
Kristel Tjandra
Kristel is a science writer based in the U.S. with a doctorate in chemistry from the University of New South Wales, Australia. She holds a master's degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in Drug Discovery News, Science, Eos and Mongabay, among other outlets. She received the 2022 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications.
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Unique genes pinpointed in legendary 'women of the sea' in South KoreaA new study explores the physiology of Jeju Haenyeo, the famous female freedivers in South Korea.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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What do black boxes on planes actually record?Modern flight recorders can hold more than 1,000 pieces of information about an aircraft.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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2,400-year-old puppets with 'dramatic facial expression' discovered atop pyramid in El SalvadorThese striking puppets suggest that Indigenous people in what is now El Salvador had rituals that were more connected to the rest of Central American culture than previously thought.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts, spewing lava 330 feet into the skyAs Kilauea erupts a 330-foot-tall fountain of lava, officials warn of hazards from volcanic gas that may affect nearby communities.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Ancient duck-like creature discovered in Antarctica may be the oldest modern bird ever discoveredA new and nearly complete skull of Vegavis iaai discovered in Antarctica suggests that modern birds originated before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Healthy breast cells can look like invasive cancer, complicating early diagnosisScientists found that healthy women can carry genetic changes in their breast cells that are thought to be characteristic of invasive breast cancer.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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These endangered whales can live up to 150 years — twice as long as previously thoughtLife expectancy prediction using data collected over four decades reveals southern right whales' exceptionally long lives — far longer than scientists previously thought.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Why do we shrink as we age?Height loss could be an early sign of a more serious health condition.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Pompeii victims died in 'extreme agony,' 2 newfound skeletons revealArchaeologists have found the skeletons of a man and a woman, along with their valuables, in a room in Pompeii.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Massive medieval coin hoard worth 'about 150 sheep' discovered in Germany's Black ForestMore than 1,500 medieval silver coins were unearthed in the Black Forest region of Germany.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Bacteria that switch antibiotic resistance on and off are going undetected. Microbiologist Karin Hjort is on a mission to find out how they do it.Microbiologist Karin Hjort discusses what heteroresistance is and how it could change the way we treat bacterial infections.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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How fast can antibiotic resistance evolve?Bacteria can mutate surprisingly fast to resist antibiotics.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Scientists have found a secret 'switch' that lets bacteria resist antibiotics — and it's been evading lab tests for decadesFeature Microbiologists are on a quest to unravel a rare phenomenon involved in antibiotic resistance and how it may change our understanding of infections.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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'Extremely unusual': Hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier ReefThe sea surface temperature around the Great Barrier Reef this year is the hottest it has ever been in 400 years, posing huge threats to the coral reef ecosystem in the area.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Great white sharks split into 3 populations 200,000 years ago and never mixed again — except for one hybrid found in the Bermuda TriangleScientists found three distinct great-white-shark populations that congregate in different oceans and do not interbreed. Their separation may have implications for conservation.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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'Screaming Woman' mummy suffered a painful death in ancient Egypt, virtual autopsy findsThe mummy was well preserved with an expensive embalming material. Her organs were still intact, showing an unusual mummification technique, a CT scan revealed.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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3,500-year-old tablet in Turkey turns out to be a shopping listThe excavation team in Turkey found a small, clay tablet that detailed a large furniture purchase. Experts said the finding may provide clues to the area's socioeconomic condition in the Late Bronze period.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Why do we see colors that aren't there?Here's how our brains construct color in our environment.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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'Double' meteor shower will light up the skies next week. Here's how to watch.As Earth's orbit intersects with those of two comets this month, stargazers will have a chance to view spectacular double meteor showers.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Astronomers want to change how we define a planet — againAstronomers are proposing a new, more quantitative definition of what makes a planet. The new definition looks more directly at the object's mass — but it would still leave Pluto out of the running.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Black patients may be missed on common cancer screening, study suggestsAn early screening test for endometrial cancer may be missing the disease in many Black patients.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Does honey ever go bad?Honey owes its long shelf-life to its makers, but it doesn't always last forever.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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Scientists say they can now forecast El Niño Southern Oscillation years in advanceScientists used thousands of years of climate data to show that El Niño Southern Oscillations can be predicted more than two years in advance.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
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'I've never seen anything like this': Scientists hijack cancer genes to turn tumors against themselvesScientists overcame cancer drug resistance in a new proof-of-concept study.
By Kristel Tjandra Published
