Contributor

B. David Zarley

Senior Staff Writer

Contact

[email protected]

B. David Zarley is a senior staff writer for Freethink, where he covers health and medicine, including infectious disease, psychedelic research, mental health, and the brain. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia, his work has also appeared in The Atlantic, The Verge, Jezebel, Frieze, Sports Illustrated, VICE, Paste Magazine, and numerous other publications. He lives in Chicago and can be reached via Signal by request. Send him story ideas!

Amish farmers cross a field in a horse and buggy

Genetics

Amish gene study finds clues to mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder

Researchers have turned to this unique genetic population to find insights into how our genes play a role in mental health.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

Ultrasound could help us fight the deadliest cancer

In a small study, Northwestern researchers were able to get chemo drugs into the brains of glioblastoma patients with implanted ultrasound devices.

B. David Zarley

Medicine

New drug candidates found in an unlikely place

Costa Rica’s famed sloths harbor bacteria in their fur which can create antibiotic compounds — a potential source of future therapies.

B. David Zarley

A white piece of paper with a textured ribbon on it.

Computer Science

New tech creates liquid buttons on touchscreens

Carnegie Mellon researchers want to return a sense of touch to touchscreens.

B. David Zarley

Clean Energy

World’s first thermal energy storage “gigafactory” opens

Israel’s Brenmiller Energy has opened what is believed to be the first thermal energy storage gigafactory in the world.

B. David Zarley

an illustration of a 'fossilized' retrovirus

Medicine

Ancient viruses in the human genome can help fight cancer

Armed with a DoD grant, researchers are harnessing the genetic code of ancient viral infections to fight prostate cancer.

B. David Zarley

An abstract image of a woman's head with gamma waves incorporated.

Neuroscience

Complex brain activity detected in dying patients

Researchers have measured gamma waves, a sign of brain activity, in patients who were dying.

B. David Zarley

Clean Energy

Battery density breakthrough could be enough to power electric planes

CATL, the largest manufacturer of EV batteries in the world, has announced a new super powerful one — but details are light.

B. David Zarley

Inexperienced workers get the biggest boost from AI, Stanford/MIT study finds

MIT and Stanford researchers have completed the first real-world assessment of chatbot AI in the workplace

B. David Zarley

Google chatbot “Bard” can now code in 20 languages

Google has rolled out a suite of coding capabilities for Bard AI in 20 different programming languages.

B. David Zarley