Karen Kaplan

Science and Medicine Editor

Karen Kaplan is science and medicine editor at the Los Angeles Times. Before joining the science group in 2005, she covered technology in the Business section for 10 years. In a parallel universe without journalism, she’d have a career in economics, genetics, biostatistics or some other field that describes the world in math.

Latest From This Author

California

Elevated earthquake risk in Southern California: Here’s why, and what you can do

California

Elevated earthquake risk in Southern California: Here’s why, and what you can do

It was the news no one in Southern California wanted to hear.
California

11% chance of another huge earthquake in Southern California, scientists say

California

11% chance of another huge earthquake in Southern California, scientists say

The odds that Southern California will experience another earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater in the next week are now nearly 11%, according to preliminary estimates from seismologists.
California

Expect more earthquakes, possibly even stronger ones, seismologists say

California

Expect more earthquakes, possibly even stronger ones, seismologists say

Seismologists said the 6.4 earthquake that struck Southern California likely broke ground near the epicenter but was far enough away not to do damage in the Los Angeles area.
California

Biggest earthquake in years rattles Southern California

California

Biggest earthquake in years rattles Southern California

The largest earthquake in two decades rattled Southern California on Thursday morning, shaking communities from Las Vegas to Long Beach and ending a quiet period in the state’s seismic history.
Science

California stem cell research centers receive $30-million gift from Broad Foundation

Science

California stem cell research centers receive $30-million gift from Broad Foundation

Stem cell scientists at three California universities will receive an infusion of cash as the state’s publicly funded research program gets ready to dole out the last of its grant money.
Science

Timeline: Opportunity’s record-setting mission on Mars

Science

Timeline: Opportunity’s record-setting mission on Mars

Here are selected highlights from Opportunity’s 15-year mission on Mars: Jan. 24, 2004 | Opportunity lands on Mars, bouncing its way right into the center of a small craterNASA declared it an interplanetary “hole in one” and named the landing spot Eagle Crater.
Science

Smoking is at a record low in the U.S., but the benefits aren’t shared equally

Science

Smoking is at a record low in the U.S., but the benefits aren’t shared equally

Cigarette smoking is at an all-time low in the United States, but the benefits of this public health achievement are not being shared equally by all Americans.
Science

After Alyssa Milano’s #MeToo tweet, Google searches about sexual assault hit record high

Science

After Alyssa Milano’s #MeToo tweet, Google searches about sexual assault hit record high

If the eyes are a window to the soul, then surely Google searches are a window into our thoughts.
Science

More than 1.3 million high school students started vaping nicotine in the last year, study says

Science

More than 1.3 million high school students started vaping nicotine in the last year, study says

The proportion of U.S. high school seniors who are vaping tobacco products nearly doubled in the past year, with more than 1 in 5 now saying they have vaped to get a hit of nicotine in the past 30 days, according to a new study.
Science

On Christmas Eve, Santa delivers presents ... and a few extra heart attacks

Science

On Christmas Eve, Santa delivers presents ... and a few extra heart attacks

If you think of the night before Christmas as a time for hot cocoa, cozy fires and Bing Crosby albums, a new discovery by Swedish researchers may well break your heart: The risk of suffering a heart attack spikes on Christmas Eve.