
Marilyn Perkins
Marilyn Perkins is the content manager at Live Science. She 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.
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Do parrots actually understand what they're saying?Parrots are prolific vocal learners. But do they actually understand the words they say?
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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The moon: Facts about our planet's lunar companionDiscover interesting facts about how the moon formed, what it's made out of, and the many missions humans have launched to explore it.
By Adam Mann Published
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Quantum computing: Facts about the ultra-powerful computers that use quantum mechanicsDiscover interesting facts about quantum computers, how they differ from classical computers, and what sort of fields they'll be used in.
By Peter Ray Allison Last updated
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When was beer invented?Humans discovered fermentation thousands of years ago, but ancient brews would have tasted much differently from the beers of today.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Jupiter: Facts about the biggest planet in our solar systemDiscover interesting facts about Jupiter, its many moons, and whether the gas giant and its moons could host extraterrestrial life
By Adam Mann Last updated
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Saturn: Facts about the ringed planetDiscover interesting facts about Saturn, its rings and whether it could contain extraterrestrial life.
By Adam Mann Published
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Bears: Facts about the furry omnivores that live in many parts of the worldDiscover interesting facts about the different types of bears and learn why not all bears hibernate.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Cats: Facts about our feline friendsDiscover interesting facts about cat intelligence, how they see the world, and why we keep them around.
By Stephanie Pappas Last updated
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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?
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Elephant quiz: Test your smarts on the world's largest land animalQuiz Elephants have good memories, but what about you? Take this quiz to find out how much you know about elephants.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Earth: Facts about the Blue PlanetDiscover interesting facts about how Earth formed, what it's made of and more.
By Marilyn Perkins Last updated
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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.
By Emily Cooke Last updated
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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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.
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Elephants: Facts about Earth's largest living land animalsDiscover interesting facts about elephants, the highly intelligent and social animals that roam Africa and Asia.
By Marilyn Perkins Last updated
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Can animals learn another species' 'language'?Animals hear other species communicate around them every day. Do they understand what they're saying?
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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Do other animals kiss?Kissing is a multifaceted and emotionally loaded behavior. Do other animals do it, too?
By Marilyn Perkins Published
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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.
By Tereza Pultarova Last updated
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Orcas: Facts about killer whalesDiscover interesting facts about orcas, the deadly and beautiful predators that lurk in every ocean.
By Marilyn Perkins Last updated
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Sharks: Facts about some of the ocean's top predatorsDiscover interesting facts about where sharks live, how big they can get, and how likely it is to get bitten by one.
By Michael Dhar Last updated
