Nidhi Subbaraman is a freelance science journalist. Her work has appeared online at places like NBCNews.com, Nature News, Technology Review and Fast Company, among others. You can find her on Twitter: @nidhisubs.
Nidhi Subbaraman
Freelancer Writer
Spectrum
From this contributor
Study on ‘extreme male brain’ theory of autism draws critics
The controversial theory that characterizes autism as the result of an ‘extreme male brain’ gets fresh support from a large new survey, but critics are skeptical.
Study on ‘extreme male brain’ theory of autism draws critics
By
Nidhi Subbaraman
25 August 2014 | 6 min read
Experts balk at large trial of stem cells for autism
A Duke University team has won $15 million to explore stem cells from cord blood as a treatment for autism. But experts caution that the trial is premature.
Experts balk at large trial of stem cells for autism
By
Nidhi Subbaraman
14 July 2014 | 6 min read
Proposal to diagnose autism from home videos draws criticism
Untrained volunteers can reliably detect signs of autism in children by watching home videos of the children posted on YouTube, suggests a study published 16 April in PLoS One. But critics say fundamental design flaws in the study undermine its results.
Proposal to diagnose autism from home videos draws criticism
By
Nidhi Subbaraman
1 May 2014 | 4 min read
Researchers unveil fetal brain map, mouse ‘connectome’
Two new maps of the brain — an atlas of fetal development and a wiring diagram in the mouse — debuted 2 April in Nature. The maps may open new avenues of investigation into the genetic and neurological basis of autism.
Researchers unveil fetal brain map, mouse ‘connectome’
By
Nidhi Subbaraman
17 April 2014 | 5 min read
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Fly database secures funding for another year, but future remains in flux
The FlyBase team’s fundraising efforts have proven successful in the short term, but restoration of its federal grant remains uncertain.
Fly database secures funding for another year, but future remains in flux
The FlyBase team’s fundraising efforts have proven successful in the short term, but restoration of its federal grant remains uncertain.
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Calli McMurray
17 October 2025 | 3 min read
Diving in with Nachum Ulanovsky
With an eye toward realism, the neuroscientist, who has a new study about bats out today, creates microcosms of the natural world to understand animal behavior.
Diving in with Nachum Ulanovsky
With an eye toward realism, the neuroscientist, who has a new study about bats out today, creates microcosms of the natural world to understand animal behavior.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
16 October 2025 | 14 min listen
Gene-activity map of developing brain reveals new clues about autism’s sex bias
Boys and girls may be vulnerable to different genetic changes, which could help explain why the condition is more common in boys despite linked variants appearing more often in girls.
Gene-activity map of developing brain reveals new clues about autism’s sex bias
Boys and girls may be vulnerable to different genetic changes, which could help explain why the condition is more common in boys despite linked variants appearing more often in girls.
By
Giorgia Guglielmi
16 October 2025 | 6 min listen