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!

Democracy

Open source intelligence exposes war as never before

In a new era of open source intelligence, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can be studied by anyone with the desire to find, and analyze, data available to all.

B. David Zarley

We should teach AIs to drive the same way we teach kids

To help self-driving AIs learn more like humans do, Canadian startup Waabi has created a digital world to act as driving school and Danger Room.

B. David Zarley

Neuroscience

Scientists use ultrasound to control brain cells in animals

Researchers have used ultrasound to trigger the brain cells of mice with a technique called sonogenetics.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

New antibody treatment against Omicron gets emergency approval

A new monoclonal antibody treatment effective against Omicron has received emergency authorization weeks after two others were banned.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Coffee mug company builds high-tech box to keep vaccines cold

Smart mug company Ember has created a shipping container to help bolster the medicine cold chain.

B. David Zarley

Outer Space

Hibernating squirrels hint at secret to surviving space travel

Astronauts lose muscle mass in space. The secret to how ground squirrels keep mass in hibernation may help future space travelers keep their own.

B. David Zarley

Brain

Cataract surgery associated with lower risk of dementia

In a new study of thousands of patients, those who had cataract surgery had a reduction in dementia risk.

B. David Zarley

Public Health

Guinea worm disease is near eradication, Carter Center says

After decades of work, cases of human Guinea worm disease are in the double digits — putting elimination of the painful infection in sight.

B. David Zarley

Canada approves psychedelic therapy

A new amendment approving psychedelic-assisted therapies on a case-by-case basis has taken effect.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

Harm reduction vending machines are coming to New York

New York City has announced a pilot program installing public health vending machines with overdose drugs and clean needles.

B. David Zarley