Contributor

Kristin Houser

Staff Writer

Contact

[email protected]

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.

a humanoid robot in front of a soccer goal about to kick a soccer ball

Robotics

UCLA’s humanoid soccer robot is headed to the “RoboCup”

A first-of-its-kind soccer robot built by researchers at UCLA is heading to France to compete in the annual RoboCup.

Kristin Houser

a tiny hollow tube made of shiny silver metal position on the tip of a finger

Medicine

Hollow “seed” shrinks cancerous tumors from the inside

A new drug delivery system for pancreatic tumors could dramatically decrease medication dosages, helping minimize unpleasant side effects.

Kristin Houser

an older woman smiling next to a person wearing a medical coat an stethoscope

Neuroscience

Dementia patients are “rallying” just before death. Scientists want to know why.

New research into terminal lucidity could revolutionize our understanding of dementia — and maybe even give us a way to reverse it.

Kristin Houser

A drone in the air with a missile-shaped capsule hanging from its underside

Drones

Watch a startup drop science experiments from 2,000 feet up

To help scientists conduct microgravity experiments, UK startup Gravitilab has developed a drone that drops them from high above the Earth.

Kristin Houser

a white coffin in the middle of a lush forest

Aging

Alternative funeral options are changing how we honor our dead

A small, yet growing number of people are starting to choose funeral options outside traditional burial or cremation.

Kristin Houser

an all-white, two-door car on a colorful background

Cars

This $11,000 microcar ships flat like IKEA furniture

Swedish mobility startup Luvly has unveiled an ultra-efficient $11,000 microcar, Luvly O, for urban transportation.

Kristin Houser

the words "Bethany is calling" projected onto a man's palm

Is this secretive device the “iPhone killer”?

Thanks to a leaked video from a TED presentation, we now have our first glimpse at secretive startup Humane’s wearable tech.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

Watch a rocket-powered spaceplane fly for the first time

After flying for the first time on March 29, Dawn Aerospace’s rocket-powered spaceplane, the Mk-II Aurora, flew again the very next day.

Kristin Houser

the massive SpaceX Starship rocket at the launchpad

Aerospace

First Starship launch ends with a massive explosion

During SpaceX’s first Starship launch attempt, the massive spacecraft made it off the pad, but exploded before reaching space.

Kristin Houser

a rendering of a base on the moon, with robots constructing buildings

Aerospace

China plans to build moon bases using robot masons and lunar dirt

China plans to start testing an ambitious plan to build moon bases using a robot mason and dirt bricks as soon as 2028.

Kristin Houser