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.

Hacking

Ethical hacking challenge: Can you take over a military satellite?

The U.S. Air Force is hosting Hack-A-Sat, an ethical hacking competition challenging participants to find security vulnerabilities in satellite systems.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Human challenge trials, schools reopening, 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

Oceans

Underwater drone finds wreckage of the “unsinkable” USS Nevada

More than 70 years after the U.S. military deliberately sank the “unsinkable” USS Nevada, researchers have located its final resting spot.

Kristin Houser

Genetics

Genetically engineering the first hypoallergenic cat

Scientists are attempting to create the world’s first truly hypoallergenic cat by deleting the feline gene that causes cat allergies.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Eating out during the coronavirus looks a little different now

Restaurant owners are looking for — and finding — creative ways to convince patrons that eating out during the coronavirus can be safe.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

A coronavirus-detecting face mask could arrive this summer

Researchers from MIT and Harvard are developing a coronavirus-detecting face mask that gives off a fluorescent signal when it senses the virus.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Space plane experiment could lead to 24/7 solar power

The next time the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B space plane launches, it’ll be carrying an experimental solar panel that could revolutionize clean energy.

Kristin Houser

Prosthetics

New exosuit helps stroke survivors walk farther and faster

A new exosuit helps stroke survivors overcome hemiparesis by assisting them in making two key walking motions with their feet.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

New HIV vaccine gives monkeys longer-lasting protection

Scientists have created an HIV vaccine that triggers two types of immune response, providing monkeys with longer-lasting protection from infection.

Kristin Houser

Biology

Stem cell research breakthrough opens path to growing human organs in animals

New stem cell research has revealed a way to coax human cells to grow to maturity in mouse models, a major advance in the field.

Kristin Houser