Katherine Irving

Katherine Irving

Katherine Irving is a freelance science journalist specializing in wildlife and the geosciences. After graduating from Macalester College, where she wrote screenplays, excavated dinosaur bones and vaccinated wolves, Katherine dove straight into internships with Science Magazine and The Scientist. She now contributes to the Science Magazine podcast and loves reporting about the beautiful intricacies of our planet.

Articles by: Katherine Irving

A view of Mount Everest from an airplane

Will Mount Everest always be the world's tallest mountain?

By Katherine Irving published

The Himalayas' massive heights result from a unique combination of geologic factors.

A huge sunfish faces a school of fish in the ocean

Which animal can have the most babies at one time?

By Katherine Irving published

How many offspring an animal can have depends on many factors, such as whether they're aquatic and how they get around.

A pill-shaped transparent jellyfish with orange dots on the front of its body

What was the first animal on Earth?

By Katherine Irving published

Using fossil evidence and genetic dating, geneticists and paleontologists have backed strikingly different candidates for the world's first animal.

A baby bonobo clings onto its mother's back as they walk through a pond

Why do only some animals have periods?

By Katherine Irving published

Humans are not the only organisms that have periods — some animals do too, but scientists still aren't sure why.

A photo showing a road torn up by an earthquake

Will we have more earthquakes because of climate change?

By Katherine Irving published

Changes in sea level and glacial melt could make earthquakes more likely in the coming years.

A guanaco stands behind red flowered bushes an in front of a snowy mountain range and lake

Which continent has the most animal species?

By Katherine Irving published

The diversity of even the largest animals depends on the smallest factors.

Bird's eye view of people walking on a map of the world.

Why did Homo sapiens emerge in Africa?

By Katherine Irving published

Our human ancestors arose in Africa due to many factors, including climate.

a photograph of a person, dog, and cat with their hands stacked on top of each other

Why do most mammals have 5 fingers?

By Katherine Irving published

The simple question of "why five" has puzzled scientists from multiple fields, and the answer still isn't entirely clear.

Computer illustration of Europe viewed from space.

How much does Earth weigh?

By Katherine Irving published

Earth's mass took hundreds of years to estimate, and even now, experts don't agree on the exact number.