Ricki Rusting is a science writer and editor based in New York. She was managing editor of Scientific American for 15 years, after rising through other positions. She is a contributing editor at Spectrum and Scientific American.
Ricki Rusting
From this contributor
Decoding the overlap between autism and ADHD
Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often coincide, but the search for common biological roots has turned up conflicting evidence.
Decoding the overlap between autism and ADHD
By
Ricki Rusting
7 February 2018 | 0 min watch
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Neuromechanical models deepen our understanding of animal motor control
Thanks to recent progress in physics-based simulators and robotics, it has never been easier for neuroscientists to use neuromechanical modeling to test hypotheses about animal movement.
Neuromechanical models deepen our understanding of animal motor control
Thanks to recent progress in physics-based simulators and robotics, it has never been easier for neuroscientists to use neuromechanical modeling to test hypotheses about animal movement.
By
Auke Ijspeert
9 September 2026 | 0 min watch
Fruit flies use memory to track odors
When flies encounter a tasty smell, they stroll in and out of the odor plume—a process that depends on encoding a memory of the angle needed to travel back to the plume, according to a new study.
Fruit flies use memory to track odors
When flies encounter a tasty smell, they stroll in and out of the odor plume—a process that depends on encoding a memory of the angle needed to travel back to the plume, according to a new study.
By
Calli McMurray
8 September 2026 | 2 min watch
New methods to contextualize autism-linked genes, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 7 September.
New methods to contextualize autism-linked genes, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 7 September.
By
Jill Adams
8 September 2026 | 2 min read