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.

a person wearing four robotic arms on their back

Robotics

This robotic arm study is preparing us for our cyborg future

A new study at the University of Tokyo aims to find out how people feel using robotic arms — and sharing them with others.

Kristin Houser

an image of three humanoid general purpose robots from the thighs up

Robotics

A general-purpose robot is entering the workforce

Tech startup Sanctuary AI has unveiled Phoenix, a general-purpose robot designed to perform many workplace tasks.

Kristin Houser

an illustration of a snake robot on an icy moon with geysers shooting up in the background

Aerospace

Watch NASA’s one-of-a-kind snake robot training to go to space

NASA has released a video of its one-of-a-kind snake robot EELS slithering across a variety of challenging terrains.

Kristin Houser

a close up of a pill with a spiral of wire around it

Biology

New electronic pill zaps the stomach to regulate hunger

MIT’s new electronic pill stimulates stomach cells to regulate hunger — showing it's possible to hack the powerful gut-brain axis.

Kristin Houser

a flat, clear piece of rubber in a spiral shape with thin wires running through it

Brain

This soft brain implant unfurls its arms under the skull

A soft brain implant that unfurls under the skull could make implantation surgeries less costly and risky.

Kristin Houser

a rendering of a nerve cell in neon green

Genetics

Man’s mutated gene appears to delay onset of Alzheimer’s

The discovery of a second person naturally resistant to a genetic form of Alzheimer’s could lead to treatments for the disease.

Kristin Houser

a rendering of Vast's commercial space station in orbit

Aerospace

SpaceX to launch first commercial space station in 2025

The world’s first commercial space station could reach orbit as soon as 2025 as part of a deal between SpaceX and space startup Vast.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Personalized mRNA vaccine preps the body to battle deadly cancer

A new pancreatic cancer vaccine based on mRNA tech was shown to be safe and capable of triggering an immune response in a small trial.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

CRISPR sausage gets FDA green light for consumption

The FDA has given Washington State University researchers the green light to feed five gene-edited pigs to people.

Kristin Houser

the exterior of a Wendy's restaurant at night

Wendy’s has a chatbot taking drive-thru orders

A Google-trained chatbot has begun taking orders at a Wendy’s drive-thru, and if a pilot test goes well, the AI could be rolled out widely.

Kristin Houser