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.

Coronavirus

Blood enzyme could explain severe impact of coronavirus in men

A new study suggests that higher concentrations of the ACE2 blood enzyme could explain the particularly deadly impact of the coronavirus in men.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Why is an antigen test a big deal for COVID-19?

The FDA has issued its first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 antigen test, a new type of test for diagnosing the coronavirus.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

A nasal spray for coronavirus prevention is in development

Scientists are developing a nasal spray for coronavirus prevention that uses a protein found in red algae to stop the virus from taking hold.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Doctors test solution for COVID-19 phenomena, silent hypoxia

Doctors treating COVID-19 patients are testing the ability of common blood thinners to address silent hypoxia, one of the disease’s most alarming phenomena.

Kristin Houser

AI beats neurologists at making Alzheimer's diagnosis

Scientists have created an AI capable of making an Alzheimer’s diagnosis that’s more accurate than the one delivered by a group of neurologists.

Kristin Houser

Psychology

New evidence of memory consolidation while we sleep

Thanks to brain implants, scientists have the first direct evidence of “offline replay” in humans, a process thought to be key to memory consolidation.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

The truth about coronavirus mutations 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

Ultraviolet cleaning robots kill coronavirus at US airport

Pittsburgh International Airport is using cleaning robots modified with ultraviolet light fixtures in an effort to kill the coronavirus.

Kristin Houser

Biology

Microbe in mosquito guts completely blocks malaria parasite

Scientists have discovered a microbe in the guts of mosquitoes that appears to prevent the most common malaria parasite from infecting the insects.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Cheap CRISPR-based coronavirus test delivers fast results

Scientists have unveiled STOPCovid, a CRISPR-based coronavirus test that avoids many of the shortcomings of existing diagnostic tests.

Kristin Houser