Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

Contact

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Kristin Houser is a staff writer at Freethink, where she covers science and tech. Her written work has appeared in Business Insider, NBC News, and the World Economic Forum’s Agenda, among other publications, and Stephen Colbert once talked about a piece on The Late Show, to her delight.

Prior to joining Freethink, Kristin was a staff writer for Futurism and wrote several animated and live action web series.

Inventions

Flexible device hugs pipes, turning waste heat into electricity

Penn State researchers have developed a thermoelectric generator that efficiently converts waste heat into electricity.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Mark Cuban launches online pharmacy to cut drug prices

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has launched an online pharmacy designed to cut the cost of generic drugs by as much as 99%.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

The world’s largest vertical farm is opening in Pennsylvania

Upward Farms plans to build what will be the world’s largest vertical farm in Pennsylvania — and fish are going to fertilize its crops.

Kristin Houser

Biology

Are stem cells about to cure baldness?

Researchers have reprogrammed stem cells to successfully grow human hair on animals, hinting at a potential cure for baldness.

Kristin Houser

Sustainability

New biodegradable straws are made by bacteria

New biodegradable straws developed in China are as cheap as plastic, stronger than paper, and made from edible materials.

Kristin Houser

Transportation

Former SpaceX engineers to turn freight trains into autonomous EVs

Three former SpaceX engineers have launched a startup to replace traditional freight trains with autonomous, battery-powered railcars.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

A space film studio is launching into orbit in 2024

A new space module designed for the recording and livestreaming of movies and sporting events is expected to attach to the ISS in 2024.

Kristin Houser

Web 3.0 vs. the metaverse: What’s the difference?

Web 3.0 and the metaverse both describe the internet of the future, but they aren’t the same thing — this is your guide to each.

Kristin Houser

Surgery

Pig kidneys transplanted into body of brain-dead man

A brain-dead man was the recipient of two pig kidneys — a groundbreaking transplant that could help bring the organ shortage to an end.

Kristin Houser

Public Health

Beet juice “blood” is a potent way to kill mosquitoes

Molecular Attraction plans to kill mosquitoes transmitting malaria by tricking them into drinking beet juice “blood” laced with toxins.

Kristin Houser