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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Peter Hess

Former News Writer

Peter Hess was a reporter for Spectrum from 2019 to 2023, where he covered cannabinoids, autism prevalence, social hormones and other topics. Before joining Spectrum in 2019, he was associate science editor at Inverse, where he wrote and edited stories for a broad audience on a wide range of scientific topics, including drugs, evolution and environmental science. His work has also appeared in The Washington Post, New Scientist, Popular Science and Motherboard. Peter has an M.A. in science journalism from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. Find him on Twitter at @PeterNHess.

January 2023
A multiracial group of schoolchildren sit at their desks in class.
News

Racial, economic disparities skew New Jersey data on autism, intellectual disability

by  /  26 January 2023

Serious differences in autism identification persist, according to an analysis of autistic children in New Jersey over 16 years.

Comments
A hand reaches from above to add a pill to a stack that is resting against the x-axis of a graph.
News

Going on Trial: Arbaclofen reboot; cell implants; psilocybin microdoses

by  /  25 January 2023

Going on Trial rounds up new developments in autism-related drug trials. This month we’re revisiting decade-old data from a trial of arbaclofen for fragile X syndrome and looking into a new implant-based approach to quelling seizures, among other treatment strategies.

Comments
Jill Silverman sits at her desk with her dog.
Opinion / Beyond the bench

Beyond the bench: Finding solitude with Jill Silverman

by  /  17 January 2023

The people-focused researcher shares her secrets to carving out time for grant writing, creating work-life balance and letting go of unread emails.

Comments
Week of JanuaryJan
9th
2023
News / Spotted

Spotted around the web: CDK13; hippocampal plasticity; science Twitter

by ,  /  13 January 2023

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 9 January.

Comments
Graham Diering smiles in a portrait in his yard.
News / Profiles

Asleep in the Mouse House with Graham Diering

by  /  12 January 2023

Memories from Diering’s life trace the rising star’s scientific path from raising lizards as a child and later exploring home brewing to heading a lab that investigates memory, sleep disturbances and early development in animals with autism-linked mutations.

Comments
Figure shows cultured human kidney cells and cultured rat cortical neurons responding to light exposure.
News / Toolbox

Unconventional optogenetics technique spurs long-lasting changes in neuronal activity

by  /  9 January 2023

Conventional optogenetic manipulations to excite or inhibit neurons stop when the light switches off. A new approach makes the changes last.

Comments
December 2022
Week of DecemberDec
19th
2022
News / Spotted

Spotted around the web: Glia lineages; histone modifications; newborn sequencing

by ,  /  22 December 2022

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 19 December.

Comments
Week of DecemberDec
12th
2022
News / Spotted

Spotted around the web: Autism research from Iran, South Africa and Australia

by , ,  /  16 December 2022

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 12 December.

Comments
Week of NovemberNov
28th
2022
News / Spotted

Spotted around the web: Protein ubiquitination; meninges immunity; scientific image problems

by , , ,  /  2 December 2022

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 28 November.

Comments
Composite image of inhibitory and excitatory neurons.
News / Toolbox

One-rosette technique grows well-organized organoids

by  /  2 December 2022

The method yields complex organoids that more closely mimic embryonic brain development than do those cultured in other ways.

Comments