2018: Year in Review

Recent articles

DNA helix shows blue spots as mutations.

Five hot topics in autism research in 2018

This year, researchers made big headway on autism’s most perplexing questions.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 5 min read
Illustration of empty text bubbles.

Quotes of the year

In our favorite quotes from stories we published this year, researchers talk about where to store your marijuana for research, the significance of mouse-butt sniffing and the secret to productivity.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 2 min read
A drawing shows the word 'autism' formed of loose letters under a magnifying glass.

A decade of Spectrum

It’s been 10 years since Spectrum — well, one version of Spectrum — launched. Fittingly, in this anniversary year, we made forays into new territory.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 3 min read
Illustration of profiles with brains of different colors.

In case you missed it: Five Spectrum stories from 2018

Spectrum's editors chose five stories from 2018 you may have missed the first time around.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 3 min read
whimsical machine takes in various data and spits out an organized version on the other end

Notable papers in autism research in 2018

This year's list of top papers highlights new dimensions in our understanding of autism genetics and hints at novel treatments.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 4 min read

Science serves up inspiration for Katie Carey’s whimsical artwork

Katie Carey, who has illustrated several Spectrum articles, reveals her creative process and her strategies for pushing past mental blocks.

By Rebecca Horne
21 December 2018 | 6 min read
A man walks up a decrepit staircase in his neighborhood in Lima, Peru.

In Peru, novel program paves the way for autistic people’s employment

At a center in Lima, Peru, people with autism learn to identify their strengths and find jobs that play to those strengths.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
21 December 2018 | 7 min read

Pitch your thesis: Big questions drive autism research

Early-career autism researchers record 'elevator pitches' of their projects.

By Claire Cameron
21 December 2018 | 8 min watch
Woman looking into mirror sees words and fragmented reflection.

Why adults need an easier path to autism diagnosis

Getting an autism diagnosis can be difficult for many adults, due to the dearth of reliable tests, high costs and bureaucracy.

By Sara Luterman
18 December 2018 | 6 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of portions of the adult dentate gyrus.

Machine learning spots neural progenitors in adult human brains

But the finding has not settled the long-standing debate over the existence and extent of neurogenesis during adulthood, says Yale University neuroscientist Juan Arellano.

By Claudia López Lloreda
3 July 2025 | 7 min listen

Xiao-Jing Wang outlines the future of theoretical neuroscience

Wang discusses why he decided the time was right for a new theoretical neuroscience textbook and how bifurcation is a key missing concept in neuroscience explanations.

By Paul Middlebrooks
2 July 2025 | 112 min listen
Overlapping speech bubbles.

Memory study sparks debate over statistical methods

Critics of a 2024 Nature paper suggest the authors failed to address the risk of false-positive findings. The authors argue more rigorous methods can result in missed leads.

By Katie Moisse
2 July 2025 | 5 min read