Rachel Nuwer

Rachel Nuwer

 

Rachel Nuwer is a freelance science writer based in Brooklyn.

Sunflower sea stars are just one of 20 species affected.

Meet the Tiny Killer Causing Millions of Sea Stars to Waste Away

The deadly sea star wasting disease, which turns live animals into slimy goop, is caused by a previously unknown virus

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Physicists Explain Why Coffee Is More Prone to Spills Than Beer

It all comes down to the foam

We're Running Out of Chocolate

We're eating so much chocolate that plants can't keep up

Get Past the Vile Smell: Ginkgo Nuts Are Delicious

People have been feasting on these tasty little morsels since at least the 11th century

Around 1,400 chimps might lose their home in Congo.

How a Misdrawn Map Put 1,400 Chimps and a Rare Plant in Peril

Miners and farmers are moving into a protected forest in Congo thanks in part to an administrative blooper

Lack of Sleep Seems to Be More Deadly for Firefighters Than Fire

Sleep disorders are rampant among firefighters, and the majority do not seek treatment

Bullying Pays Off For Chimp Dads

For male chimps, the meaner you are, the more offspring you have

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This Artist Makes E. coli-Shaped Popsicles

For those who prefer plants to pathogens, there's popsicle cacti, too

Why Charging for Plastic Bags Makes People Give Them Up

It's all about setting up psychological tripping blocks

Europeans Thought Coffee Was Satanic

Until the Pope tried it out and became a fan

This Is Your Brain on Ideas

Momentarily tuning out the world seems to be a requirement for tapping into an insightful idea

Living in Tough Environments Makes People More Prone to Belief in God

People living in harsh natural environments are more likely to believe in a tough, moralizing god

How Cats Transformed From Wild Animals to Cuddly Companions

Genetically, there's not that much separating feline pets from jungle beasts

Grad Students Carry 40 Percent of All Student Debt

But they make up just 14 percent of enrollment at U.S. universities

A Lost John Steinbeck Short Story Was Rediscovered, Published

The short story deals with the racial politics of the mid-20th century

A Soldier’s Room Has Remained Virtually Untouched Since WWI

The home's current owner, however, says he feels little connection to the dead soldier

Scientists Figured Out How to Make People "Feel" an Otherworldly Presence

Feeling like a ghost or an angel is near is likely caused by a blip in how our brain processes self awareness and our sense of place in space

Mexican free-tailed bats can be real jerks to their friends.

On Summer Nights, Some Bats Like to Jam

Mexican free-tailed bats “jam” each others’ echolocation calls to discombobulate competitors

Smaug now resides at the Wellington airport.

Smaug the Dragon And Other Unexpected Airport Surprises

There's more to the world's airports than newsstands and food courts

Nearly 400 Journalists Have Been Murdered Over the Past Ten Years

Only ten percent of their killers are ever reprimanded

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