Jef Akst

Jef Akst

Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As managing editor, Jef edits the magazine’s Features and writes articles across the publication.

Articles by Jef Akst
Infographic: Research Questions to Be Tackled by Uterus Transplants
Infographic: Research Questions to Be Tackled by Uterus Transplants
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2021
Scientists are banking various samples from recipients of donated uteruses to learn all they can about the biology of the organ, and about transplantation more generally.
Study Looks for Effects of Fetal Exposure to Air Pollution
Study Looks for Effects of Fetal Exposure to Air Pollution
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2021
By measuring various pollutants in the immediate vicinity of pregnant women and tracking brain development of their children, researchers in Barcelona aim to untangle any influence the former has on the latter.
A New View of My Own Past
A New View of My Own Past
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2021
Hearing others’ perspectives on infertility and pregnancy has me reconsidering my own reproductive journey.
Uterus Transplants Hit the Clinic
Uterus Transplants Hit the Clinic
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2021
With human research trials resulting in dozens of successful deliveries in the US and abroad, doctors move toward offering the surgery clinically, while working to learn all they can about uterine and transplant biology from the still-rare procedure.
Biogen Defends Newly Approved Alzheimer’s Drug
Biogen Defends Newly Approved Alzheimer’s Drug
Jef Akst | Jul 27, 2021
The US Food and Drug Administration has called for a federal investigation of its own regulatory review process after widespread criticism of its decision on Aduhelm.
Pandemic Lockdown Eases Mountain Lions’ Fear of Urban Areas
Pandemic Lockdown Eases Mountain Lions’ Fear of Urban Areas
Jef Akst | Jul 2, 2021
Six GPS-tracked wild cats wandered closer to Santa Cruz, California, and surrounding towns as human activity died down under shelter-in-place orders last March.
Q&A: Human Challenge Studies of COVID-19 Underway in UK
Q&A: Human Challenge Studies of COVID-19 Underway in UK
Jef Akst | Jun 18, 2021
Researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford are exposing healthy volunteers to SARS-CoV-2 for science.
Survey Finds Lack of Diversity Among Journal Editors
Survey Finds Lack of Diversity Among Journal Editors
Jef Akst | Jun 14, 2021
Collecting data on the various races, sexual orientations, and gender identities of editors at 25 scientific and medical journals, researchers document the underrepresentation of minority groups.
Nearly Complete Human Genome Sequenced
Nearly Complete Human Genome Sequenced
Jef Akst | Jun 8, 2021
In a preprint, researchers fill in some of the holes left in the first draft of the human genetic code, published at the turn of the century.
Few Car Crashes with Deer in Wisconsin, Perhaps Thanks to Wolves
Few Car Crashes with Deer in Wisconsin, Perhaps Thanks to Wolves
Jef Akst | May 25, 2021
In areas where gray wolf populations have grown, motorists have fewer collisions with deer, likely due to the predators keeping deer away from roadways.