Quinn Burkhart Writer

writer + science communicator + outdoor adventurer


Scientists use Summit supercomputer to explore exotic stellar phenomena | ORNL

Understanding how a thermonuclear flame spreads across the surface of a neutron star — and what that spreading can tell us about the relationship between the neutron star’s mass and its radius — can also reveal a lot about the star’s composition. Neutron stars — the compact remnants of supernova explosions — are found throughout the universe. Because most stars are in binary systems, it is possible for a neutron star to have a stellar companion. X-ray bursts occur when matter accumulates on the...

CyberShake study uses Summit supercomputer to investigate earthquake hazards

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Researchers at the Statewide California Earthquake Center, or SCEC, are unraveling the mysteries of earthquakes by using physics-based computational models running on high-performance computing systems at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The team's findings will provide a better understanding

Urgent Science | Chesapeake Bay Magazine

Citizen science, education, and crucial research come together along the Rhode River at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.


By Marty LeGrand


The band on Sally Lechner’s floppy, broad-brimmed hat has sweated through. Her twin neckerchiefs barely absorb the effects of an afternoon in the mid-90s. But as she wipes her eyeglasses, the Edgewater resident looks as happy as a clam at high tide. “Look, look at what we’re standing on,” she says of the catwalk where researchers perch as t...

May the Forest Be with You—SERC’s ForestGEO Census

We’ve known for years that many of Earth’s forests are dying out and struggling to replenish their populations. At the Forest Global Earth Observatory, or ForestGEO, scientists are attempting to get to the root of this issue. A global network of research sites and scientists, ForestGEO studies how climate change is affecting tropical and temperate forests globally. Worldwide, ForestGEO examines how forests are changing over time at 67 sites in 27 countries. This totals to about 12,000 species an

The Scientists’ Time Machine—Otherwise Known as Ginkgos

When the word fossil comes to mind, the first thing many people think of are dinosaurs. Of course, dinosaurs are long extinct. Yet, as crazy as it sounds, we can find ourselves walking under the shade of a special fossil that grew in the age of the dinosaurs too. We call this “fossil” a ginkgo tree–an ancient plant giving us a glimpse into the future.

All summer long, three passionate interns at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) have been hard at work studying a large plot of

The Invisible Flood: When We Can't Tell We're Drowning

Most people need to visit the ocean to get their sea water fix. But beneath their feet, those waters may already be closer than they think. “Saltwater intrusion,” which occurs when the sea level rises and pushes large amounts of saltwater onto the coast, is one of the most prominent—and least talked about—effects of climate change. Its influence on the Chesapeake Bay, one of the lowest regions in the United States, is gaining traction.

As the planet heats up, ice melts and warming water expands

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Science is for everybody; my work reflects that. As a science storyteller, I create stories accessible across different platforms. This includes short-form and long-form storytelling on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Take a look at some webinars I've hosted.