Erika Engelhaupt

Erika Engelhaupt is a freelance science writer and editor based in Knoxville, Tenn. She began her blog, Gory Details, while she was an editor at Science News. She continues the blog at National Geographic, where she was online science editor and managed the Phenomena science blog network. Her work has also appeared at NPR, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Story Collider podcast, and in other newspapers and magazines. 

All Stories by Erika Engelhaupt

  1. a 3-D printed skull of Asteriornis maastrichtensis
    Science & Society

    2020’s science superlatives include the oldest, highest and grossest discoveries

    From the earliest modern bird to the highest-temperature superconductor, science set plenty of records in 2020.

  2. Asian giant hornet
    Animals

    Rumors of a ‘murder hornet’ apocalypse may have been exaggerated

    Murder hornets sightings in the Pacific northwest inspired a mix of concern and delight.

  3. Elvis worms
    Science & Society

    From Elvis worms to the Milky Way’s edge, these science stories sparked joy in 2020

    During a gloomy year dominated by a pandemic, these scientific discoveries were reminders that we live in a world of wonder.

  4. cat smizing
    Animals

    With a litter of tactics, scientists work to tame cat allergies

    New research may reduce the allergen levels of house cats or make people less reactive to our feline friends.

  5. cats
    Life

    Giving cats food with an antibody may help people with cat allergies

    Research by pet-food maker Purina aims to disable the major allergen carried in cat saliva, a protein called Fel d1.

  6. green algae
    Plants

    ‘Slime’ shows how algae have shaped our climate, evolution and daily lives

    The new book ‘Slime’ makes the case that algae deserve to be celebrated.

  7. camel cricket
    Animals

    If you want to believe your home’s bug free, don’t read this book

    ‘Never Home Alone’ reveals the hidden world living in human-made spaces.

  8. a bee on a flower
    Animals

    Why humans, and Big Macs, depend on bees

    Thor Hanson, the author of Buzz, explains the vital role bees play in our world.

  9. Yale medical school library brain samples
    Health & Medicine

    ‘Aroused’ recounts the fascinating history of hormones

    The new book "Aroused" demystifies hormones, the chemicals that put the zing into life.

  10. person holding gun
    Psychology

    Gun owner or not, Americans agree on many ways to limit gun violence

    A new survey suggests that gun owners support many potential gun-control policies — now research on their efficacy needs to catch up.

  11. field experiment of CO2 levels
    Climate

    Rising CO2 levels might not be as good for plants as we thought

    A 20-year experiment spots a reversal in the way two kinds of plants take up extra carbon from the atmosphere.

  12. Animals

    The truth about animals isn’t always pretty

    The Truth About Animals digs up surprising stories about sloths, pandas, penguins and other wildly misunderstood wildlife.