Esther Landhuis

Freelance Writer

A former lab rat, Esther Landhuis is a California-based freelance journalist who writes about biomedicine and STEM diversity. Her stories have also appeared in Science News, Scientific American, NPR, Nature, Chemical & Engineering News and Undark.

All Stories by Esther Landhuis

  1. Health & Medicine

    Could a toothpaste help treat peanut allergy?

    By rolling an immune therapy into a toothbrushing routine, one company hopes to show its product can build and maintain tolerance to peanut allergens.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Urban pollution can pose unseen risks to kids’ immunity and more

    A trio of new studies links immune changes and high blood pressure to inhaling bad air.

  3. Brain

    Active bodies build stronger brains

    Aerobic fitness and physical activity correlate with widespread brain health in adolescents, according to a new imaging study in England.

  4. Brain

    A bit of stress may help young people build resilience

    A comfortable life may sound fun but may not be so healthy in the long run. A study in monkeys shows there may be a ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to stress.

  5. Brain

    Puberty may reboot the brain and behaviors

    Facing adversity early in life can hurt how children learn to deal with stress. Puberty can sometimes offer a chance to reset how the body responds to stress, returning it to normal.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: What is puberty?

    Puberty isn’t just a time for zits, breasts and deeper voices. It also spurs brain development that helps teens handle emotions and deal with stress.

  7. Math

    Lack of diversity in his field has troubled this mathematician

    As a kid, Edray Goins didn’t like math. But he fell in love with the subject in college and is now training the next generation of minority mathematicians.

  8. Health & Medicine

    This scientist wants to know how racial discrimination gets ‘under the skin’

    Racism could have derailed Leticia Márquez-Magaña’s path to science. Now she studies the biological impact of stress faced by underrepresented groups.

  9. Health & Medicine

    New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods

    Nearly 8 million U.S. children have food allergies, about two per classroom. The good news: Better ways to treat them are emerging.

  10. Health & Medicine

    Food allergies can trigger stress and anxiety

    From peanut-free lunch tables to unsympathetic relatives, food allergies can cause considerable stress for a kid. As they transition toward independence, parents and counselors can help.

  11. Health & Medicine

    Why can’t bugs be grub?

    Insects are tasty and nutritious, and raising them is good for the planet. So how can Westerners be convinced to give insects a taste?

  12. Health & Medicine

    Crickets for breakfast?

    In a small trial, levels of beneficial gut bacteria rose in young adults who ate a breakfast that included crickets every day for two weeks.