Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

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Kristin Houser is a staff writer at Freethink, where she covers science and tech. Her written work has appeared in Business Insider, NBC News, and the World Economic Forum’s Agenda, among other publications, and Stephen Colbert once talked about a piece on The Late Show, to her delight.

Prior to joining Freethink, Kristin was a staff writer for Futurism and wrote several animated and live action web series.

Aerospace

Light-driven levitation could lift probes to the edge of space

A new light-driven levitation technique can lift objects large enough to carry sensors to the understudied mesosphere near the edge of space.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

The hunt for a universal coronavirus vaccine

A universal coronavirus vaccine that protects against multiple coronaviruses could stop the next potential pandemic from ever starting.

Kristin Houser

Astronomy

This planetoid is officially the farthest known object in our solar system

A planetoid nicknamed Farfarout is officially the most distant known object in our solar system — but its reign might not last for long.

Kristin Houser

Neurodiversity

New Google tool lets you experience synesthesia

Google’s new online tool lets you experience synesthesia like the abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky, who could hear colors and see sounds.

Kristin Houser

Genetics

Black-footed ferret is first cloned US endangered species

A black-footed ferret clone could inject a much-needed dose of genetic diversity into her species, which is on the brink of extinction.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Study: Strong immunity without Pfizer vaccine’s second dose

The Pfizer vaccine's second dose might not be as necessary as thought — and ultra-cold storage of the COVID-19 vaccine might not be necessary at all.

Kristin Houser

Virtual patients help doctors improve bedside manner

The Virti platform lets doctors and med students interact with computer-generated virtual patients so they can improve their bedside manner.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Perseverance’s Mars landing was a success

NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully executed its Mars landing, ending a seven-month journey — and kicking off an epic exploration mission.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

NASA’s Perseverance Rover is mic’d up

Two microphones on the Mars rover, Perseverance, are designed to record audio during its EDL sequence and subsequent mission.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Fecal transplants help shrink cancer patients’ tumors

Fecal transplants made advanced melanoma patients who initially didn’t respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors responsive to the cancer treatment.

Kristin Houser