2018: Year in Review

Recent articles

DNA helix shows blue spots as mutations.

Five hot topics in autism research in 2018

This year, researchers made big headway on autism’s most perplexing questions.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 5 min read
Illustration of empty text bubbles.

Quotes of the year

In our favorite quotes from stories we published this year, researchers talk about where to store your marijuana for research, the significance of mouse-butt sniffing and the secret to productivity.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 2 min read
A drawing shows the word 'autism' formed of loose letters under a magnifying glass.

A decade of Spectrum

It’s been 10 years since Spectrum — well, one version of Spectrum — launched. Fittingly, in this anniversary year, we made forays into new territory.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 3 min read
Illustration of profiles with brains of different colors.

In case you missed it: Five Spectrum stories from 2018

Spectrum's editors chose five stories from 2018 you may have missed the first time around.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 3 min read
whimsical machine takes in various data and spits out an organized version on the other end

Notable papers in autism research in 2018

This year's list of top papers highlights new dimensions in our understanding of autism genetics and hints at novel treatments.

By Spectrum
21 December 2018 | 4 min read

Science serves up inspiration for Katie Carey’s whimsical artwork

Katie Carey, who has illustrated several Spectrum articles, reveals her creative process and her strategies for pushing past mental blocks.

By Rebecca Horne
21 December 2018 | 6 min read
A man walks up a decrepit staircase in his neighborhood in Lima, Peru.

In Peru, novel program paves the way for autistic people’s employment

At a center in Lima, Peru, people with autism learn to identify their strengths and find jobs that play to those strengths.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
21 December 2018 | 7 min read

Pitch your thesis: Big questions drive autism research

Early-career autism researchers record 'elevator pitches' of their projects.

By Claire Cameron
21 December 2018 | 8 min watch
Woman looking into mirror sees words and fragmented reflection.

Why adults need an easier path to autism diagnosis

Getting an autism diagnosis can be difficult for many adults, due to the dearth of reliable tests, high costs and bureaucracy.

By Sara Luterman
18 December 2018 | 6 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Photograph of a real bird looking at a model bird.

Robots marry natural neuroscience, experimental control to probe animal interactions

Faux fish and birds are helping researchers decipher some of the rules that govern schooling and squawking, among other social behaviors.

By Calli McMurray
19 September 2025 | 7 min read
Research image visualizing genetic variation.

Long-read sequencing unearths overlooked autism-linked variants

Strips that are thousands of base pairs in length offer better resolution of structural variants and tandem repeats, according to two independent preprints.

By Natalia Mesa
18 September 2025 | 6 min read
Collage of images of mice in lab settings.

Competition seeks new algorithms to classify social behavior in animals

The winner of the competition, which launched today and tests contestants’ models head to head, is set to take home $20,000, according to co-organizer Ann Kennedy.

By Angie Voyles Askham
18 September 2025 | 6 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.