Ben Kuebrich is a reporter for High Plains Public Radio, an NPR station in Western Kansas. He spent 10 years studying neuroscience and working in laboratories at institutions such as Emory University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo. During that time, he also fell in love with listening to podcasts. He started his career in audio doing research and fact-checking for the Gimlet podcast “Science Vs.” You can also listen to his podcast “Selects,” which highlights the work of independent podcast producers.
Ben Kuebrich
From this contributor
Spectrum Stories: The benefits of genetic testing in autism
Finding a mutation linked to autism traits can have life-changing consequences for autistic individuals and their families.
Spectrum Stories: The benefits of genetic testing in autism
By
Ben Kuebrich
18 March 2019 | 1 min read
Spectrum Stories: Tapping intelligence in minimally verbal people with autism
Scientists are finding new ways to test cognition in autistic individuals who speak little or not at all.
Spectrum Stories: Tapping intelligence in minimally verbal people with autism
By
Ben Kuebrich
23 January 2019 | 1 min read
Spectrum Stories: Seeing through an autistic person’s eyes
Virtual reality can help typical people experience sensory hypersensitivity and other perceptual differences that autistic individuals describe. Host Ben Kuebrich reports.
Spectrum Stories: Seeing through an autistic person’s eyes
By
Ben Kuebrich
24 October 2018 | 1 min read
Spectrum Stories: Resetting the autistic brain
Deep brain stimulation is not an approved treatment for autism but has helped some people with extreme obsessions and other severe traits. Host Ben Kuebrich investigates one success story.
Spectrum Stories: Resetting the autistic brain
By
Ben Kuebrich
14 September 2018 | 1 min read
Spectrum Stories: Understanding autism’s suicide risk
Suicidal thoughts appear to be more common in autistic people but they’re also more difficult to detect. Host Ben Kuebrich reports.
Spectrum Stories: Understanding autism’s suicide risk
By
Ben Kuebrich
13 August 2018 | 1 min read
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Null and Noteworthy: Neurons tracking sequences don’t fire in order
Instead, neurons encode the position of sequential items in working memory based on when they fire during ongoing brain wave oscillations—a finding that challenges a long-standing theory.
Null and Noteworthy: Neurons tracking sequences don’t fire in order
Instead, neurons encode the position of sequential items in working memory based on when they fire during ongoing brain wave oscillations—a finding that challenges a long-standing theory.
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Laura Dattaro
30 June 2025 | 4 min read
How to teach this paper: ‘Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes are induced by activated microglia,’ by Liddelow et al. (2017)
Shane Liddelow and his collaborators identified the factors that transform astrocytes from their helpful to harmful form. Their work is a great choice if you want to teach students about glial cell types, cell culture, gene expression or protein measurement.
How to teach this paper: ‘Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes are induced by activated microglia,’ by Liddelow et al. (2017)
Shane Liddelow and his collaborators identified the factors that transform astrocytes from their helpful to harmful form. Their work is a great choice if you want to teach students about glial cell types, cell culture, gene expression or protein measurement.
By
Ashley Juavinett
30 June 2025 | 10 min read
Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior
Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.
Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior
Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
27 June 2025 | 9 min listen