I'm an earth science writer for NASA. In my spare time, I blog about transportation for Streetsblog and The Examiner. Previously, I was a medical reporter for U.S. News & World Report where I focused on environmental and men's health. I've also written for Popular Science and a variety of other publications.

In 2005, I graduated from Brown University with a degree in geology-biology. I couldn't get enough of school, so I'm currently working on a masters in science and medical writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Like most people, I have parents. Mine own a heating and cooling company and gave me one farmer brother, one architect brother, and one younger sister. We grew up in Montague, a town of about 9,000 in Western Massachusetts. These days, I live with my fiancée in Washington, a few blocks from the Capitol building.

Much to my chagrin, Japanese firefighters extinguished this campfire--which I had spent a considerable amount of time building--shortly after this picture was taken. Fortunately, the fire chief was a friendly fellow who offered me dinner, put me up in the firehouse, and even posed for photos.