More from Lauren Leffer (Page 2)

an image taken with a microscope that shows a fruit fly approaching a tower made of tiny roundworms

Worm towers are all around us

By Lauren Leffer

orange and yellow flames on a black background

Can humans spontaneously combust? The baffling cases explained.

By Lauren Leffer

A wildfire frontline with emergency services nearby, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

Are we in a sixth mass extinction?

By Lauren Leffer

a baby howler monkey on the back of a juvenile capuchin

Capuchin monkeys kidnap baby howler monkeys, shocking scientists

By Lauren Leffer

a split image of two newly discovered poison dart frogs. the one on the left has yellow legs with brown spots and green-ish stripes. the frog on the right has a brown body with light blue stripes

It’s raining tiny toxic frogs

By Lauren Leffer

three plant species

Scientists discover how some flowers mimic the smell of death

By Lauren Leffer

seven women in dive gear stand on black rocks above the ocean on a cloudy day

South Korea’s ‘sea women’ are genetically adapted for their tough trade

By Lauren Leffer

A milkman having his float inspected, circa 1935.

What was food like before the FDA?

By Lauren Leffer

Bone collector cases are carefully constructed from silk and exoskeleton parts.

‘Bone collector’ caterpillar wears the body parts of dead bugs

By Lauren Leffer

a spiral galaxy with red, white, and yellow stars, swirling around a bright, yellow, star in the center

Is the universe really infinite? Astrophysicists explain.

By Lauren Leffer

the color spectrum

Five people view a never-before-seen color called ‘olo’

By Lauren Leffer

three researchers padding a canoe on a polluted waterway under a bridge

Pollution-eating microbes are thriving in infamous NYC canal

By Lauren Leffer

small gumballs in bright colors including green, blue, red, pink, orange, white, yellow, and purple

Chew on this: The 10,000-year history of gum

By Lauren Leffer

water from a faucet fills a plastic cup

Why is fluoride in water so controversial? The science of fluoridation, explained.

By Lauren Leffer

When you were conceived could impact your weight

By Lauren Leffer

Fishing boat on sea

Stop stirring up the seafloor

By Lauren Leffer

one brown horse and one black horse run along green fields in iceland

Scientists discover why horses are such exceptional athletes

By Lauren Leffer

four Budgerigars sit on a stick on plain background

We finally know how parrots ‘talk’

By Lauren Leffer

an illustration of a black rodent-like early mammal with a membrane like a flying squirrel flying through a forest

Early mammals were all one color, study suggests

By Lauren Leffer

Tabby cats, with their distinctive coats adorned in a symphony of stripes, dots, and swirls, bring a unique charm to the feline world. These enchanting creatures, often seen in shades of brown, black, and gray with hints of cream, captivate us with their individual patterns. The classic tabby pattern, characterized by bold stripes that run along the cat's back and tail, evokes a sense of timeless elegance. Whether in ebony, tawny, or ashen gray, each tabby cat carries a visual narrative that tells a story of nature's creativity. Some tabbies flaunt the mesmerizing "spotted" pattern, where dots of color dance across their fur like stardust. Others boast the intricate "swirls," a delicate and graceful arrangement of lines that adds an artistic flair to their appearance. Completing their ensemble are those endearing whiskers that frame their faces, adding an extra touch of charm to these captivating companions. Tabby cats, in their varied hues and unique patterns, bring a touch of artistry and individuality to our homes, turning each encounter into a delightful exploration of feline aesthetics.

How to protect your pets from bird flu

By Lauren Leffer

an astronaut performs a space walk on the international space station. earth is visible in the foreground.

Should the International Space Station be dirtier?

By Lauren Leffer

a raccoon looking at a camera

Morning lark or night owl? Prevailing ideas of mammal activity are outdated

By Lauren Leffer

View of fog at the Atacama desert in Iquique, some 2000 km north of Santiago, on April 19, 2016. Catholic University of Chile researchers' challenge is to implement a fog collection system -which uses large pieces of vertical canvas to make the fog condense into droplets- in small communities which don't have drinkable water in Atacama desert. / AFP / MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

In the driest place on Earth, water hides in plain sight

By Lauren Leffer

africa and the middle east seen from space

New theory ups the odds that intelligent aliens exist

By Lauren Leffer

dog college scent detection

A visit to dog college

By Lauren Leffer

medical professional in a mask

The most dangerous misconceptions about public health

By Lauren Leffer

girl dreaming waking up

Ask Us Anything

Why don’t you remember all your dreams?

By Lauren Leffer

The field team sampling a lake near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, that browned after the extreme events.

Greenland’s lakes are getting uglier—and fast

By Lauren Leffer

fitness running marathon

How to keep track of your fitness without the scale

By Lauren Leffer

cobra snake closeup

Scientists use AI to create completely new anti-venom proteins

By Lauren Leffer

Alcohol empty glasses Dry January

Is drinking alcohol ever good for you? Here’s what the science says.

By Lauren Leffer

A general view of (L-R) the church of Santi Luca e Martina, the Arch of Septimius Severus, the ruins of the Temple of Saturn and - in the background - the Amphitheatrum Flavium, commonly known as Colosseum (in Italian: Colosseo), on March 31, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

Ancient lead pollution may have lowered IQs across the Roman Empire

By Lauren Leffer

Scientists are studying squirrels and hibernation that could help humans get to deep space

Hibernation scientists studying squirrels could get humans to deep space

By Lauren Leffer

backyard chicken flock

The first confirmed, severe human case of bird flu is here

By Lauren Leffer

Dogs really are communicating via button boards, new research suggests

By Lauren Leffer

Anything with mass cannot reach lightspeed.

Ask Us Anything

What would happen to the human body moving at near lightspeed?

By Lauren Leffer

dog kissing human licking face

Ask Us Anything

Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection.

By Lauren Leffer

leaded gasoline reminder

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health

By Lauren Leffer

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel in grass, Leelanau State Park, Michigan.

How hibernating squirrels go more than six months without water—and don’t get thirsty

By Lauren Leffer

mercury broken thermometer

Ask Us Anything

Are ‘heavy metals’ dangerous? Yes, but not everything you’ve heard is true.

By Lauren Leffer

people having dinner talking in a tense way

How to talk to your ‘skeptic’ family about science misinformation

By Lauren Leffer

Ask Us Anything

Why do humans have toenails? Because we’re evolutionary ‘weirdos.’

By Lauren Leffer

An eye and arms of an octopus. The small dots visible around the eye are the chromatophores.

For octopuses, changing colors is hard work

By Lauren Leffer

raw milk poured into a glass

Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer.

By Lauren Leffer

The ‘wild’ salmon on your menu might not be wild

The ‘wild’ salmon on your menu might not be wild

By Lauren Leffer

Spare parts of plastic 'Garfield' phones are displayed on the beach on March 28, 2019 in Plouarzel, western France, after being collected from a sea cave by environmental activists.

6 of the weirdest things to ever wash up on the beach

By Lauren Leffer

Ask Us Anything

Without humans, what would happen to Earth?

By Lauren Leffer

Studying WWII-era rationing shows that sugar is dangerous even in utero

By Lauren Leffer

Hydra vulgaris.

Are any animals truly ‘immortal’? These creatures defy biological time.

By Lauren Leffer

Jumping carp disrupt recreational boating and other water-based activities.

Chicago’s dirty water may be keeping invasive species at bay

By Lauren Leffer

close up of nose

People who can’t smell breathe differently

By Lauren Leffer

A monkey carrying dead offspring.

How animals react to death: From vigils to cannibalism

By Lauren Leffer

poppy seed bagel

Ask Us Anything

What causes positive drug tests? It’s not just drugs… or poppy seeds.

By Lauren Leffer

Group of Snow Geese in elegant flight against blue sky at Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge in New Mexico in winter.

Why do birds migrate? Scientists have a few major theories.

By Lauren Leffer

A mummy from an Early Bronze Age cemetery of Xiaohe (1980–1450 BC) in Xinjiang, China and very old cheese.

World’s oldest cheese found in necklaces on mummies in China

By Lauren Leffer

Caption: An octopus cyanea hunting with a blacktip grouper on one side and a gold-saddle goatfish (‘blue goatfish’) on the other.

Octopus and fish join forces to hunt together

By Lauren Leffer

Using the microwave oven to heat food. Woman's hand puts plastic container with broccoli and buckwheat in the microwave

Ask Us Anything

Seriously, stop microwaving your food in plastic

By Lauren Leffer

child with fever

Why do we have fevers? It’s more complicated than ‘heat kills bugs.’

By Lauren Leffer

Contrail clouds from passing jet planes streak the sky over the Utah desert.

Ask Us Anything

Why airplanes leave white streaks in the sky

By Lauren Leffer

microbes in the sky

The sky is full of germs

By Lauren Leffer

child playing with fidget spinner

Ask Us Anything

Does fidgeting really help you focus?

By Lauren Leffer

Human ear closeup

Ask Us Anything

Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense.

By Lauren Leffer

A container of Yellow #5 dye.

The dye in Doritos can make mice transparent

By Lauren Leffer

hands reaching out to tickle you

Ask Us Anything

Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response.

By Lauren Leffer

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