Contributor

B. David Zarley

Senior Staff Writer

Contact

b.david@freethink.com

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!

Medicine

This neurotoxic tree could be the key to a new kind of painkiller

Australian researchers searching for new ways to fight pain have turned to an excruciatingly painful Kiwi tree.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

Your genes may impact psychedelic experiences

UNC researchers have found evidence that the genetic makeup of a crucial receptor may impact your psychedelic experience.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

What your weed label really means

Through the largest analysis of commercial cannabis flower yet, Colorado researchers have found that the current labeling system falls short.

B. David Zarley

Climate Crisis

These ancient trees survived a wildfire because of fire

The survival of an ancient grove of trees in Yosemite may be a powerful case study for controlled burns.

B. David Zarley

Food

Massive vertical mushroom farm opens in New York

Alt-meat startup MyForest Food has opened a new vertical mushroom farm in New York.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Harvard scientists closer to solving centuries-old heart mystery

Harvard researchers have used a new method to crack the heart’s weird spiral muscle.

B. David Zarley

Climate Crisis

Why is Singapore making beer from recycled wastewater?

“I mean, it tastes just like beer, and I like beer.”

B. David Zarley

Oceans

3D-printed reefs installed around Denmark’s offshore wind farm

The massive Anholt Offshore Wind Farm in the North Sea is now home to 3D-printed reefs in a bid to boost biodiversity.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Large study of 20,000 cats and dogs could help pets live longer

Mars Petcare has announced the opening of a massive biobank to study aging and pet diseases.

B. David Zarley

Genetics

Potential cause of unexplained epilepsy cases uncovered

University of Arizona researchers have uncovered a protein that might be behind some epilepsy cases with currently unknown causes.

B. David Zarley

Sections

Series & Columns

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.