Deborah Blum is an American science journalist and director of the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was born on October 19, 1954, in Urbana, Illinois. Blum is the author of several books that explore the intersection of science, history, and public health. Her notable works include The Poisoner's Handbook, published in 2010, and The Poison Squad, published in 2018. Both books demonstrate her skill in making complex scientific and historical subjects accessible to general audiences. Beyond her books, Blum has contributed to major publications as a columnist for The New York Times and as a blogger for Wired, where she wrote for a blog titled Elemental. Her work in science journalism has established her as a prominent voice in making scientific topics engaging and understandable for the public.