Natalia Mesa is a freelance journalist who writes about life and environmental sciences, health and technology. She has written for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Science and The Scientist. She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Washington and is based in Brooklyn.

Natalia Mesa
Science writer
From this contributor
Newly awarded NIH grants for neuroscience lag 77 percent behind previous nine-year average
Since President Donald Trump took office on 20 January, the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke and the National Institute of Mental Health have awarded one quarter as many new grants as during the same two-month period, on average, since 2016.

Newly awarded NIH grants for neuroscience lag 77 percent behind previous nine-year average
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Hessameddin Akhlaghpour outlines how RNA may implement universal computation
Could the brain’s computational abilities extend beyond neural networks to molecular mechanisms? Akhlaghpour describes how natural universal computation may have evolved via RNA mechanisms.
Hessameddin Akhlaghpour outlines how RNA may implement universal computation
Could the brain’s computational abilities extend beyond neural networks to molecular mechanisms? Akhlaghpour describes how natural universal computation may have evolved via RNA mechanisms.
Immune cell interlopers breach—and repair—brain barrier in mice
The choroid plexus, the protective network of blood vessels and epithelial cells that line the brain’s ventricles, recruits neutrophils and macrophages during inflammation, a new study shows.

Immune cell interlopers breach—and repair—brain barrier in mice
The choroid plexus, the protective network of blood vessels and epithelial cells that line the brain’s ventricles, recruits neutrophils and macrophages during inflammation, a new study shows.
Grace Hwang and Joe Monaco discuss the future of NeuroAI
Hwang and Monaco organized a recent workshop to hear from leaders in the field about how best to integrate NeuroAI research into the BRAIN Initiative.
Grace Hwang and Joe Monaco discuss the future of NeuroAI
Hwang and Monaco organized a recent workshop to hear from leaders in the field about how best to integrate NeuroAI research into the BRAIN Initiative.