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.
Peter Hess
Former news writer
Spectrum
From this contributor
Capturing autism’s sleep problems with devices nearable and wearable
Next-generation trackers could realize a long-standing research dream: conducting sleep studies in large numbers of autistic people.
Capturing autism’s sleep problems with devices nearable and wearable
By
Angie Voyles Askham, Peter Hess
6 June 2023 | 9 min read
Going on Trial: Epidiolex for autism; arbaclofen tests; pain monitoring
This month’s issue of Going on Trial takes a sneak peek at some early null results from a small trial of a cannabidiol-based drug for autism, among other recent drug developments.
Going on Trial: Epidiolex for autism; arbaclofen tests; pain monitoring
By
Peter Hess
30 May 2023 | 7 min read
Swings and misses with Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
A careful clinician who prizes evidence, Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele is happy to embrace trial failures, as long as he learns from them.
Ruth Carper: Imaging the aging brain in autistic adults
Few studies have tracked how brain structure and function change across adulthood in people with autism. Carper and her colleagues are collecting data to fill this gap.
Ruth Carper: Imaging the aging brain in autistic adults
By
Peter Hess
19 May 2023 | 7 min read
Autism-related genes converge on microglia and dopamine in zebrafish
The findings add to the growing evidence that genes with disparate functions can play similar roles in brain development.
Autism-related genes converge on microglia and dopamine in zebrafish
By
Peter Hess
12 May 2023 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Are Brains and AI Converging?—an excerpt from ‘ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution’
In his new book, to be published next week, computational neuroscience pioneer Sejnowski tackles debates about AI’s capacity to mirror cognitive processes.
Are Brains and AI Converging?—an excerpt from ‘ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution’
In his new book, to be published next week, computational neuroscience pioneer Sejnowski tackles debates about AI’s capacity to mirror cognitive processes.
By
Terrence Sejnowski
21 October 2024 | 12 min read
New tissue-clearing techniques let microscopes peer deeper into living brains
Washing mouse brain tissue with a blood protein or complex sugar can illuminate cells 550 micrometers into the cortex without compromising its normal physiology.
New tissue-clearing techniques let microscopes peer deeper into living brains
Washing mouse brain tissue with a blood protein or complex sugar can illuminate cells 550 micrometers into the cortex without compromising its normal physiology.
By
Calli McMurray
18 October 2024 | 0 min watch
New catalog charts familial ties from autism to 90 other conditions
The research tool reveals associations stretching across three generations.
New catalog charts familial ties from autism to 90 other conditions
The research tool reveals associations stretching across three generations.
By
Charles Q. Choi
17 October 2024 | 4 min read