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Krystal Vasquez

Krystal Vasquez

Krystal Vasquez is an environmental scientist working to break into the field of science writing. She is currently a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology studying the atmospheric reactions that influence our air quality.

Tornado

When Tornadoes Strike at Night

Injuries and fatalities tend to be higher if people are asleep.
Dust rising from combine during crop harvesting

The Greenhouse Gas That’s More Potent Than Carbon Dioxide

Emitting just 1 ton of nitrous oxide—a common ingredient in synthetic fertilizer—is roughly equivalent to emitting 300 tons of carbon dioxide.
A teacher is standing next to a young student examining her findings from the pond.

How to Increase Diversity in Community Science Projects

There's often a disconnect between the ambitions of scientists engaging the public and the potential participants themselves.
Bathymetrical Chart of the Oceans showing the Deeps According to Sir John Murray, 1912

Wait, There’s Noise Pollution at the Bottom of the Ocean?

Anthropogenic sounds have made it all the way down into the deepest place on Earth—Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench.
Charles David Keeling & George W. Bush, 2001

How Charles Keeling Measured the Rise of Carbon Dioxide

The climate scientist created a new method to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide. It's still used today.
Venus photographed in ultraviolet light by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (Pioneer 12) spacecraft, Feb. 26, 1979.

Could Venus’s Hell Climate Predict Earth’s Future?

The answer will require a probe that can withstand the planet's heat and atmospheric pressure to send back good data.
Vegetables cooking in a pan on a stove

What to Do about Indoor Air Pollution

Even for those stuck at home during the pandemic, quarantine can pose dangers to health. But it's not all dire!
Volunteer collecting garbage from park

The Problem with Unpaid Conservation Work

In the fight against climate change, many underfunded conservation groups depend on volunteers.