Elana Spivack
Live Science
New York, NY, United States
Contact Elana
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Elana:
In rare attack, 30 orcas 'badly wounded' 2 adult gray whales in California
A pod of about 30 orcas attacked and "badly wounded" two adult gray whales off the coast of California, according to drone footage. → Read More
This Is the Most Complex Reconstruction of a Brain Ever — And It's Tiny
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Cambridge mapped the connectome of a baby fruit fly, revealing its neural network. → Read More
Flamingos’ Social Lives are Full of Cliques, New Study Reveals
A study on flamingos shows that the birds form subgroups based on similar personalities, including aggressiveness, openness, and submissiveness. → Read More
Is Natural Wine Better For You?
Natural wine lacks a clear definition but tends to be produced without pesticides and commercial yeast and excludes added sulfites. → Read More
The Emerging Science of Touch Reveals How Much We Don’t Yet Know About Pleasure
New research into the neuroscience of touch complicates oxytocin’s status as the love hormone — and opens up new avenues to understand this funny little thing called love. → Read More
Scientists mapped the brain circuitry involved in pleasurable touch in mice
A mouse study finds a cell group in the brain responsible for releasing dopamine in response to gentle touches in mice, which serves as an analog in humans. → Read More
Overthinking? This New Kind of Therapy May Finally Provide An Antidote
A recent study looks at the effects of metacognitive therapy in patients recovering from a cardiac event, finding it reduces rumination and adverse effects. → Read More
Cutting back on deli meats may lower your risk of this chronic illness
A French paper demonstrates a link between nitrites in deli meats and increased risk for type 2 diabetes in the largest cohort study yet. → Read More
Can spicy foods cure colds? A neuroscientist reveals the encouraging truth
A neuroscientist digs into why spicy food can't cure colds, but can tap into the trigeminal nerve to alleviate pains and symptoms. → Read More
Dinosaur fossils complicate our understanding of how they reproduced
A new paper on titanosaurus egg clutches found in India show an ovum-in-ova specimen, indicating that these dinosaurs may have reproduced like birds do. → Read More
One daily social practice could help stave off dementia
A new study finds that socially isolated adults are 28 percent more susceptible to dementia than those with a strong, consistent social network. → Read More
Will milk and orange juice curdle and make you sick? Here's the truth about the breakfast combo
Milk curdles in orange juice, so the myth goes that drinking orange juice and milk will make you throw up. Stomach acid is much stronger, so it will break both down. → Read More
Asking yourself one fun question could help boost your well-being and longevity
Anticipating a positive event or task improves well-being. Having something to look forward to is important to psychological health and one's ability of finding good in small things. → Read More
Feel tired after eating? Try this one easy activity to boost energy and health
Health professor Steven Malin details the benefits of taking a brief walk after eating because it improves circulation and lowers insulin and glucose levels. → Read More
This secret ingredient can elevate your hot chocolate, according to science
Cornstarch makes hot chocolate much thicker and richer because it creates a unique suspension when mixed with hot water. → Read More
The first study to measure vitamin D in the brain could help reveal how to maintain cognitive health
A new study found a link between higher concentrations of Vitamin D and improved cognition in aging people. → Read More
Are figs full of dead wasps? An entomologist reveals the answer
Fig wasps help pollinate figs and spread seeds, dying inside in the process. But by the time figs get to the eater, the wasp is long gone. → Read More
Scientists want to know why swear words share this one universal trait
Two studies from the University of London examine common traits between swear words across different languages, finding that most lack approximants. → Read More
How much salt is too much? Heart health study has a new answer
A study looked at the link between how frequently people added salt to their meals and the incidence of heart disease. → Read More
Bats growl like death metal singers and scientists finally know why
A study from the University of Southern Denmark found the anatomical structures that help bats create a range of sounds. → Read More