Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

Contact

[email protected]

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.

Transportation

Smart traffic lights ease congestion on city streets

Smart traffic lights by startup NoTraffic use AI to improve the flow of traffic in cities, minimizing carbon emissions and delays for first responders.

Kristin Houser

Bionics

The material that could help humans become cyborgs

Coating implantable electronics in the polymer PEDOT can extend their life, which could make cyborgs more common in the future.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Open-source COVID-19 saliva test could be a game changer

SalivaDirect, a COVID-19 saliva test funded by the NBA and NBA players’ union, could be the cheap, accurate testing method the U.S. desperately needs.

Kristin Houser

Biology

This smart pill could unlock mysteries of the human gut

A new smart pill can be programmed to collect gut microbiome samples from anywhere along the GI tract — overcoming a major research problem.

Kristin Houser

Sports

AI force plate prevents injuries by predicting them

Sparta Science has developed an AI-powered force plate system that prevents injuries among athletes and soldiers by predicting their likelihood.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Doctors spray chemo inside abdominal cancer patients

For the first time, a U.S. trial will test the ability of an experimental cancer treatment called PIPAC to help late-stage abdominal cancer patients.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Immune proteins show promise as COVID-19 treatment

Immune proteins called interferons appear useful as a COVID-19 treatment if given to patients before an infection becomes severe.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Gates Foundation backs a $3 coronavirus vaccine

The Gates Foundation is spending $150 million to help with the manufacturing and distribution of a $3 coronavirus vaccine in lower-income nations.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Urine test could replace malignant melanoma biopsies

Doctors can look to the levels of certain fluorescent molecules in the urine of malignant melanoma patients to track the progression of their skin cancer.

Kristin Houser

Mental Health

App brings psychedelic-assisted therapy into your home

The Field Trip app aims to help people get some of the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy outside the confines of a clinic.

Kristin Houser