Marco Polo’ Elusive whale’s vocalization could be their version of ‘Marco Polo’

Humans likely wiped out Cyprus’ tiny hippos and elephants in record time Humans likely wiped out Cyprus’ tiny hippos and elephants in record time

Curiosity and fart jokes help explain why ‘Volcanoes are Hot’ Curiosity and fart jokes help explain why ‘Volcanoes are Hot’

Seriously grumpy-faced fish discovered in Red Sea Seriously grumpy-faced fish discovered in Red Sea

Egyptologists find ancient sword possibly wielded against the mysterious ‘Sea Peoples’ Egyptologists find ancient sword possibly wielded against the mysterious ‘Sea Peoples’

Polar bears adapted to the Arctic just 70,000 years ago Polar bears adapted to the Arctic just 70,000 years ago