Kevin Litman-Navarro
The Pudding
New York, NY, United States
Contact Kevin
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Kevin:
Live Music Jukebox
An auditory comparison of 770 artists' live and studio tracks → Read More
“May the Fourth” Meme Generator Will Make Your Star Wars Day More Original
May the Fourth is the archetypal holiday of the internet age. Rather than participating in familial rituals and religious observations, the collective cult consciousness of Star Wars fans everywhere coalesces on the internet, where the only currency that matters isn’t republic credits, but memes. → Read More
Why Cat Eyes Look Evil at Night, According to Science
Cats are weird. Sometimes they are funny weird. Sometimes they’re annoying weird. And once in a while, they are scary weird. Like attempting a home invasion while appearing demonically possessed weird. The cat who starred in a viral post Thursday on Reddit’s r/wtf subreddit was the third last kind. → Read More
Hawaii Kilauea Volcano Eruption: 3 Active Volcanoes on the Islands
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted on Thursday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of two neighborhoods as lava spilled out of a newly formed fissure. But the specter of a volcanic eruption is perpetually present for Hawaiians, as Kilauea is just one of three active volcanoes in the Hawaiian archipelago. → Read More
Hawaii Volcano Kilauea Evokes Folklore: "If Pele Comes, Pele Comes"
On the big island of Hawaii, the Kilauea Volcano erupted at around 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday. Two neighborhoods near Kilauea were forced to evacuate, as lava seeped from a fissure onto a highway. Thankfully, Hawaiians know who to hold accountable when magma oozes from the earth — Pele, the goddess of fire. → Read More
Kangaroos Cracked Out on Common Vegetables Are Turning Violent
Two hours north of Sydney, the Morisset Hospital has become a popular sightseeing destination because of a cohort of wild kangaroos that resides in the area. Tourists descend upon the region with a selfie stick in one hand and a snack in the other, ready to bait the extremely wild creatures into the perfect photo op. → Read More
Supervolcano Eruptions Will Follow Massive Seismic Activity, Study Shows
After the Yellowstone supervolcano’s last massive eruption 630,000 years ago, gargantuan clouds of ash filled the sky, blotting out the sun and cooling the oceans. But according to a new study recently published in Geophysical Research Letters, we should have plenty of time to prepare for an impending volcanic winter. → Read More
E. Coli Outbreak: How Not to Die From Eating Romaine Lettuce
An E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce resulted in the death of a California patient, the CDC reports. The outbreak was first announced on April 10, and 121 infections have been reported in 25 different states. Nearly half of the afflicted were hospitalized, with 14 people developing kidney failure. → Read More
Hairy, Rash-Raising Caterpillars Invade London, Prompting Health Warnings
In a true story that would be a worthy inclusion in the Sharknado universe, a swarm of poisonous caterpillars has descended upon London. The epidemic of larvae is an annual occurrence, resulting in a rash of warnings from the government and a rash on those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the toxic critter. → Read More
Scotland-Sized 'Dead Zone' in Arabian Sea is a 'Disaster Waiting to Happen'
In the Gulf of Oman, the water is still. But tranquility isn’t always a positive sign — in fact, the gulf is less Garden of Eden than it is Chernobyl. According to researchers from the University of East Anglia and Sultan Qaboos University, a marine “dead zone” larger than Scotland now covers most of the body of water. → Read More
Japan's New 'Wood Alcohol' Made from Trees Makes You Drunk, Not Blind
A team of Japanese scientists has invented a new type of wood alcohol — and this one is safe to drink. Generally, “wood alcohol” is a stand-in term for methanol, a main ingredient in racing fuel and formaldehyde. The researchers say that their invention, on the other hand, is totally potable. → Read More
Why Journalist Swapna Krishna Won’t Be “Buried” in Outer Space
The death industry is booming. If you don’t procrastinate, the options are seemingly endless: you can purchase a funeral plot for a small fortune; you can be devoured by mushrooms and reincorporated into the ground; you can even have your cremated remains launched into deep space. → Read More
'Salvage Master' Hatches Insane Iceberg Scheme to End Cape Town's Drought
South Africa is running out of water. A years long drought has left the country, including port city Cape Town, mired in a national disaster that could see the taps run dry as soon as 2019. But salvage master Nick Sloane has a plan -- drag an iceberg from Antarctica to South Africa. → Read More
Vapers are Better Off Than Smokers in at Least One Aspect of Human Health
As vaping threatens to replace smoking as the en vogue way of irking your parents, many people have become wary of its health hazards. But according to new research from Newcastle University, vaping doesn’t appear to be as harmful as smoking, at least when it comes to your microbiome. Take that mom! → Read More
Ancient Massacre Site in Sweden Reveals Horrific History of Human Violence
It’s not entirely clear what would drive someone to stuff goat’s teeth into a dead man’s mouth. But for the 5th Century residents of Oland, the why probably wasn’t all that important: when you’re the victim of a brutal massacre, having a few extra chompers is probably the least of your worries. → Read More
Hiroshima Bombing Victim's Bones Reveal an Insane Level of Radiation
When the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, around 80,000 people were instantly killed — vaporized, crushed, and incinerated by the initial blast. The lingering effects of radiation would kill tens of thousands more. Thanks to a group of scientists we now know the fatal dose. → Read More
Portugal's Cavernous Nazaré Canyon Created the Biggest Wave Ever Surfed
At the World Surf League Big Wave awards on Saturday, Koxa was awarded for his record-setting descent of an 80-foot wave at Nazaré, Portugal -- the world record for largest wave ever surfed. Along with massive wave hotspots Teahupoo, Mavericks, and Jaws, Nazaré is the one of the best spots for shredding the gnar. → Read More
What Is Hantavirus? Woman Dies From Flu-Like Disease Spread by Rodents
A 27-year-old woman died last week as a result of complications stemming from a rare rodent-borne infection. While doctors initially thought that Kiley Lane of New Mexico was another victim of a potent flu season, she was actually suffering from severe case Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). → Read More
Fanny Blankers-Koen: The Physics Behind the "Flying Housewife's" High Jump
Google paid tribute to Fanny Blankers-Koen with a homepage doodle on Thursday, marking the late Dutch athlete’s 100th birthday. While Blankers-Koen is most well-known for her running prowess, she was also an elite jumper. At one point, Blankers-Koen held world records for both high jump and long jump. → Read More
Brain 'Heat Switch' Reveals Why You're Not Hungry After an Intense Workout
Not only is exercise an important part of a healthy diet, it may well be a solid diet in its own right. According to researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, working out is an effective way to both shed some weight and ward off hunger -- as long as you’re working up a sweat. → Read More