
Katherine Irving
Katherine Irving is a freelance science journalist specializing in wildlife and the geosciences. After graduating from Macalester College, where she wrote screenplays, excavated dinosaur bones and vaccinated wolves, Katherine dove straight into internships with Science Magazine and The Scientist. She now contributes to the Science Magazine podcast and loves reporting about the beautiful intricacies of our planet.
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Why aren't mammals as colorful as reptiles, birds or fish?Many mammals have fur the color of brown and black. Why don't they have more exotic colors, like purple and neon pink?
By Katherine Irving Published
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Did any cat breeds develop naturally?Humans have undoubtedly bred cats to create certain breeds, but did any of these feline breeds emerge naturally?
By Katherine Irving Published
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Do any infectious diseases have a 100% fatality rate?Researchers have made great strides to prevent deaths from fatal diseases, but the cures for some of them still elude us.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Will Mount Everest always be the world's tallest mountain?The Himalayas' massive heights result from a unique combination of geologic factors.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Which animal can have the most babies at one time?How many offspring an animal can have depends on many factors, such as whether they're aquatic and how they get around.
By Katherine Irving Published
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What was the first animal on Earth?Using fossil evidence and genetic dating, geneticists and paleontologists have backed strikingly different candidates for the world's first animal.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Why do only some animals have periods?Humans are not the only organisms that have periods — some animals do too, but scientists still aren't sure why.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Will we have more earthquakes because of climate change?Changes in sea level and glacial melt could make earthquakes more likely in the coming years.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Which continent has the most animal species?The diversity of even the largest animals depends on the smallest factors.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Why did Homo sapiens emerge in Africa?Our human ancestors arose in Africa due to many factors, including climate.
By Katherine Irving Published
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Why do most mammals have 5 fingers?The simple question of "why five" has puzzled scientists from multiple fields, and the answer still isn't entirely clear.
By Katherine Irving Published
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How much does Earth weigh?Earth's mass took hundreds of years to estimate, and even now, experts don't agree on the exact number.
By Katherine Irving Published
