Erin Garcia de Jesús

Staff writer, Science News

Erin I. Garcia de Jesús is a staff writer at Science News. She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Washington, where she studied virus/host co-evolution. After deciding science as a whole was too fascinating to spend a career studying one topic, she went on to earn a master’s in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her writing has appeared in Nature News, Science, Eos, Smithsonian Voices and more, and she was the winter 2019 science writing intern at Science News.

All Stories by Erin Garcia de Jesús

  1. Animals

    These healthy fish have bacteria in their brains

    The bodies of most animals keep germs, usually linked to disease, out of their brains. But some fish that host microbes seem to do just fine.

  2. Plants

    Insect-eating plants digest faster with a fungal friend

    Insects stuck in sundews’ sticky goo break down faster when the plants host an enzyme-making fungus.

  3. Animals

    This spider traps flashy fireflies as bait to catch related prey

    When stuck in an orb weaver spider’s web, male fireflies start to blink more like female fireflies — luring in more males.

  4. Animals

    Can furry pets get H5N1 bird flu and spread it to us?

    The 2024 pandemic-style bird flu circulating in birds has shown up in cats and other pet species.

  5. Animals

    In 2024, bird flu posed big risks ­— and to far more than birds

    Cows, elephant seals and polar bears are among unexpected bird flu casualties. Learn about potential risks to them, to people and to our food supplies.

  6. Animals

    Parrots may offer clues to how our intelligence evolved

    Studies of the brainy birds’ abilities to use tools, solve puzzles, speak words and more may teach us about how our species got our smarts.

  7. Animals

    Metal gives the teeth of Komodo dragons their super strength

    Investigating Komodo dragons' ironclad teeth in greater detail could also help solve a dental mystery in dinosaurs.

  8. Humans

    How much more can Olympic speed records fall?

    The human body can go faster than current world records on land and in water. But to reach full potential, our technique must be perfect.

  9. Animals

    See how hummingbirds sneak through small spaces

    Anna’s hummingbirds can use a couple of different techniques to get through gaps smaller than their wingspan.

  10. Genetics

    A protein in sweat may protect people from Lyme disease

    That protein stopped the disease-causing bacterium from growing in lab dishes or infecting mice.

  11. Animals

    This frog is the world’s smallest known vertebrate

    Neither fleas nor toads, Brazilian flea toads are almost flea-sized. These mini frogs are small enough to fit on a pinkie fingernail.

  12. Animals

    At last: How poison dart frogs ship defense toxins to their skin

    A liver protein appears to help the amphibians collect and move toxins from their food to their skin. Those toxins can defend the frogs from predators.