Stephen Petranek is an American writer, and editor of Breakthrough Technology Alert.

He has previously edited Discover, and The Washington Post's magazine.

[4] Petranek spoke at the TED conference in 2002, and again in 2016.

Petranek attended the University of Maryland College Park, receiving a BS, Business Administration.

He served as editor-in-chief of the award-winning college newspaper, the Diamondback.