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!

Mental Health

Johns Hopkins receives the first NIH grant for clinical psychedelic research in half a century

For the first time in decades, the National Institutes of Health is funding a clinical psychedelic study, perhaps a turning point for the field.

B. David Zarley

Public Health

A malaria antibody prevented infections in purposefully-infected volunteers

In a small study, researchers found an antibody that prevents malaria infection in people purposefully infected with the parasite.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Johns Hopkins has developed a lung cancer blood test

Researchers at Johns Hopkins are using AI to power a lung cancer blood test.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Want better nasal vaccines? Look to the bacteria in your nose.

Researchers are investigating the link between the bacteria inside your nose and how effective nasal vaccines can be.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

UK researchers are growing the Delta variant for human challenge trials

Responding to the variant’s rise, UK researchers are growing the Delta variant for trials.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

A blood test for your circadian clock

Your circadian clock controls more than when you sleep and wake. Researchers are developing a simple blood test to try and accurately tell your time.

B. David Zarley

Sports

Cambridge researchers have created a mathematical model for building muscle

Now there’s a mathematical model that could maximize the effectiveness of exercise.

B. David Zarley

Cars

AI is helping cars spot potholes

Researchers have developed an AI system that allows cars to spot potholes.

B. David Zarley

Prosthetics

Tiny magnetic beads and turkeys may lead to better prosthetic limbs

MIT and Brown researchers have developed a technique using implanted magnetic beads that they hope will lead to better control of prosthetic limbs.

B. David Zarley

Neuroscience

Brain-wide gene editing may one day treat Alzheimer’s

Researchers have developed a brain-wide gene editing technique that treated Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

B. David Zarley