“Brains in a dish” move out of science fiction and into the lab
Growing brain-like tissues in cell culture lets scientists study neurodevelopment.
Roheeni Saxena
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Roheeni Saxena
Science Correspondent
roheeni.explains.science@gmail.com
Roheeni is a Science Correspondent writing for Ars Technica. She received her MPH from Columbia University’s School of Public Health, where she also served as Associate Director of Educational Programs. Previously, Roheeni conducted research at the Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience at the National Institutes of Mental Health, and at the Behavioral Genetics Laboratory at Harvard Medical School. Roheeni is currently pursuing a PhD in neurotoxicology at Columbia, where she investigates the effects of environmental exposures on the brain.
Recent stories by
Roheeni Saxena
Undeveloped microbiomes make infants more prone to illness
Undeveloped immune systems are not the only culprit in infants’ susceptibility.
Roheeni Saxena
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Toxic algae on the rise as our oceans warm
The rapidly warming Atlantic sees a big boost in toxic algae.
Roheeni Saxena
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78
Dietary fats make worms live almost 50% longer—no human results yet
No studies in humans yet, but plant-based diets are definitely healthier anyway.
Roheeni Saxena
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72
Liberal and conservative book buyers like different kinds of science
Does this mean anything? Only that we read science that reinforces our beliefs.
Roheeni Saxena
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83
Government funding’s impact three times larger than we thought
Traditional metrics for patent impact of NIH grants misses their full contribution.
Roheeni Saxena
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STEM Workforce is aging, leaving few positions for new scientists
Scientists are getting their PhDs later, retiring at lower rates.
Roheeni Saxena
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124
Most common cells in the brain help us anticipate rewards
Anticipating and evaluating rewards requires specialized neurons.
Roheeni Saxena
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Low levels of simple chemical associated with aging, DNA damage
Treatment with a simple chemical restores DNA repair to aging mice.
Roheeni Saxena
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Simple dietary supplement may help block postpartum blues
Blueberry extract and amino acid supplements may prevent postpartum depression.
Roheeni Saxena
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Brain scanning may sort intentional crimes from reckless crimes
But it only works if you’re monitoring a brain while the crime’s taking place.
Roheeni Saxena
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The social media “echo chamber” is real
Active social media users are self-segregated and polarized in news consumption.
Roheeni Saxena
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233
Longer heat waves, heavier smog go hand in hand with climate change
Pollution and extreme temperatures go hand in hand.
Roheeni Saxena
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53
In the US, added wildfires due to carelessness, not just climate change
Humans start fire when lightning wouldn’t, making for a much longer risk season.
Roheeni Saxena
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57
Neurons recall place-related memories if you just get close
Get anxious every time you drive by your high school? Blame hippocampal neurons.
Roheeni Saxena
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Same-sex marriage linked to decline in teen suicides
States that legalized gay marriage early created a natural experiment.
Roheeni Saxena
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174
New malaria vaccine is fully effective in very small clinical trial
We may finally be getting somewhere in our fight against the disease.
Roheeni Saxena
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40 years of data show immigration decreases or stabilizes crime rates
When the number of immigrants goes up, violent crime goes down.
Roheeni Saxena
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258
Zika crosses the placenta by latching on to fetal blood vessels
Another step toward understanding why the virus causes microcephaly.
Roheeni Saxena
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We now know why mosquitoes find malaria victims so tasty
A single molecule, made by malarial parasites, draws mosquitos to infected humans.
Roheeni Saxena
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40
How well do vaccines work? New technique offers greater insight
“Synthetic controls” give health researchers a better statistical tool.
Roheeni Saxena
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45
Shootings at school follow trends in the unemployment rate
A comprehensive database of events lets researchers explore potential causes.
Roheeni Saxena
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69
Authors, editors aren’t asking women to peer review as often
Female geoscientists aren’t as much of a part of the peer review process.
Roheeni Saxena
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Jet lag hits for power against major league ballplayers
Going two time zones east or more seemed to have an effect, mostly on home teams.
Roheeni Saxena
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Interventions with parents push kids to pursue science classes
If parents know STEM careers are a good option, their kids focus more on STEM.
Roheeni Saxena
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48
The brain uses REM sleep to cut unneeded connections
REM sleep critical for brain development and memory consolidation.
Roheeni Saxena
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32
Seeing the poor cuts support for a tax on the rich
Visual reminders of poverty do not make make people more sympathetic to the poor.
Roheeni Saxena
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550
Deaf people use their auditory cortex to process visual rhythms
Brains of the deaf seeing rhythmic lights look like others’ listening to rhythms.
Roheeni Saxena
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Brain regions used for recognizing things change with age
As we learn more things to recognize, some brain regions get bigger; others shrink.
Roheeni Saxena
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Obesity-linked genetic variant changes brain’s response to food cues
Genetic predisposition to obesity causes changes even in normal-weight children.
Roheeni Saxena
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102
Early childhood risk factors predict adult economic burden
Intervene on poverty, maltreatment, low IQ, or self-control to improve outcomes.
Roheeni Saxena
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106
Fasting blocks a specific leukemia in mice
Fasting stops development of early stage leukemia, reverses mid-stage disease.
Roheeni Saxena
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“Pregnancy brain” means reductions in gray matter for new mothers
Bundle of joy comes with long-term changes to mom’s brain structure.
Roheeni Saxena
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61
New tumor target strategy halts human cancer in up to 90% of mice
Using a similar treatment in humans may be effective at fighting cancer.
Roheeni Saxena
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42
Personality traits genetically linked to psychiatric diseases
Extraversion linked to ADHD. Neuroticism linked to schizophrenia.
Roheeni Saxena
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41
Practice tests help you remember—even if you don’t check if you’re correct
Re-reading study guides is not nearly as helpful.
Roheeni Saxena
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