Lauren Gravitz is a freelance writer and editor in Hershey, Pennsylvania, who covers health, medicine, science and the environment. Her stories have appeared in Nature, Aeon, The Economist, Technology Review, O, The Oprah Magazine and Discover, among others.
Lauren Gravitz
Freelance Writer
From this contributor
A brief history of precision self-scanning
When a researcher solved a logistical problem by going rogue, the idea proved remarkably infectious.
A brief history of precision self-scanning
By
Lauren Gravitz
21 January 2026 | 13 min read
At the intersection of autism and trauma
Autism and post-traumatic stress disorder share many traits, but the connection between them was largely overlooked until now.
Autism’s drug problem
Many people on the spectrum take multiple medications — which can lead to serious side effects and may not even be effective.
Lack of DNA modification creates hotspots for mutations
The absence of a chemical alteration called methylation on some stretches of DNA makes them especially prone to mutations, according to a paper published in PLoS Genetics in May.
Lack of DNA modification creates hotspots for mutations
By
Lauren Gravitz
28 June 2012 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Scientists push back against stricter European Research Council grant application rules
In an open letter, scientists call the ERC’s suggestion to block grant reapplications for an additional year “at odds with scientific excellence.”
Scientists push back against stricter European Research Council grant application rules
In an open letter, scientists call the ERC’s suggestion to block grant reapplications for an additional year “at odds with scientific excellence.”
By
Lauren Schenkman
29 April 2026 | 5 min read
New study questions role of persistent gene activity in memory maintenance
An experiment in sea slugs suggests transcriptional changes might fade after 24 hours.
New study questions role of persistent gene activity in memory maintenance
An experiment in sea slugs suggests transcriptional changes might fade after 24 hours.
By
Siddhant Pusdekar
28 April 2026 | 4 min read
Tracking health in autistic adults, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 April.
Tracking health in autistic adults, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 April.
By
Jill Adams
28 April 2026 | 2 min read