Rachel Ehrenberg

Previously the interdisciplinary sciences and chemistry reporter and author of the Culture Beaker blog, Rachel has written about new explosives, the perils and promise of 3-D printing and how to detect corruption in networks of email correspondence. Rachel was a 2013-2014 Knight Science Journalism fellow at MIT. She has degrees in botany and political science from the University of Vermont and a master’s in evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan. She graduated from the science writing program at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

All Stories by Rachel Ehrenberg

  1. Life

    Mimivirus up close

    Scientists get a closer look at the structure of mimivirus, the largest virus in the world.

  2. Life

    Function for green fluorescent protein

    Scientists find that the glowing molecule also passes electrons, offering a new clue about the natural function of a protein that's become ubiquitous in molecular biology.

  3. Chemistry

    Yeast bred to bear artificial vanilla

    Researchers have co-opted fungi to produce the flavor more efficiently.

  4. Life

    Lizards sunbathe for another reason

    Panther chameleons may regulate their vitamin D levels by lounging in the sun.

  5. Humans

    In teeth, more cracks are better than one

    Cracks in tooth enamel, called tufts, distribute force and shield a tooth from fracture, researchers report.

  6. Materials Science

    Double-laser approach makes one thin line

    Erasing and stenciling could refine tiny printing for sculpting nano-sized devices.

  7. Chemistry

    Bubbles turn on chemical catalysts

    Mechanical force could help chemical compounds spur reactions when the time is right.

  8. Building Beauty

    Deconstructing flowers yields the secrets of petals, scents and hue.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Licorice may interfere with certain drugs

    Studies in rats suggest that the active compound in licorice root can promote or hinder the availability of certain drugs.

  10. Agriculture

    Fighting fungal weapons, not fungi

    Scientists have engineered several compounds that target an enzyme that blackleg and black spot fungi use to thwart plant defense systems. The selective compounds are designed not to harm beneficial species while still protecting valuable crops.

  11. Chemistry

    Helping molecules reach meta

    Researchers find a simple way to get molecules into the meta position on an aromatic ring, opening fresh possibilities for making new compounds.

  12. Earth

    Goo gives eels just the right buoyancy

    Scientists survey the specific gravity of 25 marine critters.