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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Single-neuron recordings zoom into ‘blurry map’ of human motor cortex
The motor cortex is organized into an "intermixed jumble of tiles" to generate meaningful movement.
Single-neuron recordings zoom into ‘blurry map’ of human motor cortex
The motor cortex is organized into an "intermixed jumble of tiles" to generate meaningful movement.
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Claudia López Lloreda
17 June 2026 | 5 min read
Exclusive: Neuroscience journal editor resigns over automation concerns
The editor resigned after the journal’s artificial-intelligence system overrode his selection of referees for a manuscript. His move prompted an internal review of the system.
Exclusive: Neuroscience journal editor resigns over automation concerns
The editor resigned after the journal’s artificial-intelligence system overrode his selection of referees for a manuscript. His move prompted an internal review of the system.
By
Dalmeet Singh Chawla
17 June 2026 | 5 min read
Are computational complexity principles relevant for explaining brain activity?
Cristopher Moore discusses the nature of computation and whether we should think of neural activity as computing.
Are computational complexity principles relevant for explaining brain activity?
Cristopher Moore discusses the nature of computation and whether we should think of neural activity as computing.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
17 June 2026 | 1 min read