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.

Psychology

Reminiscence therapy is helping seniors at “dementia villages”

At a growing number of “dementia villages,” staff members use reminiscence therapy to help seniors return to a time when they felt happy and safe.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

AI can detect coronavirus infections far faster than humans

New artificial intelligence systems can detect coronavirus infections far faster than human doctors and could help end the COVID-19 outbreak.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

US’s first drive-thru coronavirus clinic opens in Seattle

A Seattle hospital system has opened a drive-thru coronavirus clinic, a place where people can be tested for COVID-19 without leaving their cars.

Kristin Houser

Disaster Response

New study into how tornadoes form could save lives

To improve our understanding of how tornadoes form, researchers involved in the TORUS Project will send tech straight into supercell thunderstorms.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

Changing flight altitudes could help minimize contrails

A study found that flying a small percentage of planes at slightly different altitudes could significantly decrease contrails, a global warming contributor.

Kristin Houser

Surgery

This adjustable heart valve would grow as a child ages

A new, prototype artificial heart valve can adjust to a child’s growing body, potentially sparing them from multiple open-heart surgeries before adulthood.

Kristin Houser

Drugs

Safe injection sites are legal, US court rules

A U.S. judge has ruled that safe injection sites, places where users can consume drugs under medical supervision, don’t violate federal drug laws.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

“Electronic nose” can detect a cancer precursor on patients’ breath

A new study found that an electronic nose could be an improved screening tool for Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

"Doomsday" seed vault now contains over 1 million samples

Norway's Svalbard Global Seed Vault, also known as the “Doomsday” Vault, now contains more than one million varieties of seeds from across the globe.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Why aren’t the World Bank’s pandemic bonds helping fight COVID-19?

The World Bank sold pandemic bonds to address global health emergencies, but it has yet to release any of the money to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

Kristin Houser