Meet Tech Editor Ben Guarino

Who is our Tech Editor at Scientific American? [SciAm Logo]( Meet the Editor: Ben Guarino [Head shot of Ben Guarino]( At the start of the year Ben Guarino joined Scientific American as an associate technology editor, bringing with him more than a decade of experience in science journalism. His unexpected journey into the field began while working as a lab technician with cadaver spines. During that time he read Mary Roach’s Stiff and, captivated by its vivid portrayal of science, decided to leave the lab and pursue a career in journalism. Previously, Ben spent nearly six years as a reporter at the Washington Post and two years as an editor at Popular Science. His commitment to science journalism extends beyond simply relaying scientific progress and making complex topics accessible for readers. “There is a common misconception that science journalists are solely advocates for science,” Ben explains. “While I respect the scientific process and admire the remarkable achievements it yields, no system is perfect. My role is also to hold scientists and their institutions accountable—to dive deep, ask tough questions and share the full story with our readers,” he says. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this job is learning from brilliant minds, but it’s important to ensure their work can withstand critical examination.” For Ben, the value of science journalism lies in its ability to provide both insight and wonder. Quoting speechwriter and columnist William Safire, he says, “Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight.” This philosophy shapes his storytelling whether he’s reporting on Neuralink’s first successful [brain chip implantation in humans]( or investigating the structural failures that led to the [2023 collapse of a Baltimore bridge.]( Support Our Mission To stay ahead of groundbreaking developments in areas such as AI, biotechnology and climate tech and to support Ben’s work, subscribe to Scientific American. [Subscribe]( Explore Ben's Work [What Giant Data Breaches Mean for You]( [What Giant Data Breaches Mean for You]( The security expert who created Have I Been Pwned? shares advice for protecting sensitive data. [Google Search Ruled a Monopoly: What’s Next?]( [Google Search Ruled a Monopoly: What’s Next?]( An antitrust expert explains Monday’s landmark legal decision that Google illegally cemented its dominance in Internet search [Defend Yourself against AI Impostor Scams with a Safe Word]( [Defend Yourself against AI Impostor Scams with a Safe Word]( Fraudsters are using AI voice-cloning services to steal identities. Code words can thwart this deception. [Longer and Longer Freight Trains Drive Up the Odds of Derailment]( [Longer and Longer Freight Trains Drive Up the Odds of Derailment]( Replacing two 50-car trains with a single 100-car train increases the odds of derailment by 11 percent, according to a new risk analysis. [This Computer Scientist Seeks a Future Where AI Development Values Copyright]( [This Computer Scientist Seeks a Future Where AI Development Values Copyright]( The new nonprofit Fairly Trained certifies that artificial intelligence models license copyrighted data—which often isn’t the case. [Scientific American October 2024 Issue]( [$1 for 90 Days!]( Get digital access to the latest research, ideas and knowledge in science. [Subscribe]( To view this email as a web page,[go here](. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American or you have registered for an account with Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add news@scientificamerican.com to your address book. [Unsubscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact Us](