Contributor

Kristin Houser

Managing Editor

Contact

[email protected]

Kristin Houser is the Managing Editor of Freethink. Her articles on science and technology have been featured in NBC News, RealClearDefense, 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.

Kristin is currently based in Pittsburgh, and prior to joining Freethink, she was a staff writer for Futurism, launched an LA-based music blog, and wrote several animated and live action web series.

Agriculture

Nematode worm could liquify slugs for US farmers

A parasitic nematode used in Europe to kill slugs was just discovered in Oregon, supporting calls to have its use for pest-control approved Stateside.

Kristin Houser

Food

Cultured meat gets first greenlight for sale

In a world’s first, Singapore has approved the sale of cultured meat, a major win for the meat alternatives industry.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

New pancreatic cancer treatment penetrates tough tumors

For a new pancreatic cancer treatment, researchers attached a chemotherapy drug to an antibody that targets a molecule on the outside of cancer cells.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

CRISPR used to edit HIV cure into monkey embryos

A mutation of the CCR5 gene can cure HIV — and thanks to CRISPR, scientists may soon be able to study it in animal models.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

The quest for a “warm” COVID-19 vaccine

Developers are on the hunt for a warm COVID-19 vaccine, one that could be distributed in places where a reliable cold chain isn’t available.

Kristin Houser

At-home breast cancer screening, powered by AI

An award-winning at-home breast cancer screening device, called the Blue Box, could one day replace uncomfortable mammograms.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Reusable rockets: Making space more affordable

Reusable rockets, like those developed by SpaceX, are ushering in a new, cheaper era in space exploration

Kristin Houser

Urban Living

Google’s Tree Canopy Lab is helping LA cool down

Google’s new Tree Canopy Lab uses AI and aerial photography to combat the urban heat island effect by showing a city exactly where it could use more trees.

Kristin Houser

Mental Health

Stopping nightmare disorder with a prescription-only watch

A prescription-only watch that treats nightmare disorder is the latest in a growing subset of health technologies called prescription digital therapeutics.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

CRISPR could help save coral reefs from bleaching

Using CRISPR, scientists have identified a gene that could determine whether coral reefs are highly susceptible to bleaching or not.

Kristin Houser