2016: Year in review

Recent articles

The best depictions of autism in the arts

The books, shows and movies that most accurately portray autism are those that don’t dwell on the condition.

By Spectrum
26 December 2016 | 6 min read

Spectrum of color: Our favorite photos from 2016

Peruse our picks for the best science photos published on Spectrum this year.

By Spectrum
26 December 2016 | 2 min read

Quotes of the year

We took note of our favorite quotes from articles we published this year.

By Spectrum
26 December 2016 | 3 min read

2016’s spectrum of autism science

It’s been an eventful year, full of surprises.

By Spectrum
26 December 2016 | 4 min read

Young woman with autism asks: ‘Am I so different?’

A college student on the spectrum reflects on her struggles relating to others and gaining independence — and on the people who have given her hope.

By Claire Bachman
26 December 2016 | 5 min read
Illustration: A child looks up at an overhead light while less saturated figures walk around her.

For autism researchers, mundane moments spark ‘Eureka’ insights

Autism researchers reflect on the unusual episodes that spawned significant scientific projects.

By Ann Griswold
26 December 2016 | 5 min read
Heavy pill on scale

Hot topics of 2016

These five trending topics hint at important discoveries to come.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
26 December 2016 | 5 min read

Notable papers of 2016

Our picks for the top 10 papers of the year highlight leaps in our understanding of autism, as well as lingering gaps.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
26 December 2016 | 4 min read

From temperature to toys, strange stimuli skew rodent results

Interpreting mouse and rat behavior is tricky because of the hidden factors that can influence experiments.

By Jessica Wright
26 December 2016 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustration of a leaking pipe.

Securing the academic pipeline amid uncertain U.S. funding climate

Finding creative ways to keep early-career researchers in academia—for example, through part-time roles—can help the field weather the storm.

By Lucina Q. Uddin
9 March 2026 | 4 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
Megaphone with many different shapes and textures emanating from it.

New autism committee positions itself as science-backed alternative to government group

The Independent Autism Coordinating Committee plans to meet at the same time as the U.S. federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee later this month—and offer its own research agenda.

By Angie Voyles Askham
5 March 2026 | 5 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.