Meghan Bartels is a New York–based science journalist whose work spans astronomy, planetary science, climate, public health and the shifting landscape of scientific discovery. She is currently a senior reporter at Scientific American, which she joined in 2023, after several years covering space and Earth science for Space.com and nearly a year reporting for Newsweek. Her writing has also appeared in publications such as Audubon, Nautilus, Astronomy and Smithsonian, reflecting a broad curiosity about how science shapes everyday life.

Before becoming a full‑time reporter, Bartels built a foundation in both the humanities and scientific communication. She studied classics at Georgetown University and later earned a master’s degree from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP), a training ground for many of today’s leading science writers. Her early career included work at an environmental book publisher, a role that helped sharpen her interest in the intersection of environment, culture and scientific literacy.

Across her reporting, Bartels is known for translating complex scientific developments into clear, engaging narratives—from erupting solar prominences to the politics of spaceflight and the hidden chemistry of ice. Her work often highlights the human stakes behind scientific stories, whether she’s covering NASA missions, infectious disease trends or the evolving challenges of public health. With thousands of bylines across major outlets, she has become a trusted voice for readers seeking depth, accuracy and context in a rapidly changing scientific world.