Nick Keppler

Joined: Jun 8, 2015

Nick Keppler is a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Village Voice, Nerve, Vice, and Slate. When he’s not on his laptop, he’s probably kayaking on one of the city’s rivers with a Led Zeppelin track blaring through his earbuds.

Scurvy decimated sailors, explorers, and regular citizens for centuries before a cure for the vitamin deficiency was discovered.

Scurvy—a “Disease of the Past”—Is Making a Comeback

This scene near Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks shows why New York is the top state for fall road trips.

The 19 Best States For Fall Road Trips

Do Wombats Use Their Butts as Deadly Weapons?

One of the original samples of Alexander Fleming’s penicillin mold.

Old Mold to Be Sold: Fleming’s Original Penicillin Sample Up for Auction

The knight’s tombstone rediscovered at Jamestown.

Jamestown’s Mysterious Black Tombstone Originated in Belgium, Archaeologists Say

Scientists examined microscopic fossils in the tombstone and suggest the jet-black slab with an English knight’s insignia could have come only from one place.

Little brown bats like this one are at risk from white nose syndrome.

A Bright Side for Bats: Scientists Make Progress Against White Nose Syndrome

The deadly fungus has decimated bat populations across North America. But recently, scientists have found reasons to hope their efforts to save bats are working.

Is Playing With a Laser Pointer Safe for Cats?

Watching your cat chase a laser pointer is undeniably hilarious, but these popular pet toys remain controversial. Here’s what the experts say.

13 Myths About Organ Donation, Debunked

Not only is there a chronic shortage of organ donations in the U.S.—there multiple myths about the process.

Three views of the gold Roman-era bracelet discovered in a West Sussex field.

12-Year-Old Boy Stumbles on Ancient Roman Bracelet While Walking His Dog

The rare golden bracelet was probably given to a soldier as a reward for bravery as Roman armies invaded England.

If you’re only measuring air temp, you’re only getting half the picture.

What Is “Wet Bulb Temperature”?

If you’ve ever said “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” you already understand what goes into calculating wet bulb temperature.

Asteroid That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Likely Came From the Outer Solar System

Chemical signatures from the Chicxulub asteroid’s impact—which caused a mass extinction on Earth 66 million years ago—match those of carbonaceous meteorites formed beyond Jupiter.

This Is the Most Coveted Seat on a Flight, According to a New Survey

The most desirable seat combines more space and a quick exit.

If you want to beat the heat this summer, grab an ice cube tray.

How to Make DIY Popsicles With an Ice Cube Tray

Finally—a summer activity that doesn't require you to go outside.

New Fossils Add to Mystery Surrounding the “Hobbit,” Our Smallest Human Ancestor

A fragment of an arm bone found on Flores, Indonesia, suggests that some of our human ancestors were even smaller than we thought.

Rosemary Fowler (seated) receives her doctorate from Sir Paul Nurse, chancellor of the University of Bristol, at a ceremony at Darwin College, Cambridge, UK.

A 98-Year-Old Physicist Finally Got Her Ph.D., 75 Years After Her Major Discovery

Rosemary Fowler discovered a type of subatomic particle, the kaon—but left the university before earning her doctorate.

The San Andreas Faultline north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles May Survive the Worst of the “Big One,” According to a New Earthquake Simulation

The nightmare scenario described in an influential 2008 study may end up being less destructive than scientists thought, but Angelenos still shouldn't get too comfortable.