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.

Genetics

Gene therapy appears to cure “bubble boy disease”

A new gene therapy designed to treat children with ADA-SCID, a form of “bubble boy disease,” was incredibly successful in trials.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

China’s Mars rover nails landing

China’s Mars rover, Zhurong, has landed on the Red Planet, making China only the second nation to successfully land a rover on Mars.

Kristin Houser

Computer Science

IBM's faster, more powerful microchips

IBM has unveiled the world’s first 2-nanometer microchips, a breakthrough in chip technology that could lead to faster devices that require less energy.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

The world’s first fully electric, self-driving tractor

Monarch Tractor’s all-electric, self-driving tractor could save farmers money, while also benefiting the environment.

Kristin Houser

Inventions

A “Lite-Brite” for DNA data storage

A new method for DNA data storage uses light-emitting strands of DNA to encode digital messages, eliminating the need for sequencing.

Kristin Houser

Astronomy

Volcanoes on Mars might still be active

New evidence suggests that volcanoes on Mars may have erupted just 50,000 years ago, far more recently than previously thought.

Kristin Houser

Genetics

Supercentenarians’ DNA reveals clues to human longevity

A human longevity study involving people over the age of 105 has found that genetic variants linked to DNA repair appear to contribute to a longer life.

Kristin Houser

Neuroscience

New brain-computer interface turns mental handwriting into text

A new brain-computer interface translated a paralyzed man’s “mental handwriting” into text on a computer screen.

Kristin Houser

Apps

How a smartphone app is helping suppress HIV

An HIV app that uses gaming elements to motivate people to stick to their ART regimen was able to increase viral suppression in a small study.

Kristin Houser

Entertainment

How will movie theaters survive post-pandemic?

Chicago musician Chance the Rapper is releasing his new concert film, “Magnificent Coloring World,” exclusively through AMC Theatres.

Kristin Houser