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!

Extraterrestrials

MIT is leading the hunt for life in Venus’ atmosphere

MIT is leading a privately-funded hunt for life in Venus’ clouds, scheduled to begin in 2023.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

Should psychedelics be patented?

The issue of patents has riven the psychedelic field. A lawyer’s repository of psychedelic info may make sure the new field stays fair.

B. David Zarley

Animals

What the ancient, alien jellyfish can tell us about the human brain

The jellyfish nervous system, revealed by glowing genes, may help unlock the secrets of how our own brain evolved.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Citizen keepers are raising threatened grasshoppers

The large marsh grasshopper risks extinction. But volunteer citizen keepers are raising the insect for rewilding to newly restored wetlands.

B. David Zarley

Mental Health

Frontline healthcare workers are going to receive psilocybin therapy

University of Washington researchers are enrolling healthcare workers now in a psilocybin-assisted therapy study.

B. David Zarley

Robotics

Sun-powered soft robot could mop up the seas

Inspired by steam engines and water-walking insects, this soft robot may one day mop up oil spills at sea.

B. David Zarley

Blockchain

Can we get blockchains to talk to each other?

Blockchains do more than crypto; logistics, contracts, and more use the tech. But there’s a problem: blockchain communication is still difficult.

B. David Zarley

Healthcare

Google rolls out new tools to help your doctor search

Google has debuted new ways to make your doctor search easier, allowing you to know what insurance they take and languages they speak.

B. David Zarley

Public Health

This app offers alternatives to 911 in all 50 states

There are instances when 911 may not be the best number to call. Subdial, a free app, offers local and national alternatives to 911.

B. David Zarley

Archaeology

Did drought end the ancient Maya kingdoms?

Airborne laser scans have revealed thousands of new Maya structures, as well as evidence that may change how we think their kingdoms fell.

B. David Zarley