“College Students Don’t Need a Concierge” CNN (Oct 2023)
Helicopter parenting’s a new low: college students can “rent-a-mom” when they want help with pretty much anything they don’t feel like doing.
“Racing Toward the Dark Side of the Moon” Slate (Aug 2023)
Spacecraft from Russia and India are racing to be the first to land on the south side of the moon.
“What Jupiter’s Icy Moons Might Tell Us About Our Universe” Cognoscenti (April 2023)
Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede harbor carbon, water, and energy—three basic ingredients for life. What can the new mission there teach us?
“How the U.S. Government Made Pilots Too Embarrassed to Admit They’d Seen UFOs” Slate (Feb 2023)
Reporting about UFOs in the US has been fraught for a long time. It’s not that way in other countries.
“Artemis Finally Launched. But We’ll Need Humility to return to the moon” Cognoscenti (Nov 2022)
The last time a human set foot on the moon was in 1972. We haven’t been there since, so why would anyone expect it to be easy?
“Why Sending a Native American into Space is a Big Deal” Cognoscenti (Oct 2022)
The first Native American female (and the second Native American of any gender) recently landed at the International Space Station. Given the repeated exploitation of indigenous people and lands in the name of “progress,” Nicole Mann’s journey has both symbolic and practical significance.
“What the Webb Telescope Might Tell Us About Ourselves” Cognoscenti (July 2022)
Images of the cosmos are never just about space—they’re about humanity, too.
“How Science Fuels a Culture of Misinformation” Open Mind (June 2022)
It’s easy to blame social media for fake news, especially fake science news, but the problem is more complicated than that.
“As a Teacher in a Pandemic, Where Does Work End and I Begin?” Catapult (May 2022)
The TV show “Severance” and being a teacher have a lot in common.
“Farewell, My BlackBerry. I Will Miss You.” Boston Globe (May 2022)
After 13 years, I finally need to replace my 3G dumbphone. And I’m not happy about it.
“The Future of AI and Robotics is Up to Humans,” Popular Science (Summer 2022, 150th anniversary issue)
The future isn’t written in stone. Humans don’t have to create or give power to technology—unless they want to.
Interviews with Marco Cerezo, Nazri Choucri, and Amy Stein on the role of AI in quantum computing, security, and climate change mitigation. Popular Science (Summer 2022, 150th Anniversary Issue)
“A ‘Wicked’ Blizzard Pummels New England” (contributing reporter, WaPo, 2022)
I got to interview the Boston Yeti about its triumphant return.
“Portraits from inside the wild, messy, overheating and confounding economy of 2021” (contributing reporter, WaPo, 2021)
I interviewed ballerina Lia Cirio (and got to watch a whole afternoon of rehearsals!)
“Looking for Alien Life? Seek Out Alien Tech” Wired (2021)
If aliens are post-biological, then looking for bio-signatures won’t help us find them.
“What Orchids Taught Me—On Their Own Time” Boston Globe (Oct 2021)
Tending orchids requires patience, but the payoff is so worth it. Also, stop watering orchids with ice!
“What Would it Mean to Live in the Clouds?” Catapult (Oct 2021)
If one can dream up a better future for humanity (or for whatever species humans evolve into), why replicate the past?
“Our Need for True Connection is Giving Rise to Phone-Free Spaces” Aeon (July 2021)
Perhaps we should step away from our screens to connect with one another, especially after all that time on Zoom.
“To Mask or Not to Mask? The mask-faithful navigate a ‘weird gray area.’” Washington Post (article contributor) (May 2021)
I interviewed people in Brookline, MA, about this contentious question.
“The Troubling Rhetoric of Space Exploration” Undark (March 2021)
Many of us—especially the Trekkies—use words such as “frontier” to talk about space. Here’s why that’s a problem.
“The Perseverance Mission Isn’t Just About Science—It’s About Ethics” Boston Globe (Feb 2021)
Mars is a wonder. As humans start exploring it, we need to keep it that way.
"NASA’s Dragonfly Mission Will Seek Clues about Titan’s Habitability” NASA (Dec 2020)
Dragonfly will help scientists understand the chemical evolution of Saturn’s largest moon
“How Does Anyone Stay Healthy in a World Full of Germs?” Nautilus (Dec 2020)
T-cells have to learn how to distinguish foreign pathogens from the body’s own cells. But how? When? Where?
“Doomsday Book Teaches Readers About Pandemics—and About Hope” Slate (Dec 2020)
Connie Willis’ 1992 masterpiece is more applicable now than ever, for better and for worse.
“Head Home or Hunker Down? The Thanksgiving COVID Dilemma” (shared credit) Washington Post (Nov 2020)
I interviewed some college students about their plans—and whether they’ll be allowed to eat at the table.
“RNA and DNA May Have Shared Building Blocks and May Have Appeared at the Same Time” Astrobiology (Oct 2020)
Contrary to popular belief, RNA may not have preceded DNA. But what does that actually mean?
“Subduction Zones” The Smart Set (Sept 2020)
Teaching during the pandemic has been one of hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life.
“Why Older Adults Really Eschew Technology” Slate (July 2020)
The stereotype is that seniors just don’t like tech, but that’s not actually the case.
“How Animals Sense Earth’s Magnetic Field” Astrobiology (May 2020)
Scientists have long tried to figure out how animals use magnetism as a GPS
“Working From Home is a Lifesaver—and a Big Danger” CNN (March 2020)
As the novel coronavirus shifts our jobs and lives online, I worry that we might never go back to the old-fashioned way.
“Is Aging a Disease?” Slate (March 2020)
There are pros and cons to classifying a ubiquitous process as a disease.
"The Sinister Realities Behind Google’s Tear-Jerking Super Bowl Ad" Slate (Feb 2020)
Tech can be helpful for memory loss, but I don’t want Google dictating what I remember and when.
“When Will Sexbots Reflect More than Stereotypical Male Fantasies?” Lady Science (Feb 2020)
Why do sexbots look like Barbies and offer 17 different pubic hair style options? Take a wild guess.
“Is Secondhand Screen Time the New Secondhand Smoking?” The Conversation (Jan 2020)
Babies want (their parents’) phones before they even know what phones are.
“A Fur Ball Comes Home,” “Cat Family,” “The Whisker Whisperer,” and “Tailgating” Inside Your Cat’s Mind issue 3 (Fall 2019)
I got to interview cat behaviorists and write about cats (again) for Centennial Media’s third special print issue about cats.
“Felicity Huffman Gets 14 Days in Jail in College Admissions Scandal” (shared byline) WaPo (Sept 2019)
The crowd outside the courthouse had some opinions about how Huffman should be punished.
“Are My Days as a Smartphone Holdout Coming to an End?” OneZero (August 2019)
I’ve refused to get a smartphone for this long, but how long can—should—I hold out?
“What Would It Mean for Humans to Become Data?” Slate (July 2019)
The HBO/BBC show Years and Years features a character who wants to be transhuman. Is this where humanity goes next?
“The Time I Changed History with a Fourth-Grade Writing Assignment” Proximity (June 2019)
When I was 8, my teacher asked me to imagine the world and my life in 25 years. Doing so may have changed everything.
“You Had Me At Meow” and “How to Read Your Cat”Inside Your Cat’s Mind Magazine (issue 2) (Summer 2019)
All of those meows, trills, and chirps mean something, according to cat behavior experts. My cat agrees.
Interview of author Iris Gomez in “Changing Channels” Washington Post (June 2019)
This package by the WaPo features women over the age of 50 doing awesome stuff, such as Gomez publishing her first novel.
“If We Commodify Space, Who’s in Charge of the Cosmos?” Cognoscenti (June 2019)
The ISS plans to open for commercial business—but will that put corporations in charge of our space activities?
“The AI Doctor Will See You Now” Daily Beast (May 2019)
AI-powered apps can separate serious cases from self-treatable ones and provide medical care for people in remote areas.
“Will Care-Bots Cure the Loneliness of Nursing Homes?” Daily Beast (May 2019)
Robots can promote human interaction and improve patients’ quality of life—without replacing human caretakers.
“How Manganese Played a Pivotal Role in Photosynthesis and Oxidation Protection” Astrobiology (April 2019)
If not for manganese, we wouldn’t be here. Who knew?!
“You heard the all-female spacewalk was canceled. Here’s some context to better understand the last-minute flop.” The Lily (April 2019)
Despite NASA’s efforts at improving diversity, space was always a profession built for men.
“Robots Star in Ads, but Mislead Viewers about Technology” The Conversation (Feb 2019)
Robots/AI featured in seven ads during the 2019 Super Bowl alone. Unfortunately, those ads distract us from the truth.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It and We Feel Fantastic: Examining the End of Suffering” NANO (Dec 2018)
The Transhumanist goal of eliminating suffering might sound great, but achieving it would create more problems than it would solve.
”Conferences on Gaming and Sex Robots Cancelled After Protests Over Steve Bannon Keynote” Undark (Dec 2018)
I was supposed to attend a conference about love and sex with robots. What actually happened was even weirder.
“Bringing Up Baby: Raising a Kitten to be a Great Cat” Inside Your Cat’s Mind magazine (Dec 2018)
My 22-year-old cat Zola is the best. Can I take the credit or did I just get lucky?
“How Life Could Help Atmospheric Tides Slow a Planet’s Rotation” Astrobiology (Nov 2018)
The presence of biological life may have altered Earth’s rotation in a way that helped life proliferate.
“Yes, space tourism is for the rich. But sending artists to space is good for us all.” Washington Post (Sept 2018)
Sending artists to space recognizes the importance of both art and space in our culture. (Also, I nominate Bjork).
"New Study Identifies Possible Ancestors of RNA" Astrobiology (Sept 2018)
Scientists think RNA existed before DNA, but what existed before RNA?
"The First Goes Where Other Space Stories Don’t" Slate (Sept 2018)
Hulu’s new show is frustratingly slow to get off the ground, but that’s the price of realism.
"Chiral Molecules May Have Hitched Meteor Rides to Planets" Astrobiology (Aug 2018)
Chirality, a property of all molecules associated with life, may have come from space and used meteors as transport.
"The U.K. Wants to Become the World Leader in Ethical AI" Slate (Aug 2018)
But what does that actually mean? And is it possible?
"A Historian's Take on Charlottesville: an Interview with Ashley Farmer" IMPACT (July 2018)
Boston University African American Studies professor Ashley Farmer reflects on Charlottesville, as well as existing racial and gender divides
"Bacterial Survival in Salty Antifreeze Raises Hope for Life on Mars and Icy Moons" Astrobiology (July 2018)
Microbes' ability to survive in sub-zero brine raises possibilities for life on Mars and in the oceans of Europa, Enceladus, and even Pluto.
"Habitability of the Young Earth Could Boost the Chances of Life Elsewhere" Astrobiology (May 2018)
Conditions on early Earth and other terrestrial planets were more moderate than previously thought.
"We Need to Grab Some Rocks from Mars--Let's Just Get On With It" New Scientist (May 2018)
We should fast-track a Mars sample return mission. Here's why.
"Should We Stop Searching for Intelligent Life?" The Smart Set (May 2018)
Is intelligent alien life too smart to be found?
"What Does Consent Mean When One of You is a Robot?" Daily Beast (Feb 2018)
Sex-bots are here. If you thought relationships with humans were complicated...
"The Blurring of the Olympics and Paralympics" Daily Beast (Feb 2018)
Could prosthetic devices change the future of sports by giving athletes an advantage?
"When You Die, You'll Live on as a Robot" Daily Beast (Jan 2018)
Do you want your loved ones to receive texts from you after you die?
"Mars and Earth May Not Have Been Early Neighbors" Astrobiology (Dec 2017)
Some scientists think Mars formed much farther away from the sun and was brought closer by Jupiter.
"What Happened When I Made My Students Put Their Phones in Pouches" Aeon (Oct 2017)
As a classroom experiment, I had students lock their phones away. Here's what happened.
"Swimming with the Fishes" Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel (Oct 2017)
I floated on my back with a stingray riding on my chest. And I pet some sharks.
"How Small Businesses are Embracing AI" Chase (Oct 2017)
As prices of AI solutions drop, small businesses seize opportunities to get new clients and keep the existing ones happy.
"I Got Naked in -250 Degrees in the Name of Health" Vitamin Shoppe (Sept 2017)
So, cryo-therapy is really, really cold, but at least it only lasts a few minutes.
"Tears for Cassini: Why It's Okay to Well Up Over a Lump of Metal" New Scientist (Sept 2017)
The thought of Cassini's final dive into Saturn makes me teary. Is that weird?
"Going to Mars? Meet Your Robot Therapist." Daily Beast (Sept 2017)
For those unable to make it to a therapy couch, AI offers an alternative.
“Orphan Black Was Never About Cloning” Slate (Aug 2017)
The show resonates—loudly—as a clarion call for bio-ethics and bodily autonomy.
"My Cat is My Life Partner, and I'll Have to Say Goodbye Soon" PawCulture (July 2017)
Zola and I have been together for 20 years. Life without her seems unthinkable, but it’s inevitable.
"Of Course 'Doctor Who's' New Star is a Woman. Sci-Fi Has Always Been About Progress." Washington Post (July 2017)
The Doctor isn't even human. Why all the fuss about the character being played by a female?
"I'm Fed Up with Humanity. It's Time for an Alien Intervention." Cognoscenti (July 2017)
Send an alien race. Send the robots. Send the robot aliens. We humans need help.
"How My Students Have Given Me Hope Since the Election" Catapult (July 2017)
Millennials get a bad rap, but I'd feel lost without them.
"From Fascination to Apathy: Our Feelings About the Moon" now.space (June 2017)
Back in the 1960s, the moon was the holy grail. But humans haven't been there in over 40 years. What happened?
"Ashes to Ashes" Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel (May 2017)
Tracing a journey of ashes through Pompeii, Mount St. Helens, 9/11, an Icelandic volcano, and a cremation
"Should Robots Have Rights?" Daily Beast (May 2017)
If you'd have told me ten years ago that I'd write an article promoting robot rights, I wouldn't have believed you. And yet, here I am.
Interview with SpareMin's Matthew DeMello about robot rights:
TEDx WalthamED: "Science Fiction as a Looking Glass: Teaching Students to Save the World" (2017)
"'Are We Alone?' Top Scientists at Cambridge Science Festival Weigh In" now.space (April 2017)
Astronomers, physicists, biologists, chemists, and other scientific experts answer humanity's biggest question.
"Morality in Asimov: Laws of Robotics vs. Laws of Humanics" Critical Insights: Isaac Asimov, Salem Press (April 2017)
Nerd alert! My love of Asimov takes a scholarly (and somewhat misanthropic) turn.
"Mars: A Food Odyssey" Zillamunch (April 2017)
What will astronauts eat on Mars? Farm-to-table on the Red Planet.
"Why Humans Love Robots Like People" Daily Beast (March 2017)
Even though they can't love us back, humans can become quite attached to robots.
Interview with SpareMin's Matthew DeMello about our affection for robots:
"TRAPPIST-1 is Only 40 Light Years Away. Wait. What?" Cognoscenti (March 2017)
Only 40 light years, says NASA. But how far away is that, really? And can we actually get there?
"If I Only Had a Brain: How AI 'Thinks'" Daily Beast (Feb 2017)
Machines seem pretty smart, but they have their limitations. Will understanding human intelligence provide the key to overcoming them?
Radio interview about machine learning with John Fugelsang on "Tell Me Everything":
"Why Closing the Arecibo Observatory is a Blow for Science and Imagination" now.space (Feb 2017)
Visiting the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is probably the closest I'll ever come to aliens.
"The Skeptic vs. The Believer: Two Minds, Two Men, and Two Nights in Mexico" Misadventures (Feb 2017)
When you can't tell what someone's motivations are, but you stay along for the ride because you are too curious not to.
"Science Fiction for the New Year (and the New Administration)" Ploughshares (Dec 2016)
Important lessons from sci-fi, which has never been more relevant (it feels as though we're trapped in an episode of Black Mirror, doesn't it?)
"Where Robots Cage-Fight to the Death" Daily Beast (Dec 2016)
Robot wars have evolved since the 1990s. Could they be preparing us for the future?
"Can Robots Make Moral Decisions? Should They?" Daily Beast (Nov 2016)
Self-driving cars and other robots make decisions--should those decisions be based on logic, morality, or randomness?
WBAL radio interview about robots and morality:
"The Next Generation: Children in Science Fiction Understand What Adults Can't" Ploughshares blog (Nov 2016)
Children are often the source of hope in sci-fi because they haven't been conditioned like us poor adults.
"Never Say Never" Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel (Nov 2016)
The history and significance of hákarl, Iceland's putrefied shark dish, is even more memorable than its taste.
"A Former Charter School Teacher Wades Into the Debate" Cognoscenti (Nov 2016)
I taught at a magnificent charter school for five years, and it turned me into a believer.
"Sci-Fi Suggests We Can't Run Away From Our Problems, Even if We Go to Space" Ploughshares blog (Oct 2016)
Would colonizing Mars (or anywhere else) only spread humanity's dysfunctions?
"Robot Nurses Will Make Shortages Obsolete" Daily Beast (Sept 2016)
How would you feel about a giant mechanical teddy bear taking your pulse?
"And Their Eyes Glazed Over" Aeon (Sept 2016)
My college students have an appetite for distraction, and their phone use has fundamentally changed the classroom.
"The Humanoid Robot Space Explorer" Daily Beast (Sept 2016)
This robot will likely walk on Mars before any humans do. Robots in spaaaace!
"Aliens in Sci-Fi: What's 'Out There' Has Always Reflected What's 'In Here'" Ploughshares blog (Sept 2016)
Aliens in sci-fi have changed in appearance and origin over time, but they’ve always reflected our fear of ourselves.
"What Should We Do If Aliens Try To Contact Us?" Slate (Sept 2016)
Even though the signal was probably terrestrial interference, it got people thinking about how we would respond to aliens.
"How We Colonize Mars is More Important than When" The Space Review (Sept 2016)
With all the recent talk of manned missions to Mars, I updated and republished this piece (and got props from astrobiologist David Grinspoon!)
"The Evolution of Artificial Life in Science Fiction" Ploughshares blog (Aug 2016)
Before there were robots, there was Frankenstein's monster.
"What if 'Internet for Everyone' Isn't Such A Good Idea?" Cognoscenti (July 2016)
Why we should worry about the consequences and be skeptical of the motives behind Facebook, Google, and Microsoft's push to get everyone online.
"As a Teacher, I Know Plagiarism When I See It" The Guardian (July 2016)
Stealing Michelle Obama’s words deserves more than the “F” Melanie Trump would receive if she were in my class.
"How My Dad's Death Brought His Ex Back to Life" Full Grown People (July 2016)
The last thing we expected after my dad died was to have a legal throw-down with his ex-wife.
"Cycling on Roads Can Make You Lose Faith in Humanity" The Guardian (June 2016)
It shouldn't need to be said: cyclists (even the annoying ones) are humans too. And we’re at far greater risk than drivers.
"Robots Are Taking White Collar Jobs, Too" Daily Beast (June 2016)
Robo-lawyers will overrule your objections.
Radio interview with WBAL Radio and Maryland's Morning News about robots performing white-collar jobs:
"Contagion: Trump's Anger And The Souring of America's Collective Mood" Cognoscenti (May 2016)
I'm too angry to not write this piece. Is it November yet?
"Bartending Robots Are Coming For Your Cocktail" Daily Beast (May 2016)
Is there an algorithm for mixing the perfect drink?
"Studying 'Ultra-Cool' Stars in the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life" Cognoscenti (May 2016)
Next comes the mashed potato sculpture.
"Cyborgs Aren't Just For Sci-Fi Anymore" Daily Beast (April 2016)
From prosthetics to superhuman upgrades, the human-machine merge has begun.
"Ding Dong, It's the Pizza Delivery Robot" Daily Beast (April 2016)
No tips necessary (at least, not until the robots wise up).
"The Next Picasso is a Robot" Daily Beast (March 2016)
Think art will always separate humans from machines? Think again.
"Why Scientists Want to Study Robot Roaches" Daily Beast (March 2016)
Robot roaches > real roaches.
"Would You Vote for a Robot?" Daily Beast (March 2016)
In this election, absolutely.
"My Super Tuesday Dilemma: What Would Dad Do?" Cognoscenti (Feb 2016)
Hillary or Bernie? I'd give anything for my dad's advice right about now.
"Don't Pass Go: AI Will Beat You at Pretty Much Everything" Daily Beast (Feb 2016)
Why you shouldn't invite robots to your game night.
"The Affair: A Celebration of White Male Privilege in the Literary World" Bust (Feb 2016)
I loved season 1, but as a woman and a writer, I have some serious problems with season 2.
"RIP To the Godfather of Robots" Daily Beast (Jan 2016)
My tribute to Marvin Minsky.
"My New Year's Resolution Not To Be Vegan" Entropy (Jan 2016)
I argue for and against veganism at the same time.
"The Stars Are Not For Man" Full Grown People (Jan 2016)
How Childhood's End taught me that loss can prompt evolution.
"Saving Humans From Themselves: Why the Overlords Kill Science in Childhood's End" Slate (Dec 2015)
Arthur Clarke raises important questions in one of my favorite books (even if the Syfy miniseries is pretty bad)
"Will Mining Celestial Bodies Ruin Space?" Cognoscenti (Dec 2015)
The Asteroid Resources Property Rights Acts may have negative long-term consequences.
"The Worst Driving City in the Country Needs Driverless Cars" Cognoscenti (Sept 2015)
Driverless cars can’t be much worse than human drivers in Boston.
"Ambivalence About Having Kids Has Pushed Me Down An Existential Rabbit Hole" Full Grown People (August 2015)
To be a parent or not to be a parent--that is the question.
"Why I Broke Up With My Novel to Write a Memoir" LitHub (June 2015)
I used to be a fiction writer. Then the fiction got a bit too real.
"Who's Watching the Children? Everyone." geekpuff (May 2015)
I engage my dystopian thoughts about what Facebook knows about our kids.
"Artificial Intelligence, Real Emotion?" Slate (April 2015)
Ex Machina explores the question of whether a robot likes you, is programmed to like you, or is pretending.
"I Went on a Blind Date Pretending to Be a Pirate" XoJane (Jan 2015)
My first internet date was an interesting one.
"Science Fiction and the Loss of Technology" Screen/Read (Nov 2014)
What science fiction gains from eschewing technology.
“Realizations of an Over-the-Hill Backpacker” Wherever Magazine (Issue 4, Fall 2014)
I'm the oldest person in the hostel.
"Almost Humane: What Sci-Fi Can Teach Us About Our Treatment of Prisoners of War" Slate (Oct 2014)
What can we learn from the fictional torture of robots and aliens?
"How We Colonize Mars Is More Important Than When" Slippage (Issue 3, Summer 2014)
When has colonization ever gone well?
"Nothing To Worry About: On Living With Phobias" The Toast (July 2014)
I'm terrified of spiders, but they're not going anywhere.
“Hockeytown” Praxis Magazine (April 2014)
Hockey is a lot more than players crashing into each other while wearing skates.
“The Most Terrifying Kids' Book” Slate (March 2014)
Telling our kids that “Death is Wrong” is a big mistake.
“What My Cat Taught Me About Love” Praxis Magazine (March 2014)
Unconditional love has always seemed impossible—until I rescued a kitten.
“Here’s How to Convince the Public That We Need to Invest in Space Exploration” Slate (Jan 2014)
What will it take to get NASA more money?
"Linked In, Tuned Out: Why Travelers Should Limit Their Tech" Clever Magazine (Dec 2013)
I debate whether to bring an iPad to Portugal.
"How About a Pop Culture Litmus Test?" The Toast (Nov 2013)
Students keep getting younger and I keep getting older.
"Insert Your Belief Here" Killing the Buddha (Oct 2013)
Why Unitarianism is a saving grace.
"Isaac Asimov Would Love Pacific Rim's Robots" Slate (July 2013)
Robots and humans: collaborators or competitors?
"The Art of Complaining" Praxis Magazine (July 2013)
Who doesn't love a good rant about work, especially in haiku form?
"What the Mind Forgets, the Body Remembers" Cognoscenti (June 2013)
Anniversaries can be physical as well as emotional.
"Deliverance: A Holy Bus Journey to Bosnia" BootsnAll (June 2013)
About the amazing man I met on the bus to Sarajevo.
"How Farfetched Is the Clone Conspiracy on BBC America's Orphan Black?" Slate (March 2013)
Is it possible to clone a human?
"What Would Aldous Huxley Say About Our Always-Connected Society?" Slate (Jan 2013)
Most of us are connected to the internet by more than one device.
"A Sort of Homecoming" Barely South Review (Sept 2012)
An essay about death, coming home, and Don DeLillo's White Noise.
"Implanting Memories like in Total Recall: Could it Happen?" Slate (July 2012)
Remember that? Are you sure?
"Could the Earth's Rotation Slow Down Like It Does in the New Novel The Age of Miracles?" Slate (June 2012)
Spoiler: it would pretty much suck if this happened.
"Heartbrake" Praxis Magazine (April 2012)
Someone stole my new bike. There is a circle of hell reserved for this person.
"Falling Short" Northwind Magazine (April 2012)
A short story about cruelty and teenage love.
"Should've Known Better" Praxis Magazine (September 2011)
My first crush was Richard Marx. Stop laughing.
"Gringo's Dilemma" Praxis Magazine (April 2011)
How do we travel without contributing to cultural appropriation?
"How I Spent My Free Will" Minnetonka Review (Winter 2011)
In which Albert Camus and Kazuo Ishiguro argue about philosophy.
"Finding Fathers" Ducts (Dec 2010)
About politics and fatherhood.
"Making Luck" Paradigm (Sept 2010)
About living through 9/11 and the nature of luck.
"The War and the Roses" Guernica (Feb 2010)
An essay about Sarajevo, the city that stole my heart.
"Letters to Ray Bradbury" Konundrum (Sept 2009)
I tell Bradbury how amazing he is and what his work has done for me.
"I Went to Psychotherapy and All I Got was This Lousy T-Shirt" Defenestration (Sept 2009)
And a whopping bill, of course.
"Freedom & Absurdity: The Stranger in the Classroom" Briarpatch (Sept 2009)
Teaching Albert Camus to a bunch of high schoolers. What could go wrong?
"Cousin Paul and Mr. T" Defenestration (May 2009)
Flash fiction about two weird and awesome dudes.
Self Park, an ekphrastic collaboration of poetry and art (Summer 2008)
Poetry and paintings--what's not to like?