As a correspondent for Science, I wrote 64 news and feature articles. Here is a sampling.
As states relax their laws on cannabis, neuroscientist Yasmin Hurd is warning about the drug’s dangers for the developing brain
(Science August 2023)
A dark natural tan offers unparalleled protection against skin cancer. So scientists are developing compounds that trigger tanning without the sun’s damaging effects
Early-stage artificial “eyes” are competing in the clinic, giving blind volunteers a glimpse of the future
On the front lines of the body’s defense against microbes, toll-like receptors are choice targets for drugs to combat infectious diseases and inflammation
In hopes of finding new remedies for ills including cancer and diabetes, scientists are following a band of elusive immune-cell cops whose existence was once hotly debated
A complex exchange of signals between mother and fetus determines when labor begins. By listening in, researchers hope to find ways to prevent or delay premature labor
Scientists are finding surprising uses for DNA that interrupts genes. Some stretches encode enzymes that ferry genes into precise locations; other “junk” seamlessly edits proteins
Although still largely experimental, devices that decipher brain signals are advancing quickly and allowing some fully paralyzed people to interact with the world
Animal Studies Raise Hopes for Spinal Cord Repair
Researchers are suddenly confident they can make severed neurons grow, but can they translate laboratory finds into cures?
Biotech companies hope that their efforts to use modern genomics to identify new therapies for human diseases are on the verge of paying off. That’s still a big if, however
Recent studies are showing that the environment, especially early in life, can influence a person’s IQ—for better or for worse
Teaching the Spinal Cord to Walk
A flurry of recent work suggests that, with proper training, some patients with spinal cord injuries can regain at least a limited ability to walk
Although the cerebellum’s role in simple movements has long been appreciated, only recently have scientists begun pinning down how it coordinates complex, multijoint movements
