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. Genetics

    DNA disorganization linked to aging

    Changes in the way that DNA is tightly packed in cells leads to mayhem that promotes the aging process.

  2. Science & Society

    Sometimes it’s best to feed the trolls

    There are people behind malicious comments on the Internet, and sometimes engaging with them can change their behavior, data suggest.

  3. Science & Society

    Unbiased computer confirms media bias

    A computer algorithm can identify a media outlet’s bias just by the quotes it chooses from political speeches, surrounding context aside.

  4. Science & Society

    The Angelina effect should be about knowing your cancer risk

    Angelina Jolie’s public message about her medical decisions related to cancer is about knowing your risks for disease, not hers.

  5. Science & Society

    NCAA tournament puts prediction strategies to the test

    When it comes to strategies for building the most winning bracket during March Madness, all bets are off.

  6. Science & Society

    Forensic analysis finds ‘Blurred Lines’ case not so clear

    In March, courts ruled that the song “Blurred Lines” borrowed from Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up.” But a closer look finds the songs aren’t all that alike.

  7. Tech

    Facebook detects signs of postpartum depression

    An analysis of Facebook activity can identify new moms with postpartum depression.

  8. Materials Science

    Old chemistry gives jolt to modern batteries

    Chemical reactions discovered in the 19th century improve the performance of futuristic batteries.

  9. Health & Medicine

    E-cigarettes may be gateway to addiction for teens

    Teenagers are using e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product and for many, it’s the first time they’ve tried a tobacco product at all.

  10. Tech

    Using Facebook ‘likes,’ computer pegs people’s personalities

    Using limited data from Facebook, computers can outdo humans in assessing a user’s openness, neuroticism and other personality traits.

  11. Health & Medicine

    Year in review: Gut reacts to artificial sweeteners

    Saccharin messes with the body’s ability to metabolize fuel, a condition that often precedes diabetes, obesity and other metabolic problems.

  12. Genetics

    Year in review: Life’s complexity recoded

    New genetic letters in bacteria and a simplified yeast chromosome showcase scientists' advances in understanding the simplicity and complexity of life.