Tara Yarlagadda

Tara Yarlagadda is Inverse’s nature reporter. Based in Los Angeles, Tara covers a variety of beats, including weird and exciting animal news, the latest in pet science, important updates on the climate crisis and the environment, as well as any other groundbreaking research in the big bad world of nature.

Prior to working at Inverse, Tara received an M.A in Literary Reportage (Journalism) from New York University. She’s worked as a fact-checker for The New York Times Syndicate and a local news reporter for Bedford + Bowery, a collaboration between New York University and New York magazine. She’s also published freelance work in a number of other sites, including PBS NewsHour, The New York Times, HowStuffWorks, Paste, The New Food Economy, and more.

In her previous life, Tara worked in social justice and nonprofits, giving her a special interest in understanding how the climate crisis impacts the most marginalized communities. She also dabbles in novel writing and screenwriting in her spare time, using her passion for the environment to write some very post-apocalyptic parables. You can connect with Tara on her personal website or on Twitter @TaraYarla.

Pet Science

Does My Dog Have Anxiety? Expert-Backed Tips to Help Your Anxious Pup

Inverse answers all your questions about doggie anxiety.

Reel Science

The Best Dystopian Movie on Netflix Reveals a Dark Psychological Truth

Political scientists explain the perverse role of psychology in The Hunger Games.

Science

One of Earth’s Most Important Natural Climate Defenses is Disappearing — and Taking Animals With It

It's seriously bad news for biodiversity.

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Reel Science

What Tom Cruise's Weirdest Sci-Fi Movie Gets Wrong About Time Travel

Are time loops possible according to physics?

Reel Science

The Best Marvel Movie of 2022 Reveals an Incredible Quirk of Human Evolution

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s plot raises deeper questions about humans’ evolutionary relationship to the sea.

Science

Bear and Lion Attacks May Become More Common — A New Paper Reveals Why

The research offers a new way to look at human-wildlife conflict under climate change.

Science

The Last of Us Gets One Thing Right about Fungi and Climate Change

No, we won't turn into Clickers, but global warming makes fungal disease like Valley Fever more of a looming threat.

Pet Science

Can Cats Tell Time? Yes, But It's Complicated

It's a surprisingly complicated question.

Science

Forever Chemicals May Endanger Hundreds of Iconic Species Worldwide

A new report finds that PFAS threatens more than 330 species around the globe.

Reel Science

The Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movie on HBO Max Reveals a Controversial Branch of Pseudoscience

Weathering with You features a way to make the rain disappear — and it has a message for our warming planet.

Nature

Can Trees Actually Talk to Each Other? New Research Suggests an Alternative Idea

The idea has gained attention in mainstream pop culture, but scientists are calling it out due to a lack of evidence.

Reel Science

The Wildest Sci-Fi Show on Netflix Defies the Rules of Dream Science

Alice in Borderland's Season 2 plot might have something interesting to say about mutual dreaming.

Science

Millions of People Are at Risk of This Rare Climate Change Threat — Study

Flooding from glacial lakes is already threatening millions of lives due to climate change.

Pet Science

The Plague Is Still Here — And It Could Infect Your Cat

Yes, we’re talking about that plague.

Reel Science

The Weirdest Sci-Fi Apocalypse on Netflix Reveals a Controversial Field of Medicine

The fear of death depicted in White Noise is real — and some studies say magic mushrooms could help treat it.

Science

7 Years Ago the World Agreed to Slow Down Climate Change — But a New Report Shows an Uneven Future

It may no longer be possible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but the climate future is still uncertain, a new report says.

Pet Science

Are coyotes dangerous to dogs and cats? Here’s how to keep your pets safe

Follow these tips to keep your furry friends safe.

Reel Science

The best mystery thriller on Netflix ignores a basic fact about hydrogen energy

Could a solid hydrogen crystal really power our homes today? Experts weigh in on Glass Onion.

Climate Crisis

Elephants could be key to saving the planet — here’s why

Big problems require big solutions — literally.

Science

Is plastic recycling a scam? Here’s the truth about the common practice

A report found only 5 percent of plastic gets recycled. Experts explain what that means for the American consumer.