Shweta Karikehalli is an environmental and science journalist based in New York City. Prior to joining _Spectrum_, Shweta was an editorial fellow at _Audubon_ magazine and worked for the _Daily Orange_, Syracuse University’s award-winning independent newspaper, as a copy editor and reporter. She has an M.A. in magazine, newspaper and online journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a B.S. in conservation biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Shweta Karikehalli
From this contributor
‘Zombie’ pig brains fire hours after death
A new method restores blood flow and some functions in pig brains four hours after the animals have died.
New method creates complex, long-lived brain ‘organoids’
A new method for growing brain organoids allows them to survive for up to a year — more than four times as long as is possible with other methods.
New method creates complex, long-lived brain ‘organoids’
By
Shweta Karikehalli
10 May 2019 | 2 min read
Mighty magnet promises to render human brain in intricate detail
A new magnetic resonance imaging machine has the power to reveal the brain’s structure and activity at unprecedented resolution.
Mighty magnet promises to render human brain in intricate detail
By
Shweta Karikehalli
26 April 2019 | 2 min read
Genome catalog bolsters global microbiome research
The largest-yet attempt to characterize the global diversity of the human microbiome — the population of microbes that live in our bodies — has found 4,930 species, 77 percent of which were previously unknown.
Genome catalog bolsters global microbiome research
By
Shweta Karikehalli
22 March 2019 | 3 min read
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University probe leads to retraction of four neural tube studies
The University of Maryland conducted an internal investigation that identified image duplications and other data integrity issues in the studies, according to the retraction notices.
University probe leads to retraction of four neural tube studies
The University of Maryland conducted an internal investigation that identified image duplications and other data integrity issues in the studies, according to the retraction notices.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
16 October 2026 | 6 min read
Highly cited autism paper earns expression of concern over data duplications
The notice, published in Nature last week, also addressed an image duplication identified by a prominent research-integrity sleuth.
Highly cited autism paper earns expression of concern over data duplications
The notice, published in Nature last week, also addressed an image duplication identified by a prominent research-integrity sleuth.
By
Madeline Shaw
16 October 2026 | 4 min read
Govern neurodata by how it’s used, not where it’s from
New neurodata laws will shape how researchers gather, share and reuse brain data. A use-based governance protects basic researchers and those whose data are being used, without freezing science.
Govern neurodata by how it’s used, not where it’s from
New neurodata laws will shape how researchers gather, share and reuse brain data. A use-based governance protects basic researchers and those whose data are being used, without freezing science.
By
José M. Muñoz
16 October 2026 | 7 min read