2022: Year in review

Recent articles

Large graphic numerals 40 in black on white.

40 under 40

In 2022, we asked our profile subjects and sources to flag rising stars in their labs or among their former students. The result is this list of 40 young researchers who are working on autism-related science across the globe.

By Spectrum
22 December 2022 | 4 min read
A transplanted human organoid labeled with a fluorescent protein in a section of the rat brain.

Hot topics in autism research in 2022

This year saw the debut of ever-more complex techniques to grow and analyze brain organoids and other 3D tissue cultures, among other advances.

By Spectrum
22 December 2022 | 6 min read
Two globe and chat bubble hybrids overlap against a blue background.

Autism researchers’ top tweets in 2022

Social media chatter this past year took up a mysterious gene region, the brain’s physical geometry and other topics related to the advancement of autism science.

By Michael Fergenson
22 December 2022 | 6 min read
Illustration of a brain with geometric figures inside of it.

Top conferences of 2023

Track some of the major autism science meetings next year on our timeline, and tell us which ones you plan to attend.

By Spectrum
22 December 2022 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Piggy bank with blindfold.

Future remains uncertain for U.S. federal funding of behavioral, cognitive science

The National Science Foundation did not include any solicitations for its social, behavioral and economic sciences directorate in its latest round of funding opportunities, nor replace any outgoing program officers—which poses an existential threat for the program, says nonprofit executive Wendy Naus.

By Calli McMurray
26 August 2026 | 5 min read

How energy determines where proteins are produced in neurons

Tatjana Tchumatchenko explains how mathematical modeling elucidates whether ion-channel proteins are produced locally in the soma or in the dendrites.

By Gaute Einevoll
26 August 2026 | 104 min listen
A brown mouse between a red cube and blue cylinder looks curiously at the top of the cylinder, standing on hind legs.

Wouldn’t you like to know? A mouse would

Mice seek information for curiosity’s sake—and their desire for knowledge versus a payout is represented distinctly in the brain, new findings suggest.

By Sarah Thau
26 August 2026 | 5 min read