Contributor

B. David Zarley

Senior Staff Writer

Contact

[email protected]

B. David Zarley is a senior staff writer for Freethink, where he covers health and medicine, including infectious disease, psychedelic research, mental health, and the brain. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia, his work has also appeared in The Atlantic, The Verge, Jezebel, Frieze, Sports Illustrated, VICE, Paste Magazine, and numerous other publications. He lives in Chicago and can be reached via Signal by request. Send him story ideas!

Drones

Predator drones are using AI to create faster fire maps

The National Guard has used drones to create forest fire maps since 2017. New AI upgrades could make the maps in minutes, not hours.

B. David Zarley

Climate Crisis

Can trillions of reflective glass beads save arctic sea ice?

Arctic sea ice is more than majestic; it also reflects the sun’s rays. But young, thin ice melts fast. Can silica powder reflect enough sun to help it survive?

B. David Zarley

Public Health

A new molecule may take the edge off vaccines — and make them perform better

Adjuvants create a better vaccine immune response, but they also cause inflammation. A peptide may help curb their side effects while improving protection.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

Yale study: asthma and allergies may actually protect children from severe COVID-19

The interplay of asthma, children, and COVID-19 is complex. A new study suggests that kids' asthma immune response may help protect against COVID-19.

B. David Zarley

Outer Space

The latest step in manufacturing in space

Made In Space is sending a 3D printer to the ISS in hopes of providing proof-of-concept that microgravity is the place to build precision parts.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

U.S. troops test wearables for early detection of COVID-19

The Department of Defense wants to use wearable sensors, Dutch AI, and thousands of personnel to develop markers for early detection of COVID-19.

B. David Zarley

Genetics

Can genetic engineering stop the fall armyworm invasion?

The fall armyworm is devastating African agriculture, eating millions of pounds of crops. Can a genetically modified version control their advance?

B. David Zarley

Virology

Are microbes called protists our only virus eaters?

Despite their abundance, nothing we know of eats viruses. But new research suggests microbes called protists might.

B. David Zarley

CRISPR

CRISPR’d male “surrogates” can produce another animal’s prized sperm

High-quality sperm means high-quality animals, but the process can be expensive or inaccessible. CRISPR-edited “surrogate sires” may provide a solution.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

“Candy flipping” — mixing MDMA and LSD — is hitting the lab

A clinical trial of mixing LSD and MDMA, known as “candy flipping,” wants to see if molly can take a trip’s edge off and make LSD therapy more effective.

B. David Zarley