McKenzie Prillaman

McKenzie Prillaman is a science and health journalist based in Washington, DC, who interned at Science News in spring 2023. She holds a degree in neuroscience from the University of Virginia and studied adolescent nicotine dependence at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. After figuring out she’d rather explain scientific research than conduct it, she worked at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and then earned a master’s degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in Nature, Scientific American, The Cancer Letter and The Mercury News, among other publications.

All Stories by McKenzie Prillaman

  1. Space

    A new dwarf planet may skirt the edge of our solar system

    For the distant object, one trip around the sun takes over 24,000 years. Its orbit challenges a proposed path for a hypothetical “Planet Nine.”

  2. Space

    Megastars shredded by black holes offer new type of cosmic explosion

    Called extreme nuclear transients, these events are 30 to 1,000 times as bright as supernovas — and their glow may persist for a year or more.

  3. Genetics

    Orange cats get their ginger color from a single gene ‘cutout’

    The variant gene is found on the X chromosome. This sex-linked trait for orange fur is found only in domesticated cats.

  4. Humans

    After every soak, fingers wrinkle — and always the same way

    Fingertip folds aren’t super swollen. Blood vessels constrict and pull skin inward, forming wrinkles.

  5. Animals

    The ‘bone collector’ caterpillar wears its prey as camouflage

    For months, the caterpillar scavenges spider webs for scrapped insect body parts to cover its protective case. Later, that case will serve as its cocoon.

  6. Animals

    Narwhals may use their enormous lance-like tusks to play

    Video shows narwhals using their tusks to prod — even flip — fish they don’t target as prey. It’s the first reported evidence of these whales playing.

  7. Brain

    Having sparse links in the hippocampus may maximize memory storage

    Tissue from the memory centers of people’s brains reveal relatively few links among nerve cells in the hippocampus. But they carried strong, reliable signals.

  8. Health & Medicine

    This spice could be the basis of a smart, infection-fighting bandage

    Infused with yellow turmeric, the bandage turns red to highlight the pH of an infection. A teen showed that at the 2024 Regeneron ISEF competition.

  9. Computing

    Teen’s battle simulator could help Ukraine’s troops fend off attacks

    At the 2024 Regeneron ISEF, Volodymyr Borysenko showcased software he created to help Ukraine defend itself in ground attacks by Russia.

  10. Plants

    Gene editing may help rice better withstand climate change

    Three genes may limit the ability of rice to handle dry or salty conditions. A Regeneron ISEF finalist shows that CRISPR could target and change them.

  11. Physics

    Aerodynamics involved in shooting hoops can make vehicles greener

    Some ships host tall spinning cylinders that act like sails. Roughing the cylinders’ surface will greatly boost fuel efficiency, teen scientists find.

  12. Tech

    Bioelectronics research wins top award at 2024 Regeneron ISEF

    Three grand-award winners each took home at least $50,000. Hundreds more teens shared more than $9 million in prizes at the international competition.