Isabel Ruehl is a former editorial intern at Spectrum. She recently graduated from Columbia Journalism School and, before that, earned an M.Phil. in Health, Medicine and Society from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Isabel Ruehl
Former news intern
Spectrum
From this contributor
‘Science working as it should’: Autism blood signature study earns open post-publication review
Shortly after the study’s publication, experts critiqued it on PubPeer and other online platforms.
‘Science working as it should’: Autism blood signature study earns open post-publication review
By
Isabel Ruehl
10 January 2023 | 5 min read
Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
A massive update to the MSSNG dataset gives qualified researchers ready access to explore autism’s genetic architecture on a cloud-based platform.
Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
By
Isabel Ruehl
12 December 2022 | 4 min read
Autism incidence in England varies by ethnicity, class, location
High rates of autism are linked to lower socioeconomic status and minority ethnic groups, according to the largest-ever autism incidence study.
Autism incidence in England varies by ethnicity, class, location
By
Isabel Ruehl
6 December 2022 | 5 min read
‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development
The model enables the study of autism-linked genes at the earliest stages of neural development.
‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development
By
Isabel Ruehl
30 November 2022 | 4 min read
Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships
The developmental models have advantages over natural embryos and other synthetic models, such as organoids, but present technical and ethical challenges.
Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships
By
Isabel Ruehl
26 October 2022 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Brain registers spatial location outside hippocampus
A more complex picture of how an animal’s brain tracks its location is starting to emerge.
Brain registers spatial location outside hippocampus
A more complex picture of how an animal’s brain tracks its location is starting to emerge.
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Natalia Mesa
5 November 2026 | 1 min watch
The three-banded panther worm is rewriting the story of brain evolution
The animal has a brain structure all its own, according to a 2026 preprint. The finding hints that brains could have evolved centralization before regionalization.
The three-banded panther worm is rewriting the story of brain evolution
The animal has a brain structure all its own, according to a 2026 preprint. The finding hints that brains could have evolved centralization before regionalization.
By
Sarah DeWeerdt
4 November 2026 | 7 min read
Does cognition happen in brain areas or between them?
Michael Cole explains how "brain flows" are the fundamental units of brain function and cognition.
Does cognition happen in brain areas or between them?
Michael Cole explains how "brain flows" are the fundamental units of brain function and cognition.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
4 November 2026 | 1 min read