Erin Murton

About Erin Murton

As a versatile professional with a diverse skill set, Erin brings extensive expertise to the table. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from St Andrews University and a Master of Science from Imperial College, London, Erin has worked as a scientific advisor for eight years, managing complex projects and liaising with stakeholders. She is also an experienced educator who has taught science, English, and mathematics to students aged 4-16 in both online and in-person settings. Erin's career has progressed to include professional research, writing, and editing in the education and science sectors, where she has produced a wide range of content for newspapers, blogs, journals, books, teaching portals, and lifestyle magazines.

Family interest

Math & Science

In house speciality

Zoology

Education

St Andrews University

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science specializing in Zoology
Master of Science

Recent Work

An extinct species of early hominin is Australopithecus afarensis. Click here to know about Australopithecus afarensis facts.

Australopithecus Afarensis Facts: Learn About This Extinct Species

The origin of early humans dates back to seven million years ago!

The evolution of early hominin into modern humans is a very lengthy but interesting process. Modern humans and modern apes have a common ancestor.

Modern humans are the result of adaptation and evolution from our early ancestors. Our early ancestors were not quite the same as us, and it took millions of years for the process of change by which modern humans evolved.

Humans are primates, a type of ape species who shared a common ancestor alongside chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans. Human evolution is characterized by several physiological, morphological, behavioral, developmental, and environmental changes.

Scientific evidence reveals that modern human origins first emerged in East Africa. The fossils of modern humans dated about three million years were first uncovered here.

Scientists have extensively studied and named this species Australopithecus afarensis because they were considered one of the first of many hominid species discovered in Africa, and the best-described fossils in the hominin fossil record.

The two ancestor species Au. afarensis and Au. anamensis were overlapped in geographic space and time. Some paleoanthropologists (researchers who study human evolution) believed that the genus 'Homo' which is represented by species called Homo sapiens, originated from Au.

afarensis. Over time, other paleoanthropologists have made Africanus a side branch and replaced their taxonomic scenarios from Au. africanus to Au. afarensis as our early ancestors.

Keep scrolling to read more about one of our early ancestors, Australopithecus afarensis!

Math & Science

Ages 3-18Math & Science

One of the interesting pig facts is that over half the world's pigs are found in China.

41 Pig Facts: I Bet You Didn't Know About The Farm Yard Animal

Did you know that pigs have episodic memory?

That means they can remember specific events from their life! This implies a high level of intelligence in this species.

Pigs can do much more than what we think. They can feel emotions, form connections (both social and emotional), and even be helpful, fun companions to humans. There is so much more than the popular perception of 'rolling in the dirt' that everyone has. Learn more about it below!

Animals & Nature

Ages 3-18Animals & Nature

Penguins are flightless, torpedo-shaped birds. Read on to know more cool penguin facts!

47 Penguin Facts: Things About The Aquatic Flightless Bird

Penguins are often thought of as small, black-and-white birds, but in reality these birds come in various sizes and colors.

The unique coloring of penguins helps them escape from the predators like leopard seals, sea lions, and orca whales. The black color blends into the dark ocean when seen from above, and when seen from bellow, the penguin's white belly blends with the color of snow and light sky.

Penguins come in various colors; for example, the crested penguins exhibit a crown of yellow feathers.

King and emperor penguins' neck is marked with orange and yellow color, luxuriant florescent yellow eyebrows adorn the heads of some species. These species are the Fiordland, Rockhopper, Royal, and Snares penguins.

Penguins, unlike most other birds, do not have hollow bones. Penguins have heavy bones, which counteracts their natural buoyancy, making them very quick swimmers. They can swim up to 15 mph (24.14 kph). Though flightless sea birds, penguins are expert swimmers.

Penguins dive on average 100 to 200 ft (30 to 60 m) underwater in search of food. Emperor penguins can dive impressively deep, making dives to 1,500 ft (460 m) occasionally. Penguins eat krill, squid and fish as their main diet.

These flightless birds are widely distributed in cooler waters from Africa to Australia and along coastlines in the Southern Hemisphere. As per the scientists, there are 17 to 19 varieties of penguins.

Penguins being in the ocean, drink salt water. The water's salt is taken out by a special gland in their bodies and pushed through special grooves in their bill; this process filters the saltwater taken by the penguins.