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

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Research image of mice microglia.

Single-gene systems-level effects, and more

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By Jill Adams
7 April 2026 | 2 min read
Book cover of The Brain, In Theory by Romain Brette.

‘The Brain, In Theory,’ an excerpt

In his new book, Brette pushes back against theories that describe the brain as a “biological computer.” In this excerpt from Chapter 4, he challenges equating brain evolution with programming, and the universality of neural network models.

By Romain Brette
7 April 2026 | 5 min read
Kieth Hengen looks through a small window, aligning his face with a fancy moustache sticker and rolling his eyes comically to the side.

Computational neuroscientist Keith Hengen explains his work through illustrations

The images help him communicate the “big-picture ideas” behind the mathematical principles of neuronal networks.

By Helena Kudiabor
7 April 2026 | 3 min read