Delia O’Hara is an award-winning writer and journalist, a former longtime features reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Specialties include science, health care, profiles, education, history, culture and the arts for magazines and websites. She is presently a member of the National Association of Science Writers and the Association of Health Care Journalists. She is also a published short story writer.
Delia O’Hara
From this contributor
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Konstantinos Zarbalis
Konstantinos “Kostas” Zarbalis talks about the upside of unexpected experimental results, and why he eats just one meal per day.
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Konstantinos Zarbalis
By
Delia O’Hara
10 February 2022 | 6 min read
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Kristin Sohl
When pediatrician Kristin Sohl isn’t building programs to improve care for and research about autistic people, you can find her reading psychological thrillers or playing Pokémon Go.
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Kristin Sohl
By
Delia O’Hara
13 January 2022 | 6 min read
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Andrew Whitehouse
Andrew Whitehouse talks about his conservation efforts in the Australian Outback, what it’s like to be an identical twin and why he leaves work promptly at 5 p.m.
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Andrew Whitehouse
By
Delia O’Hara
24 November 2021 | 7 min read
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Ethan Scott
Ethan Scott packs his lab with math, physics and computer science experts to decode sensory brain networks in zebrafish models of autism.
Beyond the bench: A conversation with Ethan Scott
By
Delia O’Hara
13 September 2021 | 9 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.
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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.
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Claudia López Lloreda
27 June 2025 | 9 min listen