Science and society

Recent articles

Illustration of an open book with the pages creating a brain shape, and with a tassel resembling a DNA sequence.

Open-access neuroscience comes to the classroom: Q&A with Liz Kirby

Neuroscience textbooks can be prohibitively expensive for some undergraduate students. A new open-access alternative seeks to change that.

By Francisco J. Rivera Rosario
13 December 2024 | 6 min read
Research image of cerebellum damage in neonatal mice.

Genome folding; organelle changes; self-injury

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 December.

By Jill Adams
10 December 2024 | 2 min read
A stack of dollar bills floats above the outline of a keyhole.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute to limit eligible universities for Investigator Program in bid to spread the wealth

The next round of competition, slated for late 2025, will have a new focus, according to an HHMI spokesperson.

By Shaena Montanari
6 December 2024 | 2 min read
Black-and-white photograph of Bryan W Jones holding a camera and pointing it back at the photographer.

An eye for science: Q&A with Bryan W. Jones

The researcher explains how the beauty of the retina drew him into the vision field and why photography reminds him of the value of that work.

By Angie Voyles Askham
6 December 2024 | 7 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Anti-seizure medications in pregnancy; TBR1 gene; microglia

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 December.

By Jill Adams
3 December 2024 | 1 min read
A repeating pattern of orange butterflies against a blue background.

‘Huge influx’ of neuroscientists migrates to Bluesky

Daily neuroscience-related posts on the social-media platform this week have increased more than 400 percent, on average, compared with October.

By Calli McMurray
21 November 2024 | 5 min read
Illustration of a parent and child both distracted by screens.

Executive function; screen time; Rett syndrome therapy

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 18 November.

By Jill Adams
19 November 2024 | 1 min read
Research image of gray-matter volume in the brains of people with autism (bottom row) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (top row).

BCL11A-related intellectual developmental disorder; intervention dosage; gray-matter volume

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 11 November.

By Jill Adams
12 November 2024 | 2 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Sleep; noncoding regions of the genome; changing rates of U.S.-based autism diagnoses

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 4 November.

By Jill Adams
5 November 2024 | 2 min read
Research image of human brain scans against a black background.

Cerebellum structure; AMPA receptors; MAGEL2 gene

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 28 October.

By Jill Adams
29 October 2024 | 1 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Black-and-white image of cubes floating out of the bottom half of a human head.

Solving intelligence requires new research and funding models

Our research ecosystem isn't built to deliver the breakthroughs needed to understand intelligence at scale. We need a dedicated research institution to take up the task.

By David A. Markowitz
13 December 2024 | 6 min read
Research image of brain scans.

Impaired molecular ‘chaperone’ accompanies multiple brain changes, conditions

Rare genetic variants in a protein-folding complex contribute to a spectrum of phenotypes that encompass brain malformations, intellectual disability, autism and seizures, according to a new “hallmark” study.

By Holly Barker
12 December 2024 | 5 min read
Illustration of a mouse melting in front of a fan.

To beat the heat, hypothalamus neurons in mice ramp up their firing

The uptick may help the rodents acclimate to temperature hikes and keep their cool.

By Calli McMurray
11 December 2024 | 7 min read