Marlowe Starling

Marlowe Starling

Live Science Contributor

Marlowe Starling is a freelance environmental journalist who reports on climate, conservation, water, wildlife and culture. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Sierra Magazine, Mongabay, PBS, the Miami Herald, the Associated Press and more. Marlowe earned a master's degree from NYU's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program and a bachelor's degree in journalism with a wildlife ecology specialization from the University of Florida. She has received fellowships from The Safina Center, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, the Florida Climate Institute and the Pulitzer Center and won the 2024 Marlene Sanders Award in Journalism.

Latest articles by Marlowe Starling

A vibrant blue and purple fish with a flower or brain-like protrusion on its forehead

Which animals are evolving fastest?

By Marlowe Starling published

The "fastest evolving vertebrate" title is hotly contested, but here are a few contenders.

Evolution
A photograph of an outdoor Roman bath house

How did people clean themselves before soap was invented?

By Marlowe Starling published

Soap has a pretty simple formula and a long history.

Archaeology
An artist's rendering of the process of a dinosaur evolving into a bird

How fast does evolution happen?

By Marlowe Starling published

Measuring the pace of evolution is tricky, but some species can evolve as quickly as a few generations.

Evolution
A time lapse of a falling orange cat

How do cats land on their feet?

By Marlowe Starling published

Cats are masters of contortion — and the laws of physics — which helps them stick the landing more times than not.

Cats
Girl looking at herself in the mirror.

Why do we lose so much hair?

By Marlowe Starling published

Hair shedding is normal, but when is it considered "hair loss"?

Health
Newly hatched sea turtle crawls under moonlight to the water along a beach.

Do animals really have instincts?

By Marlowe Starling published

Do some species have instincts, or are these behaviors learned?

Animals
Background of healthy fresh cruciferous vegetables with broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts kale and kohlrabi.

Are kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts really all the same plant?

By Marlowe Starling published

Have you ever heard of the plant Brassica oleracea?

Plants
Girl watching an aquarium.

Why don't humans have gills?

By Marlowe Starling published

Our distant fish ancestors had gills, so why don't humans?

Evolution