Headshot of Peter Hess.

Peter Hess

Former news writer
Spectrum

Peter Hess was a reporter for Spectrum from 2019 to 2023, where he covered cannabinoids, autism prevalence, social hormones and other topics. Before joining Spectrum in 2019, he was associate science editor at Inverse, where he wrote and edited stories for a broad audience on a wide range of scientific topics, including drugs, evolution and environmental science. His work has also appeared in The Washington Post, New Scientist, Popular Science and Motherboard. Peter has an M.A. in science journalism from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. Find him on Twitter at @PeterNHess.

From this contributor

A young woman sleeps at home wearing a Dreem headband and surrounded by stuffed animals.
Spectrum Microphone

Capturing autism’s sleep problems with devices nearable and wearable

By Angie Voyles Askham, Peter Hess
6 June 2023 | 5 min read
A hand reaches from above to add a pill to a stack that is resting against the x-axis of a graph.
Spectrum

Going on Trial: Epidiolex for autism; arbaclofen tests; pain monitoring

By Peter Hess
30 May 2023 | 7 min read
Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele looks directly into the camera with a calm expression in a close up shot.
Spectrum Microphone

Swings and misses with Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele

By Peter Hess
30 May 2023 | 13 min read
Illustration of a watch with the face taken up by an MRI scan of a brain.
Spectrum

Ruth Carper: Imaging the aging brain in autistic adults

By Peter Hess
19 May 2023 | 7 min read
Research image of zebrafish forebrains.
Spectrum

Autism-related genes converge on microglia and dopamine in zebrafish

By Peter Hess
12 May 2023 | 4 min read

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Research image of brain cells involved with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) illuminated through genetic tools
Treatments

Allen Institute sets sights on treatments for five brain diseases

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By Calli McMurray
2 June 2026 | 5 min read
Illustration of spiny mouse.
Neuro’s ark

Learning why spiny mice play well with others

Aubrey Kelly studies the gregarious mammal to explore how the brain controls complex social behaviors “akin to friendship.”

By Hannah Thomasy
2 June 2026 | 5 min read
Research image of human thalamus.
Spectrum

Autism-linked genes expressed in thalamus make an impact, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 1 June.

By Jill Adams
2 June 2026 | 2 min read