I’m Anne N. Connor, a New-England-based freelance writer with a master’s in science writing from Johns Hopkins University. My beat is solution-focused stories about climate, the environment, and sustainable food systems. I also write about health. Here are some of my freelance clips.
A Cognitive Compass: AI and the Aging Brain
”If physicians are aided by a technology that tells them about a pattern, they can provide better care.” AI doesn’t replace human knowledge or physician expertise — it strengthens them. Profile of Dr. David Jones, director of neurology AI at the Mayo Clinic. Mayo Magazine, December 2024. https://mayomagazine.mayoclinic.org/2024/12/ai-and-the-aging-brain/
Book Review: Industrial Farm Animal Production
I wrote a 150-word review of a 423-page book on industrial farm animal production. Published December 4, 2024, in Civil Eats.
Climate Solutions for the Future of Coffee
In the face of climate change, the coffee industry is refocusing on agroforestry and developing hardier varieties and high-tech beanless brews.
Sustainable Farmers See Promise in New Financing Options
Some small farms are rejecting expansion pressure by investing in the long-term value of their land and livestock. Will funders follow suit? Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2023/02/sustainable-farmers-see-promise-in-new-financing-options/
Lakes Are More Sensitive to Salt Than We Thought.
An international study shows harm to aquatic ecosystems at low concentrations, suggesting a need to tighten limits. Ensia. https://ensia.com/articles/road-salt-lakes-aquatic-ecosystems-harmful-algal-bloom/
Can Biodigesters Save America’s Small Dairy Farms?
This sustainable technology presents an opportunity to turn cow manure and food waste into renewable energy and added income. But biodigesters are not always easy to operate, and they can be costly to replace. A look at the pros and cons. Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2022/05/biodigesters-dairy-farms/
Building a Better Barn
Stepping back from the supply-chain chaos of the pandemic into the solid, low-tech building methods of the 19th century turned out to be just what I — and the environment —needed. Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2022/01/building-a-better-barn/
Neurons Simplify Visual Signals by Responding to Only One Retina
Mice have neurons that connect to both eyes but only propagate the signal from one or the other, simplifying the information sent to the cerebral cortex. The Scientist. https://www.the-scientist.com/the-literature/neurons-simplify-visual-signals-by-responding-to-only-one-retina-69224
Road Salt is Imperiling Aquatic Ecosystems. It Doesn’t Have To.
A pilot project shows we can balance our need for safe roads with our duty to protect nature. Undark. https://undark.org/2021/03/11/road-salt-imperils-aquatic-ecosystems/
Snowshoeing and Other Endangered Activities
Snowshoeing has become an endangered activity. As freezing rain has replaced snow cover, a winter walk in the New England woods is more likely to involve ice cleats than snowshoes. The average wintertime temperature in Vermont has increased by three degrees since 1895, tipping precipitation from dry snow to wet, from snow to ice, and…
Searching High and Low for the Origins of Life
Researchers think they’re getting warmer: They’ve created amino acids and primitive membranes by simulating conditions found at scalding vents on the ocean floor. Knowable. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/searching-high-and-low-origins-life
San Antonio Finds the Key to Flood Control in Its Gardens
As climate change brings heavier rains, local officials and developers are managing the deluge of stormwater runoff with some low-tech—and pretty—solutions. National Resources Defense Council, Southwest Dispatch. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/san-antonio-finds-key-flood-control-its-gardens