Meet the backyard marijuana growers and home chemists who are rushing in where scientists fear to tread.

Mice missing a gene called PTCHD1 in a deep-seated brain structure have autism-like symptoms that ease with treatment.

Scientists should phrase their findings to be sensitive to the dignity and needs of people with autism.

Some of our favorite stories this year went beyond the news to lay bare critical controversies or highlight real-world implications of research.

Half of children who have autism have trouble falling or staying asleep, which may make their symptoms worse. Scientists are just beginning to explore what goes wrong in the midnight hour.

Up to 40 percent of children with autism are overweight or obese, but there is no single risk factor and no easy solution to the problems this brings.

People with autism are twice as likely to carry alterations in genes that regulate the circadian clock, or the body’s sleep-wake cycle as those without the disorder. The findings may help explain why most children with autism have trouble with sleep.

Many children with autism have gastrointestinal problems, seizures and sleep disorders. A new study suggests that these seemingly disparate conditions are interconnected and may lead to the children’s behavioral issues.

Some people with autism can tolerate extreme heat, cold or pressure and seem relatively insensitive to pain. Paradoxically, they may experience intense pain from idiosyncratic sources but struggle to communicate it.

Two new studies explore the link between autism and aggression — a controversial connection that weighs heavily on individuals with the disorder and their families.