Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

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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.

Aerospace

NASA announces first missions to Venus since the '80s

NASA has just approved two missions to Venus that will provide the scientific community with a wealth of new data on Earth’s closest planetary neighbor.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

United will buy 15 supersonic jets

United Airlines has agreed to buy 15 supersonic jets from Boom Supersonic, with plans to begin commercial flights before the end of the decade.

Kristin Houser

Astronomy

Colorful clouds on Mars captured in new rover pics

NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured images of colorful clouds on Mars, forming at higher altitudes and earlier in the Martian year than expected.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Mass vaccination experiment was a huge success in Brazil

A mass vaccination experiment in Brazil suggests that even a moderately effective vaccine can have a dramatic effect if enough people get the shot.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Inhaled nanobodies treat COVID-19 in hamsters

An inhaled nanobody treatment for COVID-19 has shown promise in animal tests and could be a more affordable alternative to monoclonal antibody drugs.

Kristin Houser

Genetics

The entire human genome has (finally) been sequenced

Researchers have finally sequenced the complete human genome, filling the gaps in the Human Genome Project’s historic first draft.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

Microfarm startup brings fresh produce to food desert

California startup Crop Swap LA has planted a “microfarm” in an LA resident’s front yard and is now distributing the crops throughout the local community.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Fridge for astronaut food aces first flight tests

Purdue University engineers have designed a fridge for astronaut food that could double its shelf life, potentially overcoming a barrier to longer missions.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

New nuclear fusion test overcomes “exhaust problem”

The UK’s MAST Upgrade nuclear fusion experiment appears to have solved the “exhaust problem,” a major hurdle to harnessing fusion power on Earth.

Kristin Houser

Animals

Birds, frogs, and reptiles use sound to “program” embryos

Sound appears to play a larger role in animal development than previously thought, affecting how a variety of species prepare for life outside the womb or egg.

Kristin Houser