Shafaq Zia is a science journalist and a graduate student in the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Previously, she was a reporting intern at STAT, covering the COVID-19 pandemic and the latest research in health technology.
Shafaq Zia
From this contributor
Spotted around the web: COVID-19 during pregnancy, sleep problems, eugenics
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 6 June.
Spotted around the web: COVID-19 during pregnancy, sleep problems, eugenics
By
Jill Adams, Angie Voyles Askham, Peter Hess, Shafaq Zia
10 June 2022 | 3 min read
New resource tracks genetic variations in Han Chinese populations
An online database called NyuWa catalogs genetic variations among nearly 3,000 individuals and provides a comprehensive reference genome for the Han people.
New resource tracks genetic variations in Han Chinese populations
By
Shafaq Zia
9 December 2021 | 3 min read
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A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.
A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.
By
Sarah Thau
7 July 2026 | 2 min read
‘Completely new learning mechanism’ drives navigation in fruit flies
The neuromodulator octopamine, the insect counterpart to norepinephrine, helps flies get their bearings in an unfamiliar environment.
‘Completely new learning mechanism’ drives navigation in fruit flies
The neuromodulator octopamine, the insect counterpart to norepinephrine, helps flies get their bearings in an unfamiliar environment.
By
Natalia Mesa
7 July 2026 | 0 min watch
How to use artificial intelligence to strengthen scientific processes and scholarly output
As AI-driven systems are integrated into all aspects of science, we need to make sure that they read and write to a shared data and knowledge space.
How to use artificial intelligence to strengthen scientific processes and scholarly output
As AI-driven systems are integrated into all aspects of science, we need to make sure that they read and write to a shared data and knowledge space.
By
Satrajit Ghosh
6 July 2026 | 5 min read