Devin A. Reese, PhD Author Profile | The Scientist Magazine®

Devin A. Reese, PhD

Devin A. Reese is a science writer based in Alexandria, Virginia. She has a bachelor's degree in ethology from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Devin moved from research to science communication via a Science and Diplomacy postdoctoral fellowship with AAAS. She is currently an Executive Editor of Natural History (magazine) and a regular freelance writer, including for Complexly, WWF, Cricket Media, A Pass Education, Virginia Master Naturalists, ESAL, and other science communication organizations. See Devin's work here: https://writers.work/devinareese

Person in a black, beaked robe (left) and man in a black tunic (right), flanking a red coat of arms

Masking Up, 1619 to Present

Devin A. Reese, PhD | Jul 5, 2022 | 3 min read

Putting on a mask to protect oneself and others against disease is nothing new, nor is resistance to mask-wearing, but mask designs have changed considerably from their first iterations.

A photo of a triple-negative breast cancer cell

A Fasting-Mimicking Diet Thwarts Breast Cancer in Mice

Devin A. Reese, PhD | Mar 1, 2022 | 2 min read

Coupling a diet low in calories, sugar, and protein with existing cancer drugs treats triple-negative breast cancer in mice, and low blood glucose is associated with better cancer outcomes in human patients.

Antibiotics Given to Moths Spur Upregulation of Growth Genes

Devin A. Reese, PhD | Mar 1, 2022 | 2 min read

A new study has identified a molecular tradeoff between growth and immunity in moths in response to the administration of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics, a common practice in animal husbandry.

The man-of-war fish (Nomeus gronovii), a species of medusafish, near the tentacles of a siphonophore.

Medusafishes Are Grouped by Shared, Odd Traits: Study

Devin A. Reese, PhD | Dec 1, 2021 | 2 min read

Shared features, such as thick, slimy skin and a throat filled with teeth, suggest that medusafishes are all related.