David Dobbs

Contributing writer
The Transmitter

David Dobbs writes about science, music, sports, and other forms of culture, and is the author of Reef Madness: Alexander Agassiz, Charles Darwin, and The Meaning of Coral and other books.

From this contributor

Brain stimulation

By David Dobbs

25 November 2025

7 min read

Remembering Mark Hallett, leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation

The long-time NINDS researcher, best known for studying movement disorders, has died at age 82.

Brain stimulation

Remembering Mark Hallett, leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation

By David Dobbs

25 November 2025 | 7 min read

Spectrum

By David Dobbs

11 November 2022

5 min read

Black and white photograph of Leo Kanner in a delicate collage of squares and circles on a cream colored background.

The new history of autism, part III

For decades, two figures have dominated the history of autism studies. Today, newly excavated documents are calling into question the primacy of these men as founders of the field.

Spectrum

The new history of autism, part III

By David Dobbs

11 November 2022 | 5 min read

Spectrum

By David Dobbs

9 November 2022

17 min read

Black and white portrait of Hans Asperger against an abstract background.

The new history of autism, part II

For decades, two figures have dominated the history of autism studies. Today, newly excavated documents are calling into question the primacy of these men as founders of the field.

Spectrum

The new history of autism, part II

By David Dobbs

9 November 2022 | 17 min read

Spectrum

By David Dobbs

7 November 2022

13 min read

Black and white photograph of Grunya Sukhareva in a delicate collage of squares and circles on a cream colored background.

The new history of autism, part I

For decades, two figures have dominated the history of autism studies. Today, newly excavated documents are calling into question the primacy of these men as founders of the field.