Lauren Gravitz

Freelance Writer

Lauren Gravitz is a freelance writer and editor in Hershey, Pennsylvania, who covers health, medicine, science and the environment. Her stories have appeared in Nature, Aeon, The Economist, Technology Review, O, The Oprah Magazine and Discover, among others.

From this contributor

Brain imaging

By Lauren Gravitz

21 January 2026

13 min read

Researcher Russell Poldrack's face closeup, with a scanner seen out of focus behind him.

A brief history of precision self-scanning

When a researcher solved a logistical problem by going rogue, the idea proved remarkably infectious.

Brain imaging

A brief history of precision self-scanning

By Lauren Gravitz

21 January 2026 | 13 min read

Spectrum

By Lauren Gravitz

26 September 2018

14 min read

Collage image shows figure of person experiencing a tough therapy session

At the intersection of autism and trauma

Autism and post-traumatic stress disorder share many traits, but the connection between them was largely overlooked until now.

Spectrum

At the intersection of autism and trauma

By Lauren Gravitz

26 September 2018 | 14 min read

Spectrum

By Lauren Gravitz

19 April 2017

22 min read

A small boy is surrounded by pills, evoking a sense that we are giving individuals on the spectrum too many psychiatric drugs.

Autism’s drug problem

Many people on the spectrum take multiple medications — which can lead to serious side effects and may not even be effective.

Spectrum

Autism’s drug problem

By Lauren Gravitz

19 April 2017 | 22 min read

Spectrum

By Lauren Gravitz

28 June 2012

4 min read

Lack of DNA modification creates hotspots for mutations

The absence of a chemical alteration called methylation on some stretches of DNA makes them especially prone to mutations, according to a paper published in PLoS Genetics in May.

Spectrum