Julia Franz

Julia is a freelance writer who contributes to PRI.org.

Archie, a chihuahua, is pictured here.

How do you take the perfect dog portrait? The Dogist has you covered.

Trust the man. He’s photographed 15,000 dogs.

How do you take the perfect dog portrait? The Dogist has you covered.
President Obama

American Icons: ‘Amazing Grace’

American Icons: ‘Amazing Grace’
science books in 2017

The best science books of 2017

The best science books of 2017
Reading about science isn't just for grown-ups: There are many excellent science-related children's books, too.

The year's best science books for kids have something for everyone

The year's best science books for kids have something for everyone
The Himalayas — where legends say the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, roams.

In DNA testing, ‘Yeti’ samples come up bears, bears, bears

In DNA testing, ‘Yeti’ samples come up bears, bears, bears
Hampshire College library

Hampshire College goes 100 percent solar

Hampshire is the first residential college in the US to source its electricity entirely from renewable energy.

Hampshire College goes 100 percent solar
Tesla's new semi truck.

Is the semitruck of the future electric?

Tesla recently unveiled the Tesla Semi, an all-electric truck. USA Today tech reporter Marco della Cava explains why it may not flip the industry just yet.

Is the semitruck of the future electric?
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

An FCC vote to dismantle net neutrality is expected this week. Here’s what that means.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai refers to the planned repeal as “restoring internet freedom.”

An FCC vote to dismantle net neutrality is expected this week. Here’s what that means.
Coal

Another way to look at the fossil record? By examining coal.

If you’re like most people, you probably think of coal as a chunk of black fossil fuel. Geologist Jen O’Keefe sees it differently.

Another way to look at the fossil record? By examining coal.
Bats flying near Bracken Cave, Texas.

For the future of self-driving technology, look to ... bats?

Scientists still aren’t sure how bats avoid colliding with one another in swarms. Solving the mysteries of their “biological sonar” could give us clues for our own technology.

For the future of self-driving technology, look to ... bats?
It might be raining diamonds on Neptune

After Cassini, where to next?

For some astronomers, the ice giants Neptune and Uranus are a tantalizing option.

After Cassini, where to next?
Soccer ball

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men

They "found that women tended to have damage to a greater part of their brain and to more discrete areas of the brain than the men who headed the ball the same amount."

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men
passenger pigeon

Why did passenger pigeons go extinct?

New research into pigeon genetics may provide some clues.

Why did passenger pigeons go extinct?
new vascular imaging models

Explore the mysteries of the vascular system in Science Friday's newest 'Macroscope' video

“It's literally like going on a discovery mission every day,” M. Scott Echols says.

Explore the mysteries of the vascular system in Science Friday's newest 'Macroscope' video
sweat bee

Most bees are solitary animals, and 4 other surprising bee facts

Bee researcher Shalene Jha dishes on the secret life of bees.

Most bees are solitary animals, and 4 other surprising bee facts