Katie Cottingham, Ph.D.

I'm a freelance science writer who shares the latest scientific breakthroughs with the public by turning complex concepts into engaging stories. I cover many areas of science, including biology, medicine, chemistry, and materials science.


2026: ASBPE Best Body of Work by a Freelance Journalist: National Finalist, 
Communicator Gold Excellence Award

2025: Communicator Gold Excellence Award, NFPW Second Place Award, 
ASJA Honorable Mention

‘Zombie’ senescent cells are a nightmare for skeletal muscle in aging and disease

“When you ask most older adults what their biggest fear is, it’s not dying — it’s loss of functional independence,” said Davis Englund, Ph.D., UAB assistant professor. “The field is shifting away from simply extending lifespan and toward prioritizing health span — developing strategies that help people remain disease-free, functional and independent as they age.”

Making AI and cybersecurity more accessible

With two centers focused on AI technology and cybersecurity, Morgan State University (MSU) is poised to level the playing field for students and users of the technology.

Voice-activated assistants turn on our lights, tell us the weather forecast, and remind us of our appointments. Large language models like ChatGPT can algorithmically compose poems and songs with a prompt just a few words long. And self-driving cars are getting closer to the marketplace every day.

But despite these benefits of

Immune Cells Digest Alzheimer's Plaques by Spitting Enzymes at Them

Immune cells in the brain called microglia can partially break down large amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease by latching on to them, forming a sort of external stomach and releasing digestive enzymes into the space, according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The findings could ultimately lead to therapies that boost the ability of microglia to break down amyloid plaques.