Articles by Yasemin Saplakoglu, Staff Writer

Researchers may have discovered Europe's oldest known map.

Europe's oldest map, a stone slab, unearthed in France

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 9 April 21

The map likely represents an area along the River Odet in western France.

Cells age prematurely in those with depression, study suggests

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 8 April 21

People with major depression had accelerated cellular aging by an average of two years compared to healthy controls.

Hungry baby sea stars eat each other in unexpected case of underwater cannibalism

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 5 April 21

Baby sea stars may look innocent and adorable, but they're teensy little cannibals and eat their own siblings for their own survival.

Explorers took a submersible down to the deepest shipwreck known, the USS Johnston in the Philippines Sea.

Explorers dive to deepest known shipwreck

By Yasemin Saplakoglu last updated 4 November 22

The team reached the USS Johnston, a U.S. Navy destroyer that sank on Oct. 25, 1944 after an intense battle with the Japanese during World War II.

A pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan.

Woman gives birth to twins conceived three weeks apart

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 1 April 21

A woman in England became pregnant while already pregnant.

Spaceflight and long-distance swimming shrink the heart

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 31 March 21

Scientists analyzed the hearts of retired astronaut Scott Kelly after he spent time in space and elite endurance swimmer Benoît Lecomte after he swam the Pacific Ocean.

Pfizer vaccine is 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 12 to 15

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 31 March 21

Pfizer and BioNTech plan to submit the clinical trial data to the FDA as soon as possible.

Storms near Nauru on Dec. 29, 2018 captured in infrared by an orbiting satellite. The cold parts of the clouds are in purple and the warm Pacific Ocean is in orange.

Scientists detect world's coldest cloud hovering over Pacific Ocean

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 30 March 21

A severe thunderstorm cloud that formed over the Pacific Ocean in 2018 reached the coldest temperatures ever recorded.

Human brain organoids (left) grew much bigger than gorilla organoids (middle) and chimpanzee organoids (right). Here the organoids are shown at 5 weeks old.

Lab-grown mini ‘brains’ of humans and apes reveal why one got so much bigger

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 25 March 21

By growing mini brains in the lab, scientists figured out why human brains grow larger than ape brains.

Human breast cancer bone metastasis showing the newly discovered organelle (magenta) in cancer cells (cyan).

Meet the 'frodosome,' a brand new organelle

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 24 March 21

The blob-like organelle drives bone metastasis, but likely also plays a role in the healthy functioning of the cell.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine data may be outdated, US safety board says

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 23 March 21

An independent group of medical experts in the U.S. has raised concerns that AstraZeneca may have released "outdated" data on its COVID-19 vaccine.

2001FO32 has an elongated and inclined orbit around the sun that will speed it up as it moves past our planet on Sunday.

The largest asteroid of the year will swing by Earth on Sunday. But don't worry.

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 20 March 21

The asteroid "2001FO32," is big, it's fast, but it poses no danger to Earth.

A rare 15th-century Chinese bowl bought for $35 at a yard sale was just sold for over $700,000.

$35 yard sale bowl sells for over $700,000

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 19 March 21

A $35 bowl sold at a yard sale was estimated to be worth up to $500,000. It sold for over $700,000.

Archaeologist James Brigers takes a photo at the site of the bishop's palace. The remains of a medieval fireplace can be seen at the pointed end of the ranging pole and an ancient wall can be seen on the right of the photo. The finds also included a cobbled floor that was a later addition to the palace.

Medieval bishop's palace unearthed in England

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 19 March 21

A construction crew hired to build a run-of-the-mill bungalow unexpectedly discovered a medieval bishop's palace.

WHO thinks it knows where COVID-19 originated

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 17 March 21

In January, a WHO team of experts traveled to China to probe how the deadly pandemic first started.

An illustration of the ebola virus attacking the body.

Ebola may have lingered in a survivor for 5 years before sparking new outbreak

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 16 March 21

The Ebola virus may have hid in a person's body for 5 years before hopping to another person, triggering the current outbreak.

The pine siskin (Spinus pinus) is the species of finch most affected by the outbreak.

Something is killing California's songbirds

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 10 March 21

Officials are urging people to take down their feeders, where birds are congregating and spreading a bacterial infection.

The Hubble Space Telescope photographed in 2009 at the start of the mission to upgrade and repair it.

Hubble Space Telescope just entered 'safe mode'

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 9 March 21

The Hubble space telescope entered into "safe mode" due to a software error, but is safe and stable.

A healthcare provider vaccinating an older person.

If you got the COVID-19 vaccine, here’s what the CDC says you can do

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 8 March 21

Fully vaccinated people in the U.S. can visit indoors and mask-less with other fully vaccinated people.

A yard sale purchase turned out to be a 15th century artifact from China's Yongle period during the Ming Dynasty.

This $35 bowl sold at a Connecticut yard sale is worth $500,000

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 6 March 21

The bowl turned out to be a rare, 15th-century Chinese artifact.

An illustration of a person in a hat following footsteps.

Sherlock Holmes' famous memory trick really works

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 5 March 21

An ancient technique can boost your memory to the level of memory champions.

A cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the water.

Cuttlefish show self-control, pass 'marshmallow test'

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 3 March 21

They resisted the temptation to eat up the fishy snack knowing they could get a better one if they waited.

Cat sitting next an empty food dish, looking up at the camera.

Cats are too socially inept to be loyal

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 2 March 21

A new study finds that cats, unlike dogs, will gladly accept food from people who are not nice to their owners.

The team at the Halley Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf captured an aerial photo of the North Rick crack in January 2021.

Giant crack frees a massive iceberg in Antarctica

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 26 February 21

This dramatic breakup comes after a major crack formed on the shelf in November 2020 and continued to grow.

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.

70,000 never-before-seen viruses found in the human gut

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published 25 February 21

Hundreds of thousands of viruses can lurk in our guts — but how they impact our bodies is a mystery.