
Laura Poppick
Latest articles by Laura Poppick

Haters Gonna Hate? Why Some People Dislike Everything
By Laura Poppick last updated
Some people may be predisposed to dislike lots of things, new research suggests.

Will Your Toddler Be a Drinker? Personality May Tell
By Laura Poppick last updated
Highly sociable tots, along with emotionally stable ones, were more likely than their peers to drink alcohol as teens.

Air Bag Recall Highlights Need for Smarter Cars
By Laura Poppick published
Future air bags will be "smarter" and will react to crashes as they happen, reducing air bag-induced injuries, researchers say.

Why Do Zebras Have Stripes? It's Not for Camouflage
By Laura Poppick published
Scientists have long struggled to explain why zebras have dark stripes. Now, a new study suggests that the stripes help these grazers stay cool in the midday equatorial heat.

California Droughts Could Have Dangerous Ripple Effects
By Laura Poppick published
Droughts in California may cause not only water shortages, but also conditions ripe for dangerous forest fires, landslides and poor water quality.

Life Under Ice: Robot Captures Views of Hidden Arctic Ecosystem
By Laura Poppick published
A remote-controlled underwater robot has collected the most detailed information yet about the underbelly of stable Arctic sea ice.

Deadly Cholera Outbreaks Could Increase with Climate Change
By Laura Poppick published
Regions of the world that experience extreme weather shifts due to climate change may become more vulnerable to the spread of cholera, scientists report.

'Failed' Arctic Expedition Celebrated on 100th Anniversary
By Laura Poppick published

Photos: Artifacts and Specimens from the Crocker Land Expedition
By Laura Poppick published
Specimens collected during the early 20th century Crocker Land Expedition to northwest Greenland still benefit science today.

Shipwrecks and Dead Trees Become Home for Deep-Sea Life
By Laura Poppick published
Fallen logs and wooden remnants of old shipwrecks promote hotspots of life in the otherwise empty deep seafloor.

Antarctic Ice 'Cork' Melting Could Lead to Unstoppable Sea Rise
By Laura Poppick published
Global sea level could rise between 10 to 13 feet if a relatively small mass of ice currently corking an Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt with warming sea water.

Ancient Caribou Hunting Site Discovered Beneath Lake Huron
By Laura Poppick published

Hummingbird Evolution Was Fast, but Is Slowing
By Laura Poppick published
Hummingbirds diversified quickly over the past 22 million years, and continues to diversify today.

Images: Beautiful Hummingbirds of the World
By Laura Poppick published
A total of 338 hummingbird species are known to live on the planet, making hummingbirds amongst the most diverse bird groups.

Mouth Vision: Blind Fish Suctions Water to Navigate
By Laura Poppick published
Mexican blind cavefish don't need eyes to navigate through dark waters – they use mouth suction to detect objects, according to a new study.

Seasonal Birth Rates Could Guide Vaccine Campaigns
By Laura Poppick published
Birth rates have distinct seasonalities around the world that could help determine optimal times to administer annual vaccination campaigns in developing countries.

How Wearable Tech Could Improve Your Mental Health
By Laura Poppick published
Wearable technology, such as smart wristbands, may be the next new tool to help treat conditions such as autism and depression.

Climate Change Taking Major Toll Now, UN Report Says
By Laura Poppick published
Members of about 100 countries have joined together to issue a new report that emphasizes the immediacy of dangers related to climate change.

5 Reasons Why West Coast Is More Vulnerable to Mudslides
By Laura Poppick published
Mudslides can happen in any state in the U.S., but tend to be particularly common on the West Coast. We explore why that is.

Forget GPS: Medieval Compass Guided Vikings After Sunset
By Laura Poppick published
With the help of a pair of crystals and a wooden stick, the Vikings may have been able to use the sun to navigate across the North Atlantic even after sunset.

Images: Viking Twilight Compass Helps Navigate North Atlantic
By Laura Poppick published
The Vikings navigated the North Atlantic using a tool known as a twilight compass.

Stunning Lightning Above Mideast Seen from Space (Photo)
By Laura Poppick published
The International Space Station is now equipped with a new instrument that will help study lightning strikes in detail.
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