portrait of writer Leah Shaffer

Leah Shaffer

Freelance writer

Leah Shaffer is a freelance science writer based in St. Louis, Missouri. Her stories have appeared in publications such as Wired, The Atlantic, Discover, NOVA Next and UnDark. She writes about biology, medicine and the weird critters inside and outside the human body.

Explore more from The Transmitter

Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain

The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.

By Calli McMurray
3 September 2025 | 5 min listen
Research image of auditory processing in people with Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

New findings on Phelan-McDermid syndrome; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 1 September.

By Jill Adams
2 September 2025 | 2 min read
Computer-generated illustration.

From bench to bot: Why AI-powered writing may not deliver on its promise

Efficiency isn’t everything. The cognitive work of struggling with prose may be a crucial part of what drives scientific progress.

By Tim Requarth
2 September 2025 | 8 min listen

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.