Isobel Whitcomb is a contributing writer for Live Science who covers the environment, animals and health. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Fatherly, Atlas Obscura, Hakai Magazine and Scholastic's Science World Magazine. Isobel's roots are in science. She studied biology at Scripps College in Claremont, California, while working in two different labs and completing a fellowship at Crater Lake National Park. She completed her master's degree in journalism at NYU's Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
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Can animals give birth to identical twins, triplets or even quadruplets?Sure, one baby's tough. But what about two or more?
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
animals -
Is champagne stronger than non-bubbly alcoholic drinks?Do you need to exercise extra moderation with the champagne this Valentine's Day?
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
food-drink -
How does the rubber pencil illusion work?The rubber pencil illusion works because our brain can't keep up.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
psychology -
How do scientists figure out how old things are?Dating is hard, even for scientists.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
archaeology -
What led to the emergence of monotheism?It depends on your definition of monotheism.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
human-behavior -
What are the most common ways people get injured?The most common culprit is found in most homes.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
health -
Are you genetically more similar to your mom or your dad?Are you genetically more similar to your mom or dad? Turns out, that's a complicated question to answer.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
genetics -
Was Jesus a magician?Jesus' ability to defeat death, heal people and produce food and drink elevated him above Roman gods in the eyes of many people. A wand would have enhanced that image.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
human-behavior -
Orthorexia: Causes, symptoms and treatmentEating healthily isn't a bad thing, but taken to the extreme, it can turn into a disorder called orthorexia nervosa.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
psychology -
What was the Black Panther Party?The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary socialist organization that demanded equal rights for Black people and Black communities.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
human-behavior -
Are non-stick pans safe?Is Teflon, the clear plastic used to coat pots and pans, safe to use?
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
health -
Is the Y chromosome dying out?We've got good news for men.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
genetics -
Does your personality change as you get older?Personality isn't fixed
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
psychology -
Why do we develop lifelong immunity to some diseases, but not others?Why do some diseases infect us again and again?
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
viruses-infections-disease -
Why do some people never gain weight?There's no genetic on-off switch for thinness.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
health -
How did bachelor and bachelorette parties get started?Debauchery didn't become a common theme until the Sexual Revolution.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
psychology -
What is chemotherapy?Chemotherapy has been widely used for treating cancer but it's side effects can be severe.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
cancer -
Can you recover repressed memories?There's no doubt we forget things — but what about repression?
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
psychology -
How much plastic actually gets recycled?A lot of plastics end up in the trash.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
renewable-energy -
What was the Manhattan Project?Hundreds of thousands of Americans participated in the Manhattan Project. Most of them had no idea.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
physics-mathematics -
Is it dangerous to eat right before you swim?That old adage has since kept countless children on the pool deck, watching forlornly as their friends splash around. But according to science, swimmers have nothing to worry about.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
health -
Why do women have orgasms?There are a number of ideas about why the female orgasm happens.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
sex -
Where does all our poop go?Human poop is a great fertilizer for farmers.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
energy -
Do dreams really reveal our deepest secrets?They’re not a cache of Easter eggs.
By Isobel Whitcomb Published
sleep

