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.
El terremoto más fuerte en décadas golpeó el sur de California, con una magnitud de 6.4 grados

El terremoto más fuerte en décadas golpeó el sur de California, con una magnitud de 6.4 grados

Un terremoto de magnitud 6.4 sacudió el sur de California el jueves, el temblor más grande que ha afectado a la región en dos décadas.
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.
World & Nation

New breed of war game to take on al-Qaida

World & Nation

New breed of war game to take on al-Qaida

Inside a concrete-and-glass laboratory at the Naval Postgraduate School, a computer simulation of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist network is beginning to take shape.
World & Nation

White-collar warriors a new force against terrorism

World & Nation

White-collar warriors a new force against terrorism

Accountants, computer experts and fraud investigators have risen to the forefront of the new war against terrorism.
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.