Features
I regularly write feature-length articles and occasional commentary for science-focused and more generalist publications addressing international audiences. I cover science, technology, and policy in the areas of ocean science, ocean ecosystems, and climate change.
I’m always open to discussing ideas for collaborations and commissions. Feel free to contact me at olive@oliveheffernan.com.
Can 14 nations put global ocean protection back on track?
China Dialogue
Feb 2021
Penguin puzzle
BBC Wildlife
Sept 2020
Who rules climate intervention on the high seas?
China Dialogue
Sept 2020
Why a landmark treaty to stop ocean biopiracy could stymie research
Nature
March 2020
Kelp. A cry for help
BBC Wildlife
January 2020
The hidden fight to stop illegal fishing from destroying our oceans
WIRED
Sept 2019
Melting sea ice may be a boon for some Arctic whales, then a bust
National Geographic
July 2019
Seabed mining is coming – bring riches and fears of epic extinctions
Nature
July 2019
Scientists track damage from controversial deep-sea mining method
Nature
March 2019
Deep-sea mining could our wreck last unexplored ecosystem
New Scientist
Jan 2019
Fuel taxes are a bitter pill we must all swallow
New Scientist
December 2018
Coming down the tracks
Nature Climate Change
October 2018
UN makes a bold move to protect marine life on the high seas
Scientific American
Sept 2018
Towing icebergs to Cape Town is a poor way to halt the water crisis
New Scientist
May 2018
How to save the high seas
Nature
May 2018
Why the hockey stick graph will always be climate science’s icon
New Scientist
April 2018
Why climate engineers are targeting Earth’s last pristine spots
New Scientist
April 2018
Earth at risk, Our best way to geoengineer the climate may well trash the plants
New Scientist
Feb 2018
Rock dusting on farms could cool the climate, so let’s try it
New Scientist
Feb 2018
Our best way to geoengineer the climate may well trash Earth
New Scientist
Feb 2018
Tackle UK’s killer toxic air before waging war on ocean plastic
New Scientist
Jan 2018
Troubled waters
Scientific American
Jan 2018
Even small emissions cuts will slow sea level rise
New Scientist
Jan 2018
Faltering carbon capture needs more investment not doubt
New Scientist
Dec 2017
Let’s hope chickless penguin colony can come back from the brink
New Scientist
Nov 2017
Steep decline of wasps.
New Scientist
Oct 2017
Giant ocean fish farms to solve food security? There’s a catch.
New Scientist
Sept 2017
Can a mega-forest offset Trump’s climate chaos?
New Scientist
Aug 2017
Hailing e-Volvos as imminent saviours of the planet is nonsense
New Scientist
July 2017
Living with climate change: Can we limit global warming to 2°C?
New Scientist
June 2017
Geoengineering fears make scrutiny of ocean seeding test vital
New Scientist
June 2017
Captive breeding is a final roll of the dice for the vaquita
New Scientist
May 2017
Unshackled, big auto will keep choking the world on diesel fumes.
New Scientist
May 2017
A meaty issue
Nature
April 2017
It just got harder to deny climate change drives extreme weather
New Scientist
March 2017
De-extinction dilemma
New Scientist
Feb 2017
Great lettuce crisis is a taste of climate crop chaos to come
New Scientist
Feb 2017
Climate research is gaining ground
Nature Climate Change
Mar 2016
An Earth made verdant by greenhouse gases brings its own dangers
New Scientist
April 2016
Major biodiversity panel desperately seeks social scientists
Nature
April 2016
Peaks and troughs
Nature Energy
April 2016
Bison return to forests across Europe as part of mass rewilding
New Scientist
March 2016
Reviving Europe’s long-lost beasts
New Scientist
March 2016
The mystery of the expanding tropics
Nature
Feb 2016
Back from the brink
New Scientist
Jan 2016
Hundreds of giant dinosaur footprints found in Scottish lagoon
New Scientist
Dec 2015
Polar wildlife under threat as ice melts and makes seas brighter
New Scientist
Dec 2015
El Nino forces King Penguins to swim further
New Scientist
Oct 2015
Bottoms Up
Scientific American
July 2014
Pacific puzzle
Nature Climate Change
March 2014
Warming the world’s food supply
Yale Environment 360
Feb 2013
The Dry Facts
Nature
Sept 2013
Scientist solves mystery of green lightning
National Geographic
Dec 2013
The great greening
New Scientist
October 2013
Plan to rear flies on an industrial scale
The Guardian
October 2013
Earth’s ozone hole on bumpy road to recovery
National Geographic
Dec 2013
No going back
Nature
Nov 2012