About Nsikan @MoNscience
Nsikan Akpan is the digital science producer for PBS NewsHour and co-creator of the award-winning, NewsHour digital series ScienceScope.
He holds a doctorate in pathobiology (Columbia University) and is an alum of the science communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Nsikan served on the board of the National Association of Science Writers from 2016 to 2019.
Nsikan’s Recent Stories
Science Dec 10
2019 Arctic Report Card warns of California-sized algal blooms and imperiled livelihoodsThe 14th iteration of NOAA's Arctic Report Card paints a bleak picture of wildlife invasions, animal die-offs, massive algal blooms, melting ice and disappearing ways of life.
Politics Dec 09
Read the full DOJ inspector general’s report on the FBI’s Russia probeA watchdog report on the Russia probe, by the Justice Department inspector general, finds no evidence of political bias but says 17 "significant errors or omissions" occurred during the Russia investigations.
Science Nov 26
How to keep conspiracy theories from ruining your time with familyWhen done correctly, debunking can combat people’s faith in false conspiracy theories. Here's a neuroscience-backed guide to approaching your loved ones’ conspiratorial beliefs.
Science Nov 15
This new ‘battery’ aims to spark a carbon capture revolutionInventors claim their carbon capture “battery” could return CO2 to preindustrial levels within 40 years, but first it has some economic hurdles to overcome.
Science Nov 07
A father took an at-home DNA test. His son was then falsely accused of murderGenetic genealogy, the technique millions of people are using to learn about their family history, has now become a potent tool with which law enforcement can solve crimes. But the method has major privacy implications that are prompting some critics…
Science Nov 07
Genetic genealogy can help solve cold cases. It can also accuse the wrong person.For law enforcement, the case for using genetic genealogy is strong. But it's not foolproof.
Science Nov 06
How at-home DNA tests helped solve this 30-year-old murderIn 2019, American law enforcement agencies have identified over 70 suspects using a new technique called genetic genealogy, which California detectives leveraged in 2018 to identify the Golden State Killer. In the first of a two-part series, William Brangham shares…
Science Oct 28
Cradle of modern human life found in Botswana…maybeThe motherland of all motherlands has been genetically pinpointed in northern Botswana, but is it truly the source of modern humans?…
Science Oct 24
Ransomware and data breaches linked to uptick in fatal heart attacksAnother unintended consequence of electronic medical records has been revealed.
Science Oct 10
Millions are out of power in California, but were the PG&E shutoffs necessary?This week's Diablo winds were projected to be the strongest in two years, but early signs suggest that PG&E may have overestimated the fire risk.
