Heather Smith

Heather Smith is the former science editor at Sierra.

A New Book Asks Water What It Wants

"Water Always Wins" is a field guide to a wetter, better future

By Heather Smith July 18, 2022

In this story: books

Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge

Who’s Afraid of a Carbon Capture Pipeline?

Lots of people, actually

By Heather Smith July 3, 2022

In this story: science, climate change, technology, federal climate policy

A whole lot of big blue bendy pipes in an industrial space.

Six Lessons in Organizing From an Underground Abortion Network

In the pre–Roe v. Wade 1960s, the Janes became the doctors they wanted to see in the world

By Heather Smith June 11, 2022

In this story: women's rights, activism, film

Black and white 1970s era mugshots of two women.

A Year in the Life of a Burning Forest

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are on the frontlines of climate change

By Mette Lampcov and Heather Smith June 21, 2022

In this story: climate change, forests

How Does Carbon Capture Work?

We've been putting extra carbon in the air for centuries—here's how to take it out

By Heather Smith July 3, 2022

In this story: clean tech, science

Illustration shows carbon capture technologies, pipelines, electrical towers, and crops being incorporated.

Aliens Among Us

A photo essay of insects—extremely bug and incredibly close

By Heather Smith March 28, 2022

In this story: wildlife, photography, animals

Close-up of a green orchid bee against a red background.

Can Technology Outcompete the Sun?

How vertical farming measures up

By Heather Smith April 6, 2022

In this story: clean tech, agriculture

A man stands in front of a tall rack of produce growing. His clipboard says "water schedule."

Born to Bee Wild

A new photo book looks at the secret lives of wild honeybees

By Heather Smith February 14, 2022

In this story: insects, animals, science, forests, photography

A honeybee hovers in a circle of daylight, as seen through a hole in a tree trunk

Don’t Miss These Four Films About Activism

Sundance films about social change to look for this year

By Heather Smith January 31, 2022

In this story: film, environmental justice, climate change, politics, indigenous communities

A person in a small dirtbike rides through a rainforest that is on fire.

The Best (and the Weirdest) Nature Films From Sundance

Three nature films to look out for in 2022

By Heather Smith January 30, 2022

In this story: film, animals, wildlife, entertainment, science

A small human figure in a silver foil jumpsuit and helmet stands in front of a fountain of hot red lava.