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Kristen French

Kristen French is a senior editor at Nautilus. She has worked in science journalism since 2013, reporting and writing features and news for publications such as Wired, Backchannel, The Verge, and New York Magazine. She has a masters degree in science journalism from Columbia University.

What Grok and Claude Have to Say about the AI Apocalypse

A maniacal villain and a polite librarian on the risk that AI could end humanity

September 16, 2026

The Rhythm of Your Breath Leaves a Fingerprint on Your Thoughts

Subtle variations in the breath trace electrical signaling in the brain

September 16, 2026

How Your Brain See-Saws between Risk and Reward

Tough decisions get calculated from a spot right above the eyes involved in impulse control

September 15, 2026

The Promise and Peril of Toad Smoking, the Everest of Psychedelics

A conversation with author Kimon de Greef about his new book “The Ego Trip”

September 14, 2026

AI Engineers Are Having Their Oppenheimer “Destroyer of Worlds” Moment

A cascade of regret and apocalyptic short-term forecasts hit social media this week

September 10, 2026

What Bird Feeding Has to Do with Happiness

It might be good for the birds—and you

September 10, 2026

Does Consciousness Require a Body?

A conversation with neuroscientist and author Antonio Damasio about intelligence, feelings, and robots

September 9, 2026

Can Nature Benefit You If You’re Already Well?

A conversation with a neuroscientist about how nature can fortify the strong and support resilience

September 4, 2026

Envy at the Ballot Box

Majority voting may make us less willing to tolerate advantages for others

September 3, 2026

How Music Sparks Imagination

Songs are closely linked to narrative and language

September 2, 2026

Schizophrenia’s Cruel Roulette Wheel

Genetics and stress can combine in ways we don’t yet fully understand

September 1, 2026

How to Think About Thinking

A conversation with neuroscientist Adrian Owen about the importance of executive function

August 28, 2026