Olivia Gieger is a science reporter and was The Transmitter’s news reporting intern in the summer of 2024. She is completing her M.A. in journalism in New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. There, she has covered emergency medicine, conservation ecology and climate attribution science. Her work has appeared in Inside Climate News, Forbes and Scienceline.
Olivia Gieger
Former news reporting intern
The Transmitter
From this contributor
How neuroscience comics add KA-POW! to the field: Q&A with Kanaka Rajan
The artistic approach can help explain complex ideas frame by frame without diluting the science, Rajan says.
How neuroscience comics add KA-POW! to the field: Q&A with Kanaka Rajan
By
Olivia Gieger
9 October 2024 | 7 min read
Seeing research through a new lens: Q&A with Pei Yuan Zhang
When she’s not in the lab, the cognitive scientist films documentaries that challenge her love of data and order.
Seeing research through a new lens: Q&A with Pei Yuan Zhang
By
Olivia Gieger
20 September 2024 | 7 min read
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
By
Olivia Gieger
4 September 2024 | 6 min read
As circuits wire up, interneurons take cues from surrounding cells
The inhibitory cells’ development, diversity and abundance in the cortex is directed in part by pyramidal cells, a new preprint suggests.
As circuits wire up, interneurons take cues from surrounding cells
By
Olivia Gieger
14 August 2024 | 5 min read
Newly found circuit through visual cortex powers first look at faces
The superior colliculus, an evolutionarily ancient brain area responsible for eye movements, responds to faces before the canonical face areas do, a study of macaque monkeys suggests.
Newly found circuit through visual cortex powers first look at faces
By
Olivia Gieger
19 July 2024 | 5 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Autism and anxiety insights; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 15 September.
Autism and anxiety insights; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 15 September.
By
Jill Adams
16 September 2025 | 2 min read
First nerve-net connectome shows how evolutionarily ancient nervous system coordinates movement
The map of a comb jelly’s aboral nerve net, which helps the animal orient and position itself within the water column, reveals a unique system for sensing the world and coordinating movement.
First nerve-net connectome shows how evolutionarily ancient nervous system coordinates movement
The map of a comb jelly’s aboral nerve net, which helps the animal orient and position itself within the water column, reveals a unique system for sensing the world and coordinating movement.
By
Siddhant Pusdekar
16 September 2025 | 0 min watch
International scientific collaboration is more necessary—yet more challenging—than ever
These partnerships accelerate neuroscience by enabling researchers to share resources and expertise, as well as generate more relevant and reproducible results. But new federal funding restrictions in the United States are putting such collaborations in jeopardy.
International scientific collaboration is more necessary—yet more challenging—than ever
These partnerships accelerate neuroscience by enabling researchers to share resources and expertise, as well as generate more relevant and reproducible results. But new federal funding restrictions in the United States are putting such collaborations in jeopardy.
By
Lucina Q. Uddin
15 September 2025 | 6 min listen