Katharine Gammon is an award-winning independent science journalist based in Santa Monica, California. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, The Guardian, Undark, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, Nature, Hakai and beyond.
Katharine Gammon
From this contributor
Spotted around the web: Mapping histones; COVID-19 births; acetaminophen lawsuits
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 31 October.
Spotted around the web: Mapping histones; COVID-19 births; acetaminophen lawsuits
By
Jill Adams, Katharine Gammon, Peter Hess, Nicholette Zeliadt
4 November 2022 | 3 min read
A mix of common and rare variants shapes autism inheritance patterns
The study also reveals a link between language development and common variants.
A mix of common and rare variants shapes autism inheritance patterns
By
Katharine Gammon
4 November 2022 | 3 min read
Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism
The gene, YTHDF2, has not previously been linked to autism.
Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism
By
Katharine Gammon
1 November 2022 | 3 min read
Lags in genetic testing, variant reporting hinder autism research
Few autistic people undergo the recommended genetic testing for their condition, and test results often do not make their way into public databases, where researchers and clinicians can learn from them.
Lags in genetic testing, variant reporting hinder autism research
By
Katharine Gammon
28 October 2022 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Molecular changes after MECP2 loss may drive Rett syndrome traits
Knocking out the gene in adult mice triggered up- and down-regulated expression of myriad genes weeks before there were changes in neuronal function.
Molecular changes after MECP2 loss may drive Rett syndrome traits
Knocking out the gene in adult mice triggered up- and down-regulated expression of myriad genes weeks before there were changes in neuronal function.
By
Chloe Williams
20 March 2025 | 5 min read
Learning scientific rigor: Q&A with Konrad Kording and Hao Ye
The developers of a new open-access curriculum to teach rigor discuss confirmation bias and other common errors in scientific thinking, plus ways to avoid these missteps.
Learning scientific rigor: Q&A with Konrad Kording and Hao Ye
The developers of a new open-access curriculum to teach rigor discuss confirmation bias and other common errors in scientific thinking, plus ways to avoid these missteps.
By
Calli McMurray
19 March 2025 | 6 min read
This paper changed my life: Stephanie Palmer on the ties between human speech and birdsong—and her ‘informal life coach’
A groundbreaking review by Allison Doupe, who was Palmer’s mentor, and Patricia Kuhl helped shape the field’s understanding of the neural and evolutionary dynamics of speech.
This paper changed my life: Stephanie Palmer on the ties between human speech and birdsong—and her ‘informal life coach’
A groundbreaking review by Allison Doupe, who was Palmer’s mentor, and Patricia Kuhl helped shape the field’s understanding of the neural and evolutionary dynamics of speech.
By
Stephanie Palmer
18 March 2025 | 5 min read