Health Reporter at WHYY-FM (2014-present)
A (small) selection of my science and health reporting for WHYY-FM. Along with newscasts, my work has been featured on two shows: The Pulse, an hourlong weekly science program, and NewsWorks Tonight, a nightly half hour newsmagazine.
FEATURES
Was it a twister? The forensics of tornadoes
June 24, 2015
Tuesday night's thunderstorms uprooted trees, tore down power lines and flipped a car onto its roof at a South Jersey mall. Many wondered if a twister had touched down. Or was it just strong, straight line wind?
Two Philadelphia-area teams to compete in DARPA robotics challenge
June 3, 2015
Just a day and a half before his robot has to show its mettle, Todd Danko of Lockheed Martin in Cherry Hill was still tinkering away.
Invasive algae could stunt growth of Caribbean corals, University of Delaware scientist finds
June 3, 2015
Algae from the Indian and Pacific oceans now has a foothold in the Caribbean -- and local scientists are finding it might cause more trouble than previously thought.
How does Philly’s bike-share program stack up against the rest?
May 18, 2015
Stereotypical bike-share users are deep-pocketed tourists and tree-hugging hipsters. If Philadelphia wants to succeed where other programs have failed — and get more low-income residents aboard — it may come down to economics.
Seventh-graders mix history, literature in study of Philadelphia's 1793 yellow fever epidemic
March 4, 2015
More than two centuries ago, an outbreak of yellow fever hit Philadelphia — then the largest city in the fledgling United States — and wiped out about 10 percent of the population. Now, one Philadelphia public school is using a young adult novel to impart history and foster a love of reading.
Red knot shorebird added to U.S. list of threatened species
December 23, 2014
In recognition of its struggles with climate change and finding enough food, one subspecies of red knot now has federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
University of Delaware scientist helps locate two WWII planes lost at sea
November 11, 2014
As a marine biologist with the University of Delaware, Mark Moline has published articles on the shovelnose guitar fish and bioluminescent plankton in the Arctic. But he has also lent his scientific expertise to a team looking for downed World War II planes in the Pacific.
Acme grocery chain discloses data breach
September 30, 2014
Adding to the list of companies with data breaches, Acme Markets Inc. announced Tuesday that it had identified an attempt by hackers to steal shoppers' payment information.
Sniff test reveals 'nocebo' effect among asthmatics told odor is harmful
July 24, 2014
For many asthmatics, perfumes or other odors can trigger an attack. But just believing an odor is harmful can make breathing more difficult, according to a new study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.
Temple scientists edit out HIV from cultured cells
July 23, 2014
Today's antiretroviral drugs allow most HIV-positive patients to live long, full lives. But there's still no way to get rid of the virus completely. In an early step to change that, researchers from Temple University have successfully eliminated the virus from human cells growing in culture.
Philadelphia researchers to create brain prosthesis to restore memory loss
July 10, 2014
It sounds a bit like science fiction, but thanks to funding from DARPA — the federal agency behind the start of the Internet — Philadelphia scientists will soon be working to create a device that can restore memory to those affected by traumatic brain injury.
Drexel father-son team finds sweetener a possible pesticide
June 4, 2014
One of the newer sugar substitutes on the market is Truvia, made by the Coca-Cola Company. Scientists from Drexel University now have preliminary evidence that it could also double as a safe pesticide.
Drexel team develops 'belly band' to monitor contractions of pregnant women
April 22, 2014
In the hospital, keeping tabs on labor contractions usually requires a woman to stay strapped in bed with a bulky belt. Now, a team at Drexel University is combining engineering and medicine with fashion to create a smart fabric that offers a more comfortable alternative.
SPOTS
Brainy or brawny? For ants, it comes down to more than DNA
December 26, 2014
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are studying the brains of ants at the molecular level for clues on how social behavior comes about.
Asbestos cleanup in Ambler nears completion
October 6, 2014
Although the asbestos factories closed decades ago, the suburban town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, is still home to lots of toxic waste. After years of work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now nearing its completion of the first phase of cleanup for its remaining Superfund site, known as BoRit. But for some in the Montgomery County community, questions linger about whether the fix is sufficient.
Delaware beaches serve as living laboratories for understanding surf zone injuries
July 31, 2014
At many beaches, posted signs warn swimmers of rip tides and the danger of being pulled out into the ocean. Less well known—but just as scary—are breaking waves that can cause injuries closer to the shore. This summer, coastal engineers and physicians are working together to better understand what makes those injuries more likely to occur.
Chasing down an immune protein in the brain could shed light on autism
January 27, 2015
Fifteen years ago, the proteins that Princeton neuroscientist Lisa Boulanger has staked her career on weren't even thought to exist in the brain.
How rock salt melts ice, and why less is often more
February 13, 2015
Each winter, Philadelphia uses 20,000 to 40,000 tons of rock salt to keep its roads ice-free. In a bad season, like last year, that number can balloon to more than 80,000 tons. But what is actually happening when salt melts ice and snow, and do we need so much?
Pine, orange, lavender... what should 'clean' really smell like?
April 30, 2015
On days with air quality warnings, it makes a lot of sense to stay inside. But it's not necessarily safe to assume the home is always better. Scientists at Drexel University are finding that the chemicals we use indoors can trigger a surprising amount of pollution.
Gene therapy’s potential pricing problem
March 4, 2015
It's taken more than three decades of trial and error to get it right, but gene therapy is nearly ready for prime time. The first approved treatment in Europe — for a rare enzyme deficiency — is expected to hit the market later this year. The question for many is how much should it cost?
Philadelphia artist remembers her father, one of the city’s early AIDS victims
May 21, 2015
In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, the gay community was hit hard. But contrary to public perception, not all those who were infected were single men. Many had families.