abby olena

Abby Olena, PhD
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As a freelancer for The Scientist, Abby reports on new developments in life science for the website. She has a PhD from Vanderbilt University and got her start in science journalism as the Chicago Tribune’s AAAS Mass Media Fellow in 2013. Following a stint as an intern for The Scientist, Abby was a postdoc in science communication at Duke University, where she developed and taught courses to help scientists share their research. In addition to her work as a science journalist, she leads science writing and communication workshops and co-produces a conversational podcast. She is based in Alabama.

Articles by Abby Olena, PhD

A section of a mouse distal colon showing luminal contents with bacteria in magenta, the mucus lining (green) and the epithelial cell barrier of the gut (blue, right).

Mapping the Neighborhoods of the Gut Microbiome

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 7 min read

Photo of lab-grown chicken from Eat Just, Inc.

Cultured Meat Advances Toward the Market

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 8 min read

An illustration shows circular red blood cells running into a yellow cholesterol blockage in a transverse section of an artery on a blue and purple background

Genetic Variant Discovered in Amish Protects from Heart Disease

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

Illustration of an African lungfish encased in a cocoon, highlighting immune defense mechanisms during estivation.

Lungfish Cocoon: A Living Barrier Against Infection During Estivation

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 4 min read

Rounded red and green fluorescent cells are visible on a light and dark gray background

Neurons Firing Together Generate Spontaneous Pain

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 4 min read

A black and brown ant stands over various sizes of whitish purple, oval shaped larvae and yellow, oblong eggs

A Single Transcription Factor Changes Ants to Queens

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

An artist's rendition of an RNA molecule in light blue on a dark blue background

Same RNA Acts in Neurodegeneration and Cancer

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

Red blood cells are pictured in grayscale on a gray background

Red Blood Cells Activate Innate Immune System

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 4 min read

The head of a tadpole is pictured. Its eye is black, but the rest of its head is various shades of green

Scientists Use Photosynthesis to Power an Animal’s Brain

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

A brown tick is shown from above as it climbs a green blade of grass

Bacterial Symbionts Tell Ticks When to Eat

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

A view of the nucleus of a cell with DNA in blue, RNA in pink, and associated proteins in yellow and purple

DNA Methylation Influences Replication and Genome Organization

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 3 min read

One white mouse with red eyes runs on a blue exercise wheel, while another mouse stands with front paws on the wheel

Serious Infections Linked to Autism: Study

By Abby Olena, PhD | | 5 min read

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August 2026 Digest cover

August 2026

Epic Fail: Sea-Monkeys Sabotage Fieldwork

When Barry Hicks set out to photograph thrombolites, thousands of unexpected visitors photobombed his underwater images.

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Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance in Liver Cancer

Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance in Liver Cancer

Explore emerging mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and how combination immunotherapy strategies may improve antitumor immune responses and patient-specific treatment approaches.

Optimizing NGS Library Preparation for Reliable Sequencing Data

Optimizing NGS Library Preparation for Reliable Sequencing Data

Learn practical strategies for optimizing sample preparation, fragmentation, library construction, and quality control to generate high-quality next-generation sequencing (NGS) data across a range of sample types.

Using TCR Repertoire Sequencing to Advance Immunology Research

Using TCR Repertoire Sequencing to Advance Immunology Research

Learn how bulk T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire sequencing can reveal clonotype diversity, support immune monitoring, and generate biological insights for translational immunology and biomarker discovery.

Mapping Clonal Mosaicism in Aging Tissues

Mapping Clonal Mosaicism in Aging Tissues

Explore how single-cell genotype-to-phenotype mapping can reveal clonal architecture and the functional consequences of somatic mutations in aging human tissues.

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This release expands on Sino Biological's comprehensive Tau protein product portfolio, designed to accelerate neurodegenerative disease research.

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Resipher: Continuous Live-Cell Mitochondrial Respiration Monitoring in 96-Well Plates

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