Sophie is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science. She covers a wide range of topics, having previously reported on research spanning from bonobo communication to the first water in the universe. Her work has also appeared in outlets including New Scientist, The Observer and BBC Wildlife, and she was shortlisted for the Association of British Science Writers' 2025 "Newcomer of the Year" award for her freelance work at New Scientist. Before becoming a science journalist, she completed a doctorate in evolutionary anthropology from the University of Oxford, where she spent four years looking at why some chimps are better at using tools than others.
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'The biggest El Niño event since the 1870s': 'Super' El Niño is now the most likely scenario by the end of this year — and the humanitarian cost could be hugeA "very strong" El Niño is now the most probable scenario for the October-to-February period.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'Exceptional' drilled tooth reveals Neanderthals practiced dentistry in Siberia 60,000 years agoA hole found in a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth was likely made by a stone drill, making the discovery the oldest evidence of intentional dentistry to date.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Pregnancy quiz: Can you deliver on the science of growing babies?How much do you know about pregnancy? Take our quiz to find out.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'One of the most rapid transitions that I've seen': NOAA forecaster on how this year's El Niño could shatter recordsINTERVIEW Nathaniel Johnson, a member of NOAA's El Niño forecasting team, says that this year's transition to El Niño could be the fastest on record.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Heartbeats physically stop cardiac cancer from growing — and that could be key to thwarting other cancers, tooScientists have pinpointed a mechanism that may explain heart cancer's rarity and point to new cancer treatments.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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New York City is at major risk of flooding that could leave 4.4 million people exposed to extreme damage, study findsThe new flood risk index identified eight cities along the U.S. East Coast that are at high or very high risk of floods causing extreme damage.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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El Niño could be here by May, new forecast reveals — here's what it means for summer weatherThe climate event is poised to supercharge weather extremes and push global temperatures to new highs.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'Kraken' octopus that lived at the time of the dinosaurs was a 62-foot-long apex predator of the oceanA close inspection of 27 fossil jaws from finned octopuses challenge the longstanding belief that the apex oceanic predators of the Cretaceous were all vertebrates.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'Nations need to prepare now': Key Atlantic ocean current is much closer to collapse than scientists thoughtAn alarming study claims the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is weakening more than believed previously. But experts say its findings are far from the final word.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Scientists identify main cause of extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancyA key gene tied to hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of vomiting in pregnancy, is also linked to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes, scientists report.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Artemis II quiz: Is your knowledge of NASA's historic moon mission out of this world?QUIZ The slingshot around the moon has catapulted the Artemis II mission to legendary status. How much do you know about this iconic mission?
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'I have not processed what we just did': Artemis II astronauts share all in first news conference since splashdownThe Artemis II crew have spoken publicly for the first time since their return to Earth.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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We went to Finland to hear about the new 'sand battery' that will turn stored renewable energy back into power for the electrical gridEngineers are testing a new "sand battery" that could power industries and communities using stored renewable energy.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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A cross tattoo on a man's neck disappeared — killing his skin as it did soA man's neck tattoo triggered a reaction so rare that it was only the second recorded case.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'That's why there's 9 billion of us and not 9 billion of some other primate': Why our ability to adapt is humanity's 'superpower'INTERVIEW Live Science spoke with Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist and author of the book "Adaptable," about the science of human diversity.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'Parasites of human societies': How did we end up so close to cats?Book In the book "The Call of the Honeyguide," applied ecologist Rob Dunn explores mutually beneficial relationships between different species. But Dunn argues the relationship between humans and cats may force a rethink of what shape these mutualisms can take.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Colorectal cancer is now the most common cause of cancer deaths in the US for people under 50The American Cancer Society estimates that over 55,000 people will die from colorectal cancer in the U.S. this year. Of those, 7% will be under 50.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'It's nature calling to humans, and humans deciding whether or not to reply': Why we need to start paying attention to our mutually beneficial relationships with other speciesINTERVIEW Live Science spoke with Rob Dunn, an applied ecologist and author of the book "The Call of the Honeyguide," about "mutualism" — how different species team up for their mutual benefit — and how humans can feel more connected to nature.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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'Absolute surprise': Homo erectus skulls found in China are almost 1.8 million years old — the oldest evidence of the ancient human relatives in East AsiaA new date for Homo erectus skulls found in central China provides new insight into how and when ancient human relatives reached eastern Asia.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Diagnostic dilemma: 83-year-old man's unusual form of syphilis had an 'uncertain' sourceA man went to the emergency room after being in and out of hospitals for a month, and doctors found a surprising explanation for his illness.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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World's oldest known sewn clothing may be stitched pieces of ice age hide unearthed in Oregon caveThe sewn hide, cordage and needles show how Indigenous Americans used complex technology to survive the freezing temperatures at the end of the last ice age and as a means of social expression.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Teenager contracts rare 'welder's anthrax,' marking the ninth known case ever reportedA teenager training to be a welder contracted a rare and dangerous lung infection, prompting a combined state and federal investigation.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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Kanzi the bonobo could play pretend — a trait thought unique to humansPast anecdotal observations have hinted that great apes play pretend. But now, experimental research shows that our closest living relatives can keep track of imaginary objects.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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More than 43,000 years ago, Neanderthals spent centuries collecting animal skulls in a cave; but archaeologists aren't sure whyNeanderthals repeatedly returned to the cave to store horned animal skulls, revealing this cultural tradition was transmitted over time.
By Sophie Berdugo Published
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