Catherine Offord

After undergraduate research with spiders at the University of Oxford and graduate research with ants at Princeton University, Catherine left arthropods and academia to become a science journalist. She has worked in various guises at The Scientist since 2016. As Senior Editor, she wrote articles for the online and print publications, and edited the magazine’s Notebook, Careers, and Bio Business sections. She reports on subjects ranging from cellular and molecular biology to research misconduct and science policy. Find more of her work at her website.

Articles by Catherine Offord

Cross section of an organic cell with intracellular organelles

How Intracellular Bacteria Hijack Your Cells

Illustration showing how some intracellular bacteria, such as <em >Legionella pneumophila</em>, manipulate the cell&#39;s membranes for their own good

Infographic: Intracellular Bacteria’s Tricks for Host Manipulation 

Sather Gate on the University of California, Berkeley campus

Up to 48,000 University of California Academic Workers Go on Strike

Micrograph of influenza A virus and RSV

Flu/RSV Coinfection Produces Hybrid Virus that Evades Immune Defenses

Micrograph of kidney tissue from a mouse

Vesicles from Young Mice Alleviate Signs of Aging in Older Animals

Illustration of SARS-CoV-2

US Agency to Look into Project on Modified Coronavirus

Images from a novel brain imaging technique, DIANA

New MRI Technique Tracks Brain Activity at Millisecond Timescales

Hawaiian Bobtail squid

Symbiotic Organs: Extreme Intimacy with the Microbial World

Illustration of a Hawaiian Bobtail squid

Infographic: Symbiotic Organs Bring Hosts and Microbes Closer

Illustration of intestine containing pink microbes

Fungal DNA, Cells Found in Human Tumors

Temple University flag flying in front of a university building

Journals Investigate Possible Misconduct in Heart Research

Genetic knockout experiments reveal a role for the protein in forming and maintaining synapses between motor neurons and muscle fibers in mice.

Infographic: Vangl2 in Muscles Keeps Neuromuscular Junctions Organized

Neurons and muscle tissue

A Novel Player at the Neuromuscular Junction

Activists protest. Political riot sign banners, people holding protests placards and manifestation banner. Jobs activist strike, vegetarians meeting or feminist demonstration vector illustration

Unionization Efforts Pick Up Across US Universities

Small vaccine bottles on a conveyer belt

Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Omicron Boosters Get OK from the FDA

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Image of a woman in a microbiology lab whose hair is caught on fire from a Bunsen burner.
April 1, 2025, Issue 1

Bunsen Burners and Bad Hair Days

Lab safety rules dictate that one must tie back long hair. Rosemarie Hansen learned the hard way when an open flame turned her locks into a lesson.

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Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

Concept illustration of acoustic waves and ripples.

Comparing Analytical Solutions for High-Throughput Drug Discovery

Explore the tools available for studying histone modification.

Tools for Studying Histone Modification

An illustration of a colorful DNA molecule.

An Early Window into Biological Change and Disease Development

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