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.

"Moral Machine" picks up on human ethics

By feeding an AI a diet of books, news articles, and religious texts, researchers were able to create a “moral machine” reflecting the ethics of a society.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

“Crew Dragon” launch to kick off new era in US spaceflight

On May 27, a SpaceX Crew Dragon will ferry two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Crew Program.

Kristin Houser

Virtual reality meetings are the new Zoom

If you’re sick of video conferencing, you can now access Spatial’s platform for virtual reality meetings for free and without a headset.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Is it safe to hang out with friends now?

As more states ease up on lockdown restrictions, many of us are asking: is it safe to hang out with friends now? Here's everything you need to know.

Kristin Houser

Neuroscience

“Off-switch” in mouse brains offers new hope for pain relief

A newly discovered part of the mouse brain appears to naturally stop pain processing, and it could lead to more robust pain relief options in the future.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Children and seniors to join Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine trial

Oxford University is enrolling people older than 70 and children between the ages of 5 and 12 in a Phase 2 coronavirus vaccine trial.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Relaunching the NBA, repairing medical devices, and more COVID-19 updates

In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Virus-repellent coating could help end the PPE shortage

Researchers have created a virus-repellent coating for fabric that could help end the PPE shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kristin Houser

This AI robot could become your favorite coworker

European researchers have developed an AI robot to safely work alongside humans, anticipating their needs and providing a strong pair of extra hands.

Kristin Houser

Video Games

A talk show in “Animal Crossing” is drawing big-name guests

“Animal Talking” — a late-night talk show set in the video game “Animal Crossing” — landed several big-name guests in its first few weeks of streaming.

Kristin Houser