Ferris Jabr

Author bio

Ferris Jabr is a writer based in Portland, Oregon. He has written for the New York Times Magazine, Scientific American, and Outside, among other publications. Some of his work has been anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing series.

Ferris Jabr’s Contributions:

Can We Really Be Friends with an Octopus?

When octopuses are social, are they reaching out or simply reacting?

Jan 11, 2022 | 4,200 words, about 21 minutes

The Long, Knotty, World-Spanning Story of String

String is far more important than the wheel in the pantheon of inventions.

Mar 6, 2018 | 2,500 words, about 13 minutes

Fish Feel Pain. Now What?

Terrestrial animals get humane treatment and legal protections, but until now, fish pain has largely been ignored.

Jan 2, 2018 | 3,300 words, about 17 minutes

Corals, such as these staghorn corals on the Great Barrier Reef, are cued to spawn during a full moon. Photo by Becca Saunders/Minden Pictures

The Lunar Sea

The moon influences life in a surprising and subtle way: with its light.

Jun 13, 2017 | 2,400 words, about 12 minutes

A multitude of marine organisms are bioluminescent, able to generate “living light” through chemical reactions. Photo by Lisa Werner/Alamy Stock Photo

The Secret History of Bioluminescence

Illuminating maps during war, guiding planes to safety, making genes and proteins visible—organisms get their glow on to help humans.

May 10, 2016 | 2,100 words, about 10 minutes

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