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

Inside your nose, it’s bacteria vs. bacteria in the fight against meningitis

Researchers have found that nose drops containing “friendly” bacteria can protect people against meningitis-causing bacteria.

B. David Zarley

Virology

New antibodies may lead to a norovirus vaccine

Researchers have discovered antibodies that neutralize a variety of norovirus strains, a possible step toward an effective norovirus vaccine.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Harvard has a vaccine against septic shock

A new vaccine platform based on biomaterial may eventually provide rapid protection against multiple bacterial threats.

B. David Zarley

Surgery

This 3D-printed graft may improve ruptured eardrum surgery

Researchers at Harvard have developed a 3D-printed graft they hope will make ruptured eardrum surgeries safer, faster, and more effective.

B. David Zarley

Virology

New vaccines may use AI to hit a moving target

Can AI create vaccines that work against mutations that haven't happened yet, groups of viruses, and virus too tricky to currently stop?

B. David Zarley

Climate Crisis

“Mirrored” fabric may be de rigueur for a warming world

Inspired by the rising temperatures of climate change, researchers have developed mirrored cooling fabric.

B. David Zarley

Healthcare

Lucky accident shows how immune system can beat MRSA without antibiotics

Researchers have accidentally found that blocking caspase enzymes can make mouse immune responses more robust.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

Yale study: magic mushrooms may grow connections between brain cells

A single dose of psilocybin caused increased growth in neuron-connecting dendritic spines in mice.

B. David Zarley

Healthcare

This wireless pacemaker dissolves into your body

Researchers at Northwestern and George Washington University have developed a pacemaker that dissolves into the body.

B. David Zarley

Public Health

This bacteria can find a landmine

Bacteria that glow in the presence of a landmine may one day help save lives.

B. David Zarley