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.
Leah Shaffer
Freelance writer
From this contributor
Supplements, worms and stool: How families are trying to game the gut to treat autism traits
Scientists are playing catch-up as microbiome-based treatments for autism proliferate.
Supplements, worms and stool: How families are trying to game the gut to treat autism traits
By
Leah Shaffer
26 June 2019 | 16 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing
The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.
Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing
The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.
By
Giorgia Guglielmi
12 November 2026 | 4 min read
Future of AI brain models sparks debate
Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.
Future of AI brain models sparks debate
Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.
By
Natalia Mesa
11 November 2026 | 10 min read
Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.
Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.
By
Jill Adams
10 November 2026 | 2 min read