Rob Ludacer
Business Insider
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Rob:
How large asteroids must be to destroy a city, state, country, or the planet
How big of an asteroid does it take to damage cities, states, countries, and the planet? On the fourth-annual World Asteroid Day (Saturday, June 30), we take a look at estimates from NASA, Purdue University's "Impact Earth" simulator, and other sources. → Read More
How long humans could survive in space without a spacesuit
Why are astronauts always wearing those bulky suits? You don't NEED them, do you? Here's what would really happen to an exposed human in the void of space. → Read More
The biggest volcano eruptions in recorded history
Many think of Mt. St. Helens as one of the larger volcano eruptions, but they can get much bigger. Here's how the largest volcanoes measure up. → Read More
The bugs that lay eggs all over your body
For some bug babies, your body is home sweet home. We explore all the awful ways these creepy crawlies have children beneath your skin. → Read More
All the sneaky ways that flower-delivery services get your order
As you order flowers for your loved ones, don't forget to make sure you know where your flowers are coming from and who is getting paid for them. → Read More
What really happens when lightning strikes a plane — and the clever features that reduce the risk of damage
Over 7,000 US planes are struck by lighting every year. But chances of danger are low because planes are engineered to withstand lightning strikes. → Read More
A fire expert explains why historic buildings like Notre-Dame Cathedral burn so easily
Many historic buildings like the Notre-Dame Cathedral are vulnerable to fires, especially during renovations. A fire engineer explains why. → Read More
The foldable phone screen is the tech trend of 2019 — here's how it works
Flexible phone screens have been in the works for the past six years. Companies like Samsung and Huawei are now making foldable phones. → Read More
Mistletoe is actually a tree-killing parasite — here's how it became a Christmas icon
Its berries are toxic to humans and pets and can cause vomiting and stomach pain if ingested. → Read More
There could be thousands of undiscovered creatures in the sea — here are the most terrifying ones we know about
Swimming in the ocean is great until something brushes your feet. Maybe it's seaweed, or it may be one of the hundreds of alien-like aquatic animals. → Read More
One bite from this tick could ruin red meat for the rest of your life
Who doesn't love a juicy burger? About 5,000 Americans. And not from dietary preference, but because a single bite could cause hives, shortness of breath, or even death. It's not something they were born with, it's something their body was taught, by an uninvited little wilderness hitchhiker. → Read More
How large asteroids must be to destroy a city, state, country, or the planet
How big of an asteroid does it take to damage cities, states, countries, and the planet? On the fourth-annual World Asteroid Day (Saturday, June 30), we take a look at estimates from NASA, Purdue University's "Impact Earth" simulator, and other sources. → Read More
The world is running out of sand
If you’re planning a beach vacation, you’d better get to it soon. An alarming statistic for you: 67% of Southern California beaches? GONE by 2100. All because of sand. Even if you don’t think about the grainy stuff, you use it daily. You’re reading this off something made with sand, looking at it through a screen made with sand, surrounded by buildings made with concrete. I could let you guess… → Read More
The world is running out of sand — and there's a black market for it now
Do you like beaches? Who doesn't!? Well, enjoy them now, because we're using up sand at such an alarming rate, that your favorite shore won't be around much longer. We may see most of California's beaches disappear in our lifetime! → Read More
How to use a semicolon properly
Chances are you haven't really used this little punctuation; ever wonder why that is? → Read More
This incredible animation shows how humans evolved from early life
The path to humanity is 3.8 million years long. How did we get from unicellular organisms to the upright primates we are today? Watch and see. → Read More
Here's what happens in your body when you swallow gum
We have all heard of terrible things that take place inside our stomach when we swallow gum. But is it really that big of a deal if you forget to spit it out? → Read More
No one wants to host the Olympics anymore
It’s no secret that it’s a pricey pain to host the Olympic Games, running billions of dollars above the estimated budget. As the International Olympic Committee receives fewer bids with each problematic games, the future of the tradition is looking unsure. We spoke with Smith College Professor of Economics Andrew Zimbalist on the matter. He should know, he’s written about the Olympic issues in… → Read More
No one wants to host the Olympics anymore — will they go away?
Hosting the Olympics has become such a burden on the city, fewer countries are bidding to host future games. → Read More
A sleep expert gives the best tips for falling asleep quicker
Sleep expert Matthew Walker describes the perfect conditions for falling asleep quicker. Following is a transcript of the video. Matthew Walker:My name is Matthew Walker. I am a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California Berkeley and I am the author of the book, “Why We Sleep.” What are things that we can all do tonight and in the future to start getting better… → Read More