Science and society

Recent articles

A computer cursor hovers over distorted data.

Neuroscientists challenge NIH’s proposed human-data access policy

The changes would restrict the sharing of human neuroimaging, transcriptomic and genetic data.

By Claudia López Lloreda
17 March 2026 | 5 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Leucovorin, long-read sequencing, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 16 March.

By Jill Adams
17 March 2026 | 2 min read
Research figure depicting variation across the alpha subunit of the Nav1.2 sodium channel.

Portfolio of SCN2A gene variants, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 March.

By Jill Adams
10 March 2026 | 2 min read
Illustration of a sheet of paper with many holes punched out of it.

Let’s teach neuroscientists how to be thoughtful and fair reviewers

Blanco-Suárez revamped the traditional journal club by developing a course in which students peer review preprints alongside the published papers that evolved from them.

By Elena Blanco-Suárez
6 March 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of mice brains.

Autism in old age, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 March.

By Jill Adams
3 March 2026 | 1 min read
Two monkeys.

Two primate centers drop ‘primate’ from their name

The Washington and Tulane National Biomedical Research Centers—formerly called National Primate Research Centers—say they made the change to better reflect the breadth of research performed at the centers.

By Calli McMurray
26 February 2026 | 5 min read
Sam Wang.

Is there a neuroscientist in the House?

Sam Wang, a neuroscientist running for the U.S. House of Representatives, has been considering American democracy for decades.

By Lauren Schenkman
25 February 2026 | 7 min read
Research image of CHD3 protein levels in mice brains.

In-vivo base editing in a mouse model of autism, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 23 February.

By Jill Adams
24 February 2026 | 2 min read
Research image visualizing brain region connectivity in autistic girls compared to autistic boys.

New insights on sex bias in autism, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 16 February.

By Jill Adams
17 February 2026 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

DNA strand

Exon-skipping approach boosts levels of key Rett syndrome protein

Deleting a small region of the MECP2 gene partially restored function in neurons derived from people with Rett-associated variants.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
20 March 2026 | 5 min read
Collage with a portrait of Caitlin Vander Weele in the foreground.

Frameshift: How Caitlin Vander Weele made science communication her business

Her favorite part of research was talking about it. So she left academia and turned that passion into a successful company.

By Katie Moisse
19 March 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of senescing cells.

Signs of aging vary across brain cells

Senescence presents differently depending on the cell type, toxic trigger and neighboring cells, two new studies find.

By Claudia López Lloreda
18 March 2026 | 4 min read