Anna Funk
Dr. Anna Funk is a writer, editor, and ecologist. She has a PhD in plant and evolutionary biology from Michigan State University, has published numerous scientific papers, and was previously an editor at Discover Magazine.
Anna’s writing has appeared in Discover, Inverse, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, among other publications. She is based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Scientists want to map the genome of a slime-shooting worm — here's why
The velvet worm is a slime-shooting carnivore straight out of Pokémon.
Olympic world records broken in 2021: The science behind the spectacle
At the Tokyo Olympics, runners are shattering old records left and right. Here's the science behind how Olympic athletes keep breaking world records.
Olympic skateboarding doesn’t defy physics — it perfects it
“At some point, gravity’s going to win, no matter how fast you’re going.”
Twisties and yips: Simone Biles reveals a powerful mind-body connection
An expert explains why versions of “lost move syndrome” are a real problem for all athletes. This umbrella term covers the "yips" and "twisties."
A dangerous Olympic myth about age is being debunked
“It’s advantageous for the young gymnast to see that your career can go past the age of 16.”
To protect Earth, humans need to redefine what is the "best" nature
Only 17 percent of Earth’s land has actually been uninhabited over the past 12,000 years.
Self-healing “Xenobots” mean a future with living machines
Scientists hack frog cells so they self-heal.
Scientists can implant false memories — and reverse them
Scientists figure out two new ways to root out false memories.
Magma ocean discovery illuminates Earth’s extremely metal past
Researchers find physical signatures of Earth’s primordial magma ocean.
To predict a cataclysmic future, scientists explore Earth’s geomagnetic past
A new study finds a 700-year-old geomagnetic anomaly.
