Contributor

B. David Zarley

Senior Staff Writer

Contact

[email protected]

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!

Genetics

This parent is helping push autism gene therapy forward

Not too long ago, autism gene therapy was a pipe dream. Now, armed with specific targets and new methods, a small wave of gene therapies is gathering.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Vampire bats social distance when sick, and so should you

Vampire bats are incredibly social creatures, living in colonies which can be massive. New research suggests that when they feel sick, they socially distance.

B. David Zarley

Animals

New bug spray "crystals" can help wipe out malaria

Crystalizing a common insecticide makes it kill mosquitoes faster, and could be a cheap, effective new weapon for malaria prevention.

B. David Zarley

Activism

Stadium voting sites make voting safer. Here’s how to find them.

As the pandemic increases the risk of in-person voting, sports teams are converting their homes into arena and stadium voting sites.

B. David Zarley

Virology

A deadly virus emerged in South Africa in 2008. Then it vanished.

A deadly new virus killed a South African safari agent and three others, then disappeared without a trace. What can we learn from a unique outbreak?

B. David Zarley

Neuroscience

Dopamine and serotonin may do more than we thought

Dopamine and serotonin are crucial brain chemicals. A new study that measured them simultaneously in active brains suggests they may do more than we think.

B. David Zarley

Climate Crisis

“Digital Earth” can simulate climate change down to the kilometer

Europe’s ambitious Destination Earth project aims to simulate climate systems — and human impact — to the kilometer.

B. David Zarley

Transportation

Electric garbage trucks are (quietly) coming

With Mack Truck’s electric garbage trucks set to be delivered in 2021, your mornings may be getting quieter soon.

B. David Zarley

Drugs

MDMA therapy and the promise of psychedelics

Despite years of work with a "stellar" therapist, Charlotte needed more. She turned to MDMA therapy.

B. David Zarley

Outer Space

Two dozen “superhabitable” exoplanets may be better than Earth

Earth is successful at supporting life, but it may not be the most successful. These 24 “superhabitable” exoplanets may be even better.

B. David Zarley