
Grant Currin
Grant Currin is a freelance science journalist based in Brooklyn, New York, who writes about Life's Little Mysteries and other topics for Live Science. Grant also writes about science and media for a number of publications, including Wired, Scientific American, National Geographic, the HuffPost and Hakai Magazine, and he is also a contributor to the Discovery podcast Curiosity Daily. Grant received a bachelor's degree in Political Economy from the University of Tennessee.
Latest articles by Grant Currin

Why do so many cats have white 'socks' on their paws?
By Grant Currin last updated
Those white socks are there because of genetic mutations and domestication.

Why does hunger sometimes cause nausea?
By Grant Currin published
If it’s been hours since you last ate, you should be starving — but why does hunger sometimes cause nausea instead?

How does cannabis get you high?
By Grant Currin published
It apparently comes down to THC and endocannabinoid receptors in the brain.

How long is a galactic year?
By Grant Currin published
Just as Earth orbits the sun, our sun orbits the galaxy.

What is consciousness?
By Grant Currin published
Do non-human animals have consciousness, too?

Why are humans so curious?
By Grant Currin published
Curiosity may explain how humans have survived as a species.

Ancient Maya kingdom with pyramid discovered in southern Mexico
By Grant Currin published
The kingdom has the remains of a temple and unique stone carvings.

How do we tell the difference between geologic ages?
By Grant Currin published
Earth's history is long. How do scientists keep track of what happened when?

Can you 'turn off' a nightmare?
By Grant Currin published
With lucid dreaming, people can stop or even control their dreams.

What Causes Static Electricity?
By Grant Currin published
Static electricity is so common that it's easy to forget how weird it is.

What's The Biggest Animal That a Snake Can Swallow?
By Grant Currin published
A complex network of skull bones, ligaments and muscles allows a snake to swallow prey with bodies much larger than the sinuous predator's own head.

The Voracious and Invasive Lionfish Is Taking Over the Atlantic. Here's Why.
By Grant Currin published
The striking lionfish is invading the Atlantic Ocean, eating its way through coral reef after coral reef.

The Most Surprising Elephant Relatives on Earth
By Grant Currin published
Would not have guessed it.

Why Is Mold Fuzzy?
By Grant Currin published
Why is mold fuzzy, and is this fuzz dangerous to eat?

Does drinking chamomile tea really help people fall asleep?
By Grant Currin published
Does drinking chamomile tea actually make people sleepy?

Why Do Lobsters Turn Red When They're Cooked?
By Grant Currin published
As any lobster connoisseur knows, this crustacean turns bright red when it's heated. Why does this dramatic color transformation happen?

Why Does Mint Make Your Mouth Feel Cool?
By Grant Currin published
If you nibble on a mint leaf, you might notice that it makes your mouth feel cool. That's because mint, much like chili peppers, is a biochemical success story — for plants, at least.

Stonehenge's Massive Megaliths May Have Been Moved into Place with Pig Lard
By Grant Currin published
Stonehenge's massive megaliths may have been moved with more than just elbow grease.

Why haven't all primates evolved into humans?
By Grant Currin published
Humans did not evolve from apes, gorillas or chimps. We share a common ancestor and have followed different evolutionary paths.

We Are Very Close to Completely Eliminating Male Embryos (in Mice)
By Grant Currin published
The catch is that it requires genetically altering the parents, too.

A Massive Seaweed Bloom Is Smothering Life from the Caribbean to West Africa
By Grant Currin published
Researchers call it the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt.

Why Do People Scrunch Up Their Faces After Tasting Something Sour?
By Grant Currin published
Why do we give such a sour-looking response to sour foods?

Sperm Can Survive Microgravity, but Don’t Expect Any Space Babies Soon
By Grant Currin published
Frozen sperm didn’t seem fazed by several loop the loops in an aerobatic plane, but that’s a far cry from showing that they would make a healthy baby in space.

Why Do Some People Always Get Bitten by Mosquitoes, While Others Don't?
By Grant Currin published
Some people can sit outside all summer long and not suffer from mosquito bites. Others turn into an itchy mess despite bathing in DEET and never leaving the purple glow of the bug zapper. What gives?
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