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.

Agriculture

Supermarket uses hydroponic farm to grow veggies onsite

By installing a hydroponic farm inside a grocery store, an Egyptian company is combating climate change while delivering a fresher product.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

Merck pays Moderna $250m for personalized cancer vaccine

Pharma giant Merck has paid Moderna $250 million to co-develop and commercialize its promising mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

The US is researching ways to block the sun

The US is developing a plan to study solar geoengineering, a controversial approach to combatting the effects of climate change.

Kristin Houser

Aerospace

SpaceX announces Starlink Aviation service for planes

SpaceX is launching Starlink Aviation, a new service that will make its satellite internet network available on airplanes.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

New motionless tech harnesses wind energy from rooftops

Aeromine Technologies’ motionless wind energy system promises to increase the amount of renewable energy generated from rooftops.

Kristin Houser

Astronomy

Astronomers unveil world’s largest digital camera

In 2024, the LSST Camera will begin a 10-year-long survey of space that could revolutionize astronomy — if LEOsats don’t get in the way.

Kristin Houser

Biology

Five-minute breathing exercise can lower blood pressure

A simple breathing exercise called IMST can lower blood pressure as effectively as meds or aerobic exercise when done for five minutes a day.

Kristin Houser

Robotics

Farming robot kills 200,000 weeds per hour with lasers

Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder is a smart farming robot that identifies weeds and then kills them using high-power lasers.

Kristin Houser

New VR app lets you step inside your smartphone videos

Early-stage startup Wist Labs is developing a VR app that converts smartphone clips into 3D videos users can step inside.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

New vaccine prevents 94% of severe RSV cases

UK drugmaker GSK’s RSV vaccine was nearly 95% effective at preventing severe infection in a phase 3 trial of older adults.

Kristin Houser