Contributor

B. David Zarley

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B. David Zarley is freelance journalist covering health and medicine, including infectious disease, psychedelic research, mental health, and the brain. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia, his work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Verge, Jezebel, Frieze, Sports Illustrated, VICE, Paste Magazine, and numerous other publications.

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

Coronavirus

Antivenom scientists are using horse antibodies for COVID-19

In Costa Rica, horse antibodies for COVID-19 are about to enter human trials.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Undescribed deep sea creatures discovered in the great barrier reef

Researchers discovered undescribed deep sea creatures, spotted rare fish, and gathered geological samples from the deepest part of the Great Barrier Reef.

B. David Zarley

Virology

Studying pig sh*t to prevent the next pandemic

A pilot program in North Carolina offers one solution to scanning for a potential pig virus in our farm system - slurry testing.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

Scientists are developing a coronavirus breathalyzer test

Fast, accurate, cheap, and easy to use, a coronavirus breathalyzer could be a game changer — and multiple research teams are racing to get them approved.

B. David Zarley

Genetics

Can RNA editing catch up to CRISPR?

Developed in the 1980s, RNA editing was overshadowed by CRISPR. But the last few years have seen a resurgence of interest in the gene editing technique.

B. David Zarley

Robotics

Meet the Mayflower, the robot boat crossing the Atlantic in 2021

The new Mayflower, set to traverse the Atlantic in 2021, won’t bear any pilgrims. It’s a robot boat, sailing sailor-free.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

Researchers found tiny COVID-19 antibodies in an alpaca

Inside an alpaca’s blood, researchers have found tiny antibodies — nanobodies — that may lead to future antiviral medications.

B. David Zarley

Outer Space

Astronauts lose muscle in space. These mice could hold the solution

Without gravity, astronauts experience muscle and bone loss, limiting mission time. Mice that gain mass in orbit may hold the key to preventing that loss.

B. David Zarley