Marilyn Perkins

Marilyn Perkins

Content Manager

Marilyn Perkins is a science writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles, California. She received her master’s degree in science writing from Johns Hopkins and her bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Pomona College. Her work has been featured in publications including New Scientist, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health magazine and Penn Today, and she was the recipient of the 2024 National Association of Science Writers Excellence in Institutional Writing Award, short-form category.

Articles by: Marilyn Perkins

a black and white photo of a group of people with an old-fashioned car

Who invented the car? The history of the automobile

By Lauren Cox last updated

Reference Discover the complex history of the automobile, from early self-propelled vehicles to Karl Benz's invention of the first modern car, and explore the key innovators who shaped the cars we drive today.

A close-up of poppy seeds and their pods

Can you get high from poppy seeds?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Poppy seeds come from the same plant that's used to make opium and morphine. So can they get you high?

A shelf full of bags of different types of labeled blood

How many blood types are there?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Red blood cells are complex — there's much more to blood types than A, B and O.

Periodic Table of Elements.

Periodic table of elements: How it works and who created it

By Jeanna Bryner, Tim Sharp last updated

The Periodic Table, first created by Dmitri Mendeleev, organizes all of the known elements in an informative array.

Illustration of Earth when the supercontinent Pangaea existed

Pangaea: Discover facts about Earth's ancient supercontinent

By Laura Geggel, Tia Ghose last updated

Pangaea is Earth's most recent supercontinent, which existed 320 million to 195 million years ago.

A microscope image showing strangely shaped cells stained in pink

Can viruses cause cancer?

By Marilyn Perkins published

The far-reaching impact of certain viruses on the body can make cells grow out of control, causing cancer.

How to turn off Chrome notifications for LiveScience.

How to turn off web notifications for Google Chrome and macOS

By Jeanna Bryner last updated

Here's a handy guide on how to turn off web notifications for Google Chrome and macOS.

A woman lays on the couch with a blanket over her head

Why do hangovers get worse with age?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Scientists haven't actually confirmed a link between age and hangover severity, but there are some reasons why older people might feel worse after a night of drinking than young folks would.

A close-up of a gilded astronomical clock on a clock tower that reads "Anno Domini" in the center

Keeping time: The history, origin and meanings of B.C. and A.D.

By Robert Coolman, Owen Jarus last updated

The use of "anno domini" and "before Christ" to mark time began in the early days of Christianity, when clerics needed to know when Easter would fall.

A woman sits on the couch under a blanket and blows her nose

How long is the flu contagious?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Many factors affect the infectious period of seasonal influenza, commonly called "the flu," but there are some good rules of thumb for when it's safe to return to work or school.

An image of a piece of lettuce on one fork and a piece of meat on the other. The pieces of food are manipulated to resemble the profiles of two faces.

Why does meat have more protein than vegetables?

By Marilyn Perkins published

The biological needs of plants and animals affect their cells' protein content, but the story goes deeper than that.

A computer monitor entirely covered in post-it notes

Why do we forget things we were just thinking about?

By Marilyn Perkins published

When the brain "juggles" information, things can fall through the cracks.

At an outdoor party, a woman whispers in the ear of her friend

Are people more honest when they're drunk?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Drinking can change the brain in a way that makes people more likely to speak their mind, but the effects aren't always straightforward.

A woman sits on a lounger on a sunny day and holds her head in pain

Why does heat cause headaches?

By Marilyn Perkins published

The trigger behind summertime headaches may not be heat itself, but all of the things that come along with it, an expert said.

A photograph of a headless statue in a museum

Why are so many Roman statues headless?

By Marilyn Perkins published

There are many reasons an ancient statue might accidentally lose its head — and some for its head to be severed on purpose.