Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

Contact

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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.

Biology

"Octopus vision" may help prevent human blindness

A new medical device that gives optometrists a fast, easy way to monitor a key macular degeneration risk factor was inspired by octopus vision.

Kristin Houser

3D Printing

Startup turns sawdust “ink” into 3D printed wood

Massachusetts startup Forust can make 3D printed wood with a natural-looking grain out of two wood waste products: sawdust and lignin.

Kristin Houser

Biology

New blood test could predict the onset of labor

Stanford University researchers have identified blood-based biomarkers that can be used to predict the onset of labor in pregnant women.

Kristin Houser

World’s first VR opera to open in London

“Current, Rising,” the world’s first VR opera, promises to immerse audiences in a “hyper-reality” made possible by technology.

Kristin Houser

Astronomy

Algorithm quickly simulates massive universes in high-res

A new algorithm lets astrophysicists produce high-res cosmological simulations of large parts of the universe far more quickly than was previously possible.

Kristin Houser

Sustainability

World’s biggest jeweler will only sell lab-created diamonds

Jewelry company Pandora has announced plans to start using only lab-created diamonds in its products, officially turning its back on diamond mining.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Icy microneedle patch delivers cell therapy, then melts

A new microneedle patch features needles made of ice instead of traditional materials, making it suitable for cell therapy delivery.

Kristin Houser

Sustainability

This laundry detergent is made from recycled carbon

Consumer goods company Unilever is now selling a laundry detergent that’s made using recycled carbon instead of traditional fossil fuels.

Kristin Houser

Food

Startup aims to put lab-grown lobster on the menu

Wisconsin startup Cultured Decadence is developing lab-grown lobster meat in the hopes of meeting a demand currently threatened by climate change.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Starship nails landing for the first time

SpaceX’s fifth high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype ended with a successful landing — a first for the massive Mars-bound rocket.

Kristin Houser