Stephen Pyne

Stephen Pyne

Emeritus Professor of Life Sciences, Arizona State University

Dr. Pyne teaches courses on fire, environmental history, history of exploration, and nonfiction writing. He was a prime mover behind the Certificate in Nonfiction Writing and Publishing. He has authored big-screen books on the fire histories of the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe (including Russia), and the Earth overall; studies of Antarctica, Grand Canyon, the Voyager mission, and, with his daughter, Lydia, the Pleistocene; and a book about writing nonfiction.

Latest articles by Stephen Pyne

Firefighters work to put out the Palisades fire

'We are creating the fire equivalent of an ice age': Humans have plunged Earth into the 'Pyrocene'

By Stephen Pyne published

Humans have become a geologic force by cooking the planet — using fire on a scale that is altering land, water, air and ecosystems.

Wildfires
Wind and flames rip through an area near Geyserville, California, during the Kincade Fire on Oct. 24, 2019.

California Wildfires Signal the Arrival of a Planetary Fire Age

By Stephen Pyne published

Opinion The Earth may be entering an era in which natural and human-generated fire together are reshaping the planet.

Opinion
The sun, as it appeared on April 13, 2016.

With Human 'Fire Power' Comes Great Responsibility (Op-Ed)

By Stephen Pyne published

Opinion Fire has played a vital role in human history, and will continue to. Recent advances in fusion herald the freeing of fire from captivity back into its natural form.

Opinion