Maggie Koerth
Contributing Columnist
NatureMaggie Koerth is an award-winning science writer who has covered the intersection of science and society for publications such as FiveThirtyEight.com, the New York Times Magazine and Undark magazine. She also appears regularly on NPR’s “Science Friday.” She lives in Minneapolis.
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Latest from Maggie Koerth
Koerth: The link between racial covenants and the development of Minneapolis parks
It’s no coincidence many of these parks came to be during a time of racially exclusive housing policies, according to a University of Minnesota researcher.
November 16, 2025
Koerth: What do your memories smell like?
Scientists know how smells get to your brain, but not as much about how they connect us to certain places or events from our past.
September 30, 2025
Koerth: Why do so many people think crime is up when it’s actually going down?
I’ve come to realize it’s not just about actual incidents, but also about feelings and beliefs.
August 26, 2025
Koerth: We may not be able to get rid of invasive plants, but we can eat (some of) them
Creeping bellflower? It’s 100% edible. Foraging makes us think differently about our cultural norms.
August 4, 2025
Koerth: What goes on behind the scenes to make a good fishing hole in the city
The Twin Cities stands out for the number of places people can fish in an urban area. Here’s what state workers do to make sure the fish are diverse and safe to eat.
July 5, 2025
Koerth: Finding a ‘third place’ in a park while eating garlic bread with strangers
A park can be a third place — outside of your home and your office — to socialize, or it might not. It all depends on how it’s used.
June 1, 2025
Koerth: Is a severe-weather forecast ever really a bust?
Forecasting is more dynamic than ever, but meteorologists do nuance, and their audience might not.
May 6, 2025
Koerth: Even in Duluth, winter isn’t what it used to be
And the effects of that change are more than just physical.
March 18, 2025
Koerth: This ‘path of desire’ takes you to a magical place we aren’t supposed to be
In the winter, an unofficial path carved out by other visitors past a fence and “No Trespassing” signs takes you to right up to the frozen Minnehaha Falls.
February 4, 2025
Koerth: How one unhoused man experiences, and depends on, nature in the city
For him, it’s both a tool of survival and source of joy. And also at times, a challenge.
December 26, 2024
Koerth: Overcrowded classrooms aren’t a solution to balancing Minneapolis Public Schools’ budget
If we want our kids to thrive, we cannot just keep throwing 30 children into a room and crossing our fingers.
December 10, 2024
Koerth: The triumph of the urban turkey
Here’s how they came to be such a presence. (It was a joint effort.)
November 24, 2024
