Heather Smith

Heather Smith is the former science editor at Sierra.

From Girl Who Loved Math to Solar Roboticist

The key to making solar that lasts is to treat it like infrastructure

Adapted from an interview by Heather Smith December 26, 2019

In this story: clean energy

Leila Madrone, her hair in two tight buns, stands at a table with a solar device on it.

Microbiome Is a Human Right

You’ve got to fight for your right to microbes

By Heather Smith November 26, 2019

In this story: science, environmental justice, air, clean water

Child photographed from the waist down jumping into a puddle with yellow pants and black rain boots

'Tis the Season for Books About the Green New Deal

Sierra reviews books by Kate Aronoff, Naomi Klein, Jeremy Rivkin, and others

By Jason Mark , Jonathan Hahn , Heather Smith , Rebecca Stoner November 27, 2019

In this story: books

Can Technology Fix Food Waste?

Or is it just a Band-Aid on a larger problem?

By Heather Smith November 21, 2019

In this story: food and drink, politics, science, climate change, recycling

ICYMI: Forbidden Words & a Whole Lot of Fires

A weekly news round-up for busy people

By Heather Smith November 1, 2019

GIF of man giving presentation in front of "CENSORED" slide

ICYMI: Roadkill Is the New California Cuisine

A weekly news round-up for busy people

By Heather Smith October 24, 2019

In this story: science, politics, climate change

Humans of the World: A Story in Numbers

There are now more people, but they have fewer children

By Heather Smith November 2, 2019

In this story: gender, population

Can Archaeology Help Us Save the Future?

Kathleen Jamie's "Surfacing" is a perfect smorgasbord of moments

By Heather Smith November 6, 2019

In this story: books, climate change

ICYMI: Selfie-Taking Fern & Tool-Using Pigs

A weekly news roundup for busy people

By Heather Smith October 17, 2019

In this story: politics, animals, technology, science, federal climate policy

Fern takes a cameraphone selfie while another plant looks by in disgust.

ICYMI: Secret Whales & Fat Bears

A weekly round-up for busy people

By Heather Smith October 11, 2019

In this story: politics, international climate policy, animals