Katy Evans
Verified
Earl Grey and Oxford commas. Award-Winning Editor @IFLScience. She/Her
Articles by Katy Evans
Scientist At Russian Plague Lab Dies And 200 More Are Under Observation. Here's What We Know
A scientist at a Russian lab researching plague and other pathogens in Siberia has died after developing pneumonia, causing authorities to place around 200 people who may have been in contact under medical observation. Information about the case is scant, but there’s what we know so far.
Astronauts Just Set A New Record: The Fastest-Ever Trip To The ISS By An American Spacecraft
I have definitely taken much longer airplane flights. DR. ALFREDO CARPINETI Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London. Space & Physics Editor Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.
Saturn Will Show Off Its Famous Rings This Weekend. It’s The Best Time To See The Planet All Year
The Lord of the Rings is at its closest and brightest in a matter of days. You can even see it with the naked eye. DR. ALFREDO CARPINETI Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.
Yes, A Shark Can Hear You Scream. Scientists Just Proved They Can Hear Up To 70 Meters Away
That’s the length of the Bayeux Tapestry if you'd like a topical comparison. RACHAEL FUNNELL Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
The World’s Smallest Crocodile Lives In A Cave, With Orange Skin So Thin You Can See Its Skeleton – Life In “AFRICA: Earth’s Wild Home”
National Geographic’s new series AFRICA: Earth’s Wild Home is bringing one of the most beautiful and biodiverse parts of the world to our screens this fall. Packed full of first-time footage, it reveals ecosystems and animal behaviors that have stayed hidden until now, including some truly bizarre reptiles. Head into the right cave in Gabon and you’ll find yourself chest-deep in guano, but among all the bat poop you’ll notice glittering orange eyes.
A Secret US Spy Satellite Launched In 1988 Has Unexpectedly Shattered Into Pieces, Posing Danger To Other Satellites In Low Earth Orbit
Thirty-eight years after launch, the satellite has shattered into pieces. So far, we do not know why. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
Why We Still Don’t Truly Know The Exact Depth Of The Ocean's Deepest Point
Just how deep are the world's deepest oceans? Well, that depends on who you ask, the methods they used, and whatever the ocean was playing at on the day they gathered their data. Despite measuring it at least four times, scientists still can't agree on the depth of the deepest point known on Earth: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. A new measurement has come up with a different result, again.
Greenland's Qaanaaq Glacier Lost An Astonishing 8.7 Meters Of Ice In The Last 13 Years – And It’s Not Alone
Scientists tracking changes to the Qaanaaq Ice Cap in northwestern Greenland have reported the loss of ice that would reach almost to the roof of a three-story building over 13 years. The report coincides with the announcement that Switzerland’s glaciers are experiencing the second-worst annual ice loss on record.
In 2025, The Hole In Ozone Layer Above Antarctica Shrunk To One Of Its Smallest Sizes In Decades
Awesome news! Now do climate change. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.
One Of The World's Weirdest Trees Just Gained A New Species That Was Hiding In Plain Sight
The Baobab family tree just grew larger. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.
Ice Hotter Than Molten Steel Exists Inside Neptune And Uranus. Scientists Finally Recreated It In The Lab
Definitely not ice you’d want to put in your drink. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London. Space & Physics Editor Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.
"Immaculate" Fossilized Mastodon Tooth Discovered By Surprised Scientists Carrying Out Frog Habitat Survey
Not quite what they were expecting to find! Eleanor Higgs Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford.
Hybrid Woolly Rhinos Stomped Around The Ice Age After Canoodling With Extinct Merck’s Rhino
Despite their differences, hybrids of the two species were part of the megafauna mix in Ice Age Eurasia. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism.
SETI Resurrects Decades-Old Concept: Searching Through The Lunar Soil For Signs Of Galactic Aliens
According to the paper, we may not be the only species to have left signs of technology on the Moon. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
New Species Of Jurassic Squid-Like Creature Discovered. About The Length Of A Skateboard, It’s The “Chunkiest” Belemnite On Record
“This one is unlike anything I have ever seen!” Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
A Baby Dinosaur That Never Made It Out Of The Egg Has Helped Palaeontologists Piece Together How Troodon Grew From Embryo To Adult
“Analysis of these bones provided an unprecedented opportunity for understanding the biology of a historically enigmatic group of animals.” Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
World's First Adult T. Rex Trackway With 4-Meter Stride Discovered By High School Teacher
The four footprints reveal that the adult T. rex was walking at a pretty leisurely pace. Eleanor Higgs Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford.
Highest Latitude Sauropod Nests Ever Found Suggest They Used Rotting Vegetation To Keep Their Babies Warm In Cold Environments
“If titanosaurs brooded like birds, the nest would basically have turned into one giant omelette,” study author Darla Zelenitsky told IFLScience. Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
These Small Yellow Growths Around Your Eyes Could Be A Sign Of Heart Attack And Stroke Risk
Researchers have found an association between xanthelasma and increased rates of heart attacks and strokes over the following decade. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
Tropical Forest Forever Facility Aims To Mobilize $125 Billion To Protect Nature's Greatest Climate Defense – Making Economics Work For Nature, Not Against It
Deforestation risks climate catastrophe as well as billions in lost pharmaceutical value. Why aren’t we investing Earth's greatest climate ally? Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
Should You Bother Closing The Lid To Flush The Toilet? Probably, Unless You Want Microbes Erupting Into Your “Breathing Zone”
It won’t stop aerosols getting out, but it will stop them going up. Laura Simmons Laura holds a Master's in Experimental Neuroscience and a Bachelor's in Biology from Imperial College London. Her areas of expertise include health, medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. Health & Medicine Editor Laura holds a Master's in Experimental Neuroscience and a Bachelor's in Biology from Imperial College London.
If Flamingos Get Their Color From Their Diet, Could You Hypothetically Turn One Blue? We Asked The Experts
If you can turn them pink, you can turn them blue, right? Eleanor Higgs Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford.
False Door To Travel Between Worlds Of The Dead And Living Found In New Ancient Egyptian Tomb
This person buried here had a CV longer than a sphinx's tail. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism.
Nazi Archaeologists Tried To Prove That Swedish Rock Art Was The “Holy Scripture” Of A Fictional Race From Atlantis
And they tried to build a museum that would inspire Germans to reject capitalism. Benjamin Taub Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health.
A NASA Spacecraft Is Nearing The Edge Of The Solar System. Its Instruments May Be Shut Off Due To Lack Of Funding
New Horizons' instruments may be shut off before it reaches the Solar System's "termination shock", despite it being fully functional likely into the 2050s. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
A Trick Of Gravity? The Biggest Black Hole Merger Ever Detected May Have Deceived Us All
The signal might have been amplified in a very peculiar way. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London. Space & Physics Editor Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.
The Apples You Eat From The Supermarket Are All Clones. Some Of Them Go Back Centuries.
If you've ever eaten a Granny Smith, it came from a tree found in 1868. Other clones are rumored to go back much further than that. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
Scientists Crashed An Unusual Sea Urchin Party And Were Delighted To Discover They Were All Wearing Hats
“There is just so much about this that is magic.” Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
Nostalgia Has Millennials And Gen Z In A Chokehold – Is It Harmless Indulgence Or Evolutionary Necessity?
Got a comfort show you could rewatch every day? Is your workout playlist full of the songs you danced to in high school? Personally, I have a Friends quote for every occasion, my “continue watching” is exclusively ‘90s Star Trek, and you’ll wrest my skinny jeans from my cold, dead hands. Nostalgia, in its many forms, is an indulgence lots of us enjoy.
NASA Can’t Save Its Swift Telescope From Crashing To Earth But It’s Not Going Down Without A Fight
Restarting its science instruments means it can continue to monitor the cosmos until the bitter end. Benjamin Taub Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health.
Early Cretaceous Footprints Appear To Come From The Largest Mammal Of The Dinosaur Era
At over 1.5 meters, maybe not all our mammalian predecessors were near the bottom of a dinosaur-ruled food chain. Stephen Luntz Stephen has degrees in science (Physics major) and arts (English Literature and the History and Philosophy of Science), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication.
Unusual 11,000-Year-Old Statue Of A Human Riding A Leopard Discovered At Karahan Tepe, One Of Humanity’s Oldest Settlements
The sculpture adds another bizarre clue to the story of one of the oldest known human settlements. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
Scientists Got Clownfish To Watch A VR Horror Movie – Their Reaction Revealed How Artificial Light At Night Changes Their Physiology
Turns out a horror movie for clownfish is a lot like the start to Finding Nemo, and you can watch it. Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
Shark Graveyard Discovered In The Desert Shows How Much The World Has Radically Changed In 100 Million Years
Long ago, this was a bustling marine ecosystem. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism.
New “Mega-Earth” Is Massive, On a Very Strange Orbit, And Shouldn't Really Exist
What you'll discover in this article A newly discovered rocky exoplanet has the mass of 23 Earths but is only 2.5 times bigger than our planet. This is challenging our understanding of planet formation in many ways and places it in the rare category of "mega-Earth". GJ 523b is finally enough to confirm "mega-Earths" as a real category, co-author Dr Thomas Beatty told IFLScience.
Can AI Be Conscious? Some Claim It Already Is. An AI Sociologist Cuts Through The Hype
Unless you have opted to live in a forest and someone has printed and mailed this article to you, you are on the internet. And you can’t move on the internet today without encountering large language models (LLMs), commonly referred to as artificial intelligence (AI). There is plenty of potential in the use of these machine learning techniques, with applications in many scientific disciplines, from finding a cure for cancer to reading an ancient scroll.
At 3,200 Years Old, These Painted Ceramics May Be The World’s First Sought After “Brand”
Talk about "legacy brands", this one remained popular from the Bronze Age all the way through to the Iron Age. Benjamin Taub Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health.
How Does A Lion Cub Become King? We Spoke To The Makers Of New Docuseries “Lion” About A Record-Breaking Journey In The Maasai Mara
Over four years the crew logged 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots – the longest-ever continuous filming of lions in the wild. Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
X-Files Creator Chris Carter On How Real-Life Head Transplants Inspired The Show’s Scariest Movie
For many people, The X-Files' monster-of-the-week episodes were their favorites. In the second movie, The X-Files: I Want To Believe, we got a whole two-hour standalone thriller that tells a grisly tale of murder, organ thefts, and head and body transplants. You may be surprised to discover that real-life scientific head and body experiments inspired show creator Chris Carter to make the movie.
Watch Delightful Footage Of A Group Of Wild Young Gorillas Fascinated By A Tiny Chameleon
What is that?! Eleanor Higgs Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford.
This Week's Total Solar Eclipse Will Occur On The Perseids Meteor Shower Peak – For The First Time In Recorded Science History
What you'll discover in this article On August 12, the total solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of the Perseids, the known best meteor shower of the year. IFLScience looked through 5,000 years' worth of eclipse data to investigate if a total solar eclipse has ever occurred on the same day as the Perseids peak, and found no record of this happening.
Why Can’t Everybody Sing Well? Turns Out, There’s Hope For Most Of Us Lousy Singers
I have this daydream I like to revisit when I’m somewhere boring, like sitting on a train. I’m at a pub or a family gathering, and reluctantly, I’m encouraged onto a stage. It’s karaoke, they say. Be fun, I think. Then, to the surprise of me and everyone else in the room, I smash out a perfect rendition of Cher’s Believe. As luck would have it, I was able to take this particular daydream for a spin last year when a friend’s hen-do led me to a dodgy karaoke joint in London.
NASA’s Curiosity Likes Big Buttes – But Only On Mars, As Captured In This Incredible Panorama
What a fine-looking butte! Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.
Sperm Whales Produce Loudest Sound Ever Made By A Mammal And It Can Travel Whopping 70 Kilometers, But No One Knows Why
These so-called clicks are different from noises used for social communication and echolocation for prey. Eleanor Higgs Eleanor has an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Reading and a master’s in wildlife documentary production from the University of Salford.
There's A Good Chance You're Wearing Something Far Older Than The Sun, And Forged In A Stupidly Powerful Event
Please take better care of it, it's older than the Sun. James Felton James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary. Senior Staff Writer James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name.
One Of The World’s Rarest Amphibians Was Down To Its Last 1,000. Now, 32 Have Been Released Into The Wild In A Top Secret Location
We were close to calling time on the Montseny brook newt, but an ambitious conservation effort is clawing them back from the brink. Rachael Funnell Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.
A Little-Known Tick-Borne Virus Discovered Just 12 Years Ago Has Been Detected In New York For The First Time
Doctors initially thought it was Lyme disease, but a blood test showed something very different. Tom Hale Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism.
Footprints On A 1.43-Million-Year-Old Shoreline Have Anthropologists Questioning If We’ve Underestimated Early Hominin’s Size
What you'll discover in this article An extensive set of footprints discovered on the shores of Kenya's Lake Turkana may have belonged to a distant human relative, Paranthropus boisei, but they are unexpectedly huge. The foot size is closer to Homo erectus and could mean P. bosei had more in common with our direct ancestor than thought. Curiously, the tracks also suggest that large groups of males traveled together, hinting at complex social structures.
Asteroid (44) Nysa Is A World Like No Other – It’s The First Known 3-Lobed Space Object And Even Has Its Own Moon
The first known three-headed asteroid in our Solar System. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London. Space & Physics Editor Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.
Were The Mysterious “Sea Peoples” Lurking Throughout Nolan's The Odyssey Real? We Asked The Experts
Everyone, it seems, has a hot take on Christopher Nolan's multi-million-dollar interpretation of The Odyssey, but beyond the glowing reviews/snooty commentaries and engagement farmers on social media, what do historians make of the movie? How much of it is historical fact, and how much is Hollywood codswallop?
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Katy
Contact Katy, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack