Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky

Data Reporter

Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky analyzes data and writes data-driven news stories for Spectrum.

Prior to joining the Spectrum team, she covered health, science and general news for the Daily Beast, NBC News MACH, Gothamist and other publications. She has an M.A. from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, where she studied data journalism and health and science reporting.

From this contributor

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of proliferating neural cells.

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

By Holly Barker
8 July 2026 | 5 min read
Brain scans showing sex-based activation differences.

Brain’s sex differences are subtle and contradictory, large MRI study finds

Sex-based behavioral differences do not match with variations in brain activation or structure in a study of almost 1,000 people.

By Lauren Schenkman
8 July 2026 | 5 min read
Research image of autism-linked gene PTEN changes in neurons.

A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.

By Sarah Thau
7 July 2026 | 2 min read