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.

a 3D illustration of the Balamuthia mandrillaris amoeba

Medicine

“Brain-eating” amoeba beaten by old European drug

A man infected by a deadly brain-eating amoeba is on the road to recovery thanks to a decades-old drug used to treat urinary tract infections.

Kristin Houser

an illustration of a heart on a colorful background

CRISPR

CRISPR eliminated heart damage in mice after a heart attack

A new CRISPR base editing therapy was able to prevent mice from suffering seemingly any heart damage following an induced heart attack.

Kristin Houser

Professor Enrique Jiménez studying a cuneiform tablet

AI is helping decode the oldest story in the world

A new algorithm is helping decode ancient cuneiform tablets — including those containing the oldest known work of world literature.

Kristin Houser

Transportation

World’s largest electric cargo plane can carry up to 400 pounds

The Pelican is an autonomous electric cargo plane capable of transporting 400 pounds of cargo 200 miles in less than three hours.

Kristin Houser

Google announces Bard, a ChatGPT-like AI (Updated)

Google has announced Bard, a conversational AI similar to ChatGPT, and plans to integrate similar AI into its search platform “soon.”

Kristin Houser

an illustration of a DARPA X-plane with active flow control

Transportation

DARPA is developing an X-plane steered only by blasts of air

DARPA is developing an X-plane that uses “active flow control” to maneuver, rather than traditional flight control surfaces.

Kristin Houser

Brain

Human-rat brain hybrid shows a way to cure blindness

New research has shown that human “mini brains” can integrate with damaged rat brains to perform functions related to sight.

Kristin Houser

A grid of fans pulling carbon from the air

Climate Crisis

World’s biggest direct air capture plant is trapping CO2 in Iceland

Direct air capture technology is starting to take off, with ever-larger CO2 removal facilities opening across the globe.

Kristin Houser

Extraterrestrials

Undergrad develops AI to hunt for alien signals

An AI trained to hunt for technosignatures from intelligent alien life found 8 interesting signals on its first deployment.

Kristin Houser

A digitally-colorized image of an E. coli bacterium

Biology

New “cyborg” cells could be the future of medicine

Semi-living “cyborg” cells might one day do everything from deliver cancer treatments to help clean up the environment.

Kristin Houser