Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

Contact

kristin.houser@freethink.com

Kristin Houser is a staff writer at Freethink, where she covers science and tech. Her written work has appeared in Business Insider, NBC News, and the World Economic Forum’s Agenda, among other publications, and Stephen Colbert once talked about a piece on The Late Show, to her delight.

Prior to joining Freethink, Kristin was a staff writer for Futurism and wrote several animated and live action web series.

Biology

Microbe in mosquito guts completely blocks malaria parasite

Scientists have discovered a microbe in the guts of mosquitoes that appears to prevent the most common malaria parasite from infecting the insects.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Cheap CRISPR-based coronavirus test delivers fast results

Scientists have unveiled STOPCovid, a CRISPR-based coronavirus test that avoids many of the shortcomings of existing diagnostic tests.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

Scientists use CRISPR to reverse diabetes in mice

Scientists have used CRISPR to correct a diabetes-causing mutation in stem cells and then use those cells to reverse diabetes in mice.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Newly discovered coronavirus antibody blocks infection in cell cultures

A newly discovered coronavirus antibody produced using mice was able to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting cells in the lab.

Kristin Houser

John Legend, Tinashe, and Travis Scott give virtual concerts to connect with fans

Musicians are performing as digital avatars during virtual concerts as a way to take live streaming to a new level.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

CRISPR virus detection tool can test you for 169 viruses at once

A new virus detection tool can simultaneously test more than 1,000 patients for a virus — a capability that could prove invaluable during an outbreak.

Kristin Houser

Brain

CBD slows growth of brain cancer cells in a Petri dish

The cannabis compound CBD can slow the growth of brain cancer cells, but it’s a long way from a new cancer treatment.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Will the coronavirus end in the summer?

Will the coronavirus end in the summer as a result of warmer temperatures? The public is hopeful, but here’s what the experts say.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

A proposal to infect volunteers, the race to a vaccine, and more COVID-19 updates

In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.

Kristin Houser

New VR system uses strings to provide haptic feedback

Wireality is a new device that provides haptic feedback for someone using a VR system by pulling on their fingers and wrist with a series of strings.

Kristin Houser