Latest articles by Marilyn Perkins
Jupiter: Facts about the biggest planet in our solar system
Discover interesting facts about Jupiter, its many moons, and whether the gas giant and its moons could host extraterrestrial life
Saturn: Facts about the ringed planet
Discover interesting facts about Saturn, its rings and whether it could contain extraterrestrial life.
What's the oldest known recipe?
Cooking is an essential part of human culture, but people haven't always written down recipes the way we do now.
Is getting an IUD painful?
People experience different amounts of pain during IUD insertion, but there are a number of pain-relief options available to patients getting the contraceptive.
Antarctica: Facts about the southernmost continent
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent. Because so little moisture falls as rain or snow, Antarctica is classified as a desert.
Climate change: Facts about our warming planet
Discover important facts about what climate change is, what's causing it, and what we can do to stop it.
What are mRNA vaccines, and how do they work?
mRNA vaccines train the immune system in a similar way to traditional vaccines, but they use a different strategy to get there.
Bears: Facts about the furry omnivores that live in many parts of the world
Discover interesting facts about the different types of bears and learn why not all bears hibernate.
How much of your brain do you need to survive?
Case reports of people with atypical brains reveal the human brain's staggering ability to adapt to damage.
The history of cat domestication
Discover the history of our feline friends, and learn about the debate over whether cats are really "domesticated" at all.
Cats: Facts about our feline friends
Discover interesting facts about cat intelligence, how they see the world, and why we keep them around.
Can animals understand human language?
There are many famous examples of animals who seem to understand human language. But is there any real science behind them?
Elephant quiz: Test your smarts on the world's largest land animal
Quiz Elephants have good memories, but what about you? Take this quiz to find out how much you know about elephants.
Earth: Facts about the Blue Planet
Discover interesting facts about how Earth formed, what it's made of and more.
Is it too late to get a flu shot?
Is it ever too late in the season to get a flu shot? Here's what experts have to say.
What are cancer vaccines?
Cancer vaccines harness the power of the immune system to stop tumors in their tracks. They work a little differently than regular vaccines intended to prevent infectious diseases, like measles or the flu.
Why do cats have 'toe beans'?
The round little pads on cats' paws are more than just cute — they're a feat of evolution that serve many important functions.
Elephants: Facts about Earth's largest living land animals
Discover interesting facts about elephants, the highly intelligent and social animals that roam Africa and Asia.
Can animals learn another species' 'language'?
Animals hear other species communicate around them every day. Do they understand what they're saying?
Do other animals kiss?
Kissing is a multifaceted and emotionally loaded behavior. Do other animals do it, too?
What is aphantasia?
A small percentage of the population has aphantasia, meaning they're unable to visualize using their mind's eye. Learn about this condition and the neuroscience behind it.
Orcas: Facts about killer whales
Discover interesting facts about orcas, the deadly and beautiful predators that lurk in every ocean.
Sharks: Facts about some of the ocean's top predators
Discover interesting facts about where sharks live, how big they can get, and how likely it is to get bitten by one.
