Shafaq Zia is a science journalist and a graduate student in the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Previously, she was a reporting intern at STAT, covering the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest research in health technology.
Shafaq Zia
From this contributor
Spotted around the web: COVID-19 during pregnancy, sleep problems, eugenics
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 6 June.
Spotted around the web: COVID-19 during pregnancy, sleep problems, eugenics
By
Jill Adams, Angie Voyles Askham, Peter Hess, Shafaq Zia
10 June 2022 | 3 min read
New resource tracks genetic variations in Han Chinese populations
An online database called NyuWa catalogs genetic variations among nearly 3,000 individuals and provides a comprehensive reference genome for the Han people.
New resource tracks genetic variations in Han Chinese populations
By
Shafaq Zia
9 December 2021 | 3 min read
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Johannes Jaeger explains why we should care that brains and AI are not the same
From single cells to whole organisms, living beings must continuously regenerate themselves and judge what's important to continue living. Artificial intelligence does not and cannot.
Johannes Jaeger explains why we should care that brains and AI are not the same
From single cells to whole organisms, living beings must continuously regenerate themselves and judge what's important to continue living. Artificial intelligence does not and cannot.
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Paul Middlebrooks
1 July 2026 | 1 min read
What mosquitos lay bare about proprioception
By comparing the proprioceptive systems of mosquitos and fruit flies, Sweta Agrawal aims to uncover fundamental features of the ability to sense self-movement.
What mosquitos lay bare about proprioception
By comparing the proprioceptive systems of mosquitos and fruit flies, Sweta Agrawal aims to uncover fundamental features of the ability to sense self-movement.
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Calli McMurray
1 July 2026 | 5 min read
Recording warning: Common brain signal may be misunderstood
High gamma activity in electrophysiologic recordings reflects widespread neural activity, not merely local firing, as previously thought.
Recording warning: Common brain signal may be misunderstood
High gamma activity in electrophysiologic recordings reflects widespread neural activity, not merely local firing, as previously thought.
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Claudia López Lloreda
30 June 2026 | 5 min read