Dennis Overbye Explained

Dennis Overbye (born June 2, 1944, in Seattle, Washington) is a science writer specializing in physics and cosmology and was the cosmic affairs correspondent for The New York Times.^[1]

Biography

He has written two books: Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos, about scientists and their quest to understand the universe, and Einstein in Love, dealing with Albert Einstein's youth and the controversy surrounding the degree to which Einstein's first wife, Mileva Marić, contributed to the theory of relativity.^[2] He joined the staff of The New York Times in 1998 as deputy science editor, then switched to full-time writing. In 2014 he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.^[3] Overbye retired from his position as cosmic affairs correspondent for the New York Times in December, 2024.^[4]

Books

• Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe, Harper-Collins (1991), & (finalist, Nation Book Critics Circle Award for non-fiction). Second edition (with new afterword), Back Bay, 1999.
• Einstein in Love: A Scientific Romance, Viking (2000),

Awards

• American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award, 1980 and 1992
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Science Journalism Award, 2005 (for large newspaper writing)

External links

• Bio on Edge.org
• New York Times author index page
• Interview with Overbye on the Marketing for Scientists blog

Notes and References

1. News: Overbye . Dennis . Did an Alien Life-Form Do a Drive-By of Our Solar System in 2017? . subscription . 26 January 2021 . The New York Times . 26 January 2021.
2. News: A genius - but you wouldn't want to marry him . Gerrard . Nicci . Nicci French . 13 May 2001 . . 3 April 2010.
3. News: 2014 Pulitzer Prize Winners in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music . April 14, 2014 . The New York Times.
4. Web site: Overbye . Dennis . Dennis Overbye on Retiring from The New York Times: A Solstice of the Soul . The New York Times . December 20, 2024 . December 20, 2024.