Erika Engelhaupt
New Book!
On the road to hell
Coming in 2026
SUPERPOWERED:
The Science of Real-World Superpowers
Do you have a hidden superpower?
I’m working on my next book, SUPERPOWERED.
It’s about amazing (but real!) abilities, and I want to hear your ideas and tips!
Click on Contact to send me a message.
- Supersmellers/Supertasters
- Supernavigators
- Supermemorizers
- Superagility
- Superrecognizers
- Superathletes
- Savants
- …and any other “superpowers”
“A must-read for curious minds, trivia fans, and crime drama enthusiasts.”
Library Journal, Starred Review
Amazon Top Seller
A Best Seller in Natural History
and Science Essays & Commentary
About me
I’m a freelance science writer and former online science editor at National Geographic. My writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers including National Geographic, NPR, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, Science News, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boulder Daily Camera, and more.
I write about various science topics — whatever captures my curiosity, really — but I gravitate toward the weird/gross/morbid, forensic science, and overlooked aspects of women’s health.
I live in Knoxville, TN, and part-time in Washington, DC.
Articles
A sampling of my writing for National Geographic, Scientific American, and more
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Parasitic Worms Found in a Woman’s Eye—First Case of Its Kind
An Oregon woman’s infection marks the first time on record that an eye worm species normally found in cattle has been seen in humans.
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You Can Smell When Someone’s Sick—Here’s How
The curious case of a woman who can smell Parkinson’s reminds us our noses are our first defense against illness.
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Welcome to the World’s Most Awesomely Awful Places
Take a tour of the most hellish and deadly natural wonders, from sulfur-choked pits to a bloody waterfall.
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How Dog and Cat ‘Kisses’ Can Turn Deadly
A host of potential pathogens lurks in each slobbery or scratchy lick.
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How ‘Talking’ Corpses Were Once Used to Solve Murders
For centuries, oozing wounds were seen as proof of guilt in court—but even in death, women’s testimony was considered less credible than men’s.
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Homeless Cats Recruited to Fight Rising Tide of Rats
There’s a new sheriff in Washington D.C. alleys: adopted feral cats. But as rodent-killing machines, New York’s terriers are even better.
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Huge Blobs of Fat and Trash Are Filling the World’s Sewers
Mountains of grease and debris known as fatbergs are blocking toilets, breaking pipes, and even being illicitly converted into cooking oil.
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Surreal Cases of Bodies Exhumed for Science
From presidents to outlaws, many types of people have been exhumed to answer questions about how they lived and died.
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Cannibalism Study Finds People Are Not That Nutritious
While our ancient ancestors did practice cannibalism, eating other humans just couldn’t compare with taking down a mammoth.
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World’s First ‘Menstrual Cycle in a Dish’ Simulates Female Body
After decades of drug testing on mostly men, a new device may help tailor treatments for different genders.
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A Horrifying List of Creatures That Can Crawl Into Your Body
From roaches in noses to leeches in nether regions, here are the animals most likely to get under your skin.
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Inside the Creepy Collections of an Oddities Museum
Take a peek (if you dare) at weird wonders from the Morbid Anatomy Museum, which just closed its doors for the last time.