We all benefit from a better knowledge of our collective history. I write for scholars, policymakers, scientists, and the broader public. Please contact me or Kathryn Marguy, publicist at Johns Hopkins University Press, for speaking, interview, or writing requests. I am represented by Mullane Literary Associates.

Op-eds and Essays

“Project Troy: How Scientists Helped Refine Cold War Psychological Warfare”
The Atlantic
December 1, 2018
Read

Op-ed: “Yes, Radiation is Bad for You. The EPA’s “Transparency Rule” Would Be Even Worse.”
Washington Post
October 8, 2018
Read

Op-ed: “Who Could Stop Nuclear War in the Trump Era? These Scientists.”
Washington Post
November 14, 2016
Read

“Why the U.S. Military Still Flies Cold War-Era Planes”
The Atlantic
October 18, 2016
Read

“When Scientists Do What Diplomats Can’t”
The Atlantic
September 26, 2015
Read

“Physics from the Farm”
Belt magazine
June 23, 2015
Read

“Why Cosmos Can’t Save Public Support for Science”
The Atlantic
March 11, 2014
Read

“Science Diplomacy Works, but Only When It’s Genuine”
The Guardian
August 23, 2013
Read

“1955 Map Shows No-Go Zones for Soviet Travelers in the United States”
Slate
May 15, 2013
Read

Radio/TV/Podcasts

“How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War”
Interview on Freakonomics
July 31, 2019
Listen

On-Screen Appearances in Episodes 1, 3, and 4 of Apollo Chronicles
Nationally Broadcast Summer 2019
Preview

“Science in the Cold War”
Interview with War Nerd Radio
June 28, 2019
Preview

“Freedom’s Laboratory: A Conversation with Audra Wolfe”
Interview on Spycast
May 28, 2019
Listen

“Science and Power Politics: Freedom’s Laboratory“
Interview on WBEZ’s Worldview
February 12, 2019
Listen

“In Science We Trust”
Interview on WHYY’s The Pulse
January 25, 2019
Listen

“Freedom’s Laboratory“
Interview on Science for the People
January 11, 2019
Listen

“How Science Won the Cold War”
Interview on WAMC’s To the Best of Our Knowledge
January 3, 2019
Listen

Interview on New Book Networks
December 27, 2019
Listen

“One Planet: Science and Politics, From the Cold War to the Present”
Interview on KALW’s Your Call
October 28, 2018
Listen

“One Planet: UN Report Says We Have 12 Years to Avoid Climate Change Catastrophe”
Interview on KALW’s Your Call
October 15, 2018
Listen

Lead writer for 6-episode series arc on The Cold War
Series debuted January 3, 2018
Listen to the show
Listen to an interview with Audra about the show

“Can a Nuclear Explosion Be Peaceful? Scientists Used to Think So.”
Interview on PRI’s The World
July 11, 2017
Listen

“Can Scientists Help Defuse a Nuclear Crisis?”
Interview on PRI’s The World
November 25, 2016
Listen

“In the Vastness of Space”
On-screen appearance in Episode 4 of the Age of Aerospace series
First broadcast on the Discovery Channel, March 2016
Watch

“The Scientific Breakthroughs Behind Modern Fabric”
Interview on WHYY’s The Pulse
June 23, 2016
Listen

“Science Diplomacy”
Live interview (also featuring former Congressman Rush Holt and Vaughan Turekian) on WHYY’s Radio Times

August 19, 2015
Listen

“Welcome Back to the 60s”
Interview on  WNYC’s Mad Men Pre-Game Show podcast
April 3, 2015
Listen

Press Mentions

“Cold War Propaganda Spread the Myth That Science Isn’t Political”
By Rachel Becker
The Verge
December 11, 2018
Read

“We Asked 105 Experts What Scares and Inspires Them Most About the Future”
By Becky Ferreira
Motherboard
December 5, 2018
Read

“Scientists March on Washington and Cities Worldwide”
By Andrew Grant
Physics Today
April 25, 2017
Read

“What’s the Link Between Nuclear Power, Vietnam War, Stem Cell Research, and Now Climate Change?”
By Joshua Emerson Smith
San Diego Union-Tribune
April 15, 2017
Read

“When Did Science Become Apolitical?”
By Francie Diep
Pacific Standard
March 13, 2017
Read

Audio Production

During my time at the Chemical Heritage Foundation (now Science History Institute), I created an award-winning podcast, Distillations, on the past, present, and future of chemistry. As executive producer from December 2007 to April 2009, I researched, wrote, and edited pieces for shows 1–67, all of which are available at the Distillations website.

Criticism

As a member of the the National Book Critics’ Circle, I’ve reviewed books for Science, C&EN, Boston Review, Endeavor, and Chemical Heritage as well as many scholarly publications. Please feel free to contact me if you have a title on the history of American science or the Cold War that needs reviewing.