Jess Hamzelou
jesshamzelou.bsky.social
Jess Hamzelou
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
Senior reporter at MIT Technology Review. Previously at New Scientist, Knight Science Journalism fellow '24. Health, biomed and biotech. She/her. Signal: jess_hamzelou.01
The Washington Post reports that Jim O'Neill will replace Susan Monarez as head of the CDC. O'Neill is a longevity enthusiast who has supported deregulation of drugs and the idea of creating new jurisdictions at sea. Here's my recent profile: www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1...
Meet Jim O’Neill, the longevity enthusiast who is now RFK Jr.’s right-hand man
The newest addition to Trump’s health agency wants to create new cities in the sea, extend human lifespan, and Make America Healthy Again.
www.technologyreview.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The world's "oldest baby" has just been born: a big welcome to the world to baby Thaddeus, who developed from an embryo that was in storage for 30 and a half years www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1...
Exclusive: A record-breaking baby has been born from an embryo that’s over 30 years old
The embryos were created in 1994, while the expectant father was still a toddler, and donated via a Christian “embryo adoption” agency.
www.technologyreview.com
July 29, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I'm thrilled to be a finalist for the NIHCM trade journalism award alongside so many amazing reporters whose work I really admire (hi @kakape.bsky.social and @jaredwhitlock.bsky.social !)

Thank you NIHCM!
nihcm.org/awards/trade...
Trade Journalism Award Finalists
Recognizing excellence in writing for a specialized audience
nihcm.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Montana just passed a bill that will allow clinics to sell experimental medical treatments

www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/14/1...
The first US hub for experimental medical treatments is coming
Montana just passed a new bill backed by longevity enthusiasts that will enable access to drugs and therapies that are not approved by the FDA.
www.technologyreview.com
May 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I met with Bryan Johnson recently. He told me about his plans to start a new religion where "the body is God" (and how it stems from his fears of an AI "event horizon") www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/05/1...
Bryan Johnson wants to start a new religion in which “the body is God”
The multimillionaire longevity influencer thinks his new faith could save humanity from superintelligent AI.
www.technologyreview.com
May 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
When Joyce Esser, who has motor neuron disease, used her AI voice clone to tell her husband to "get his arse in gear," she was temporarily banned from using it.

Should tech companies be screening or limiting what people like Joyce can say? www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/14/1...
A woman made her AI voice clone say “arse.” Then she got banned.
People with motor neuron disease should be allowed to say whatever they want, including “arse” and “knickers.”
www.technologyreview.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Motor neuron diseases can rob people of their voices. But AI is bringing them back. AI voice clones are helping people with MND communicate, and hear their old voices again.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/13/1...
Motor neuron diseases took their voices. AI is bringing them back.
AI-generated voice clones are bringing back the voices of people with MND, allowing some to communicate, connect, and even perform comedy routines.
www.technologyreview.com
February 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Humanlike "teeth" have been grown in mini pigs

Researchers mixed human and pig tooth cells and grew them in the lab, then implanted them into the jaws of living mini pigs. They formed little bioengineered teeth!

Goal is to make replacement teeth for ppl

www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/06/1...
Humanlike “teeth” have been grown in mini pigs
The toothlike structures represent a step toward bioengineered replacements for dental implants, say researchers behind the work.
www.technologyreview.com
February 6, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Scientists! Health professionals! If you and/or important research/programs are being affected by executive orders, memos and directives being issued under the new administration, please get in touch.

You can reach me securely via Signal at jess_hamzelou.01
February 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
We're creating more IVF embryos than ever, and millions of them are ending up frozen in suspended animation for years or decades.

Some will be used to start pregnancies, or donated for research. But many of them will be stuck in limbo. Indefinitely.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/13/1...
Inside the strange limbo facing millions of IVF embryos
Frozen embryos are filling storage banks around the world. It's a struggle to know what to do with them.
www.technologyreview.com
January 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Bird flu presents a "high threat with indeterminate risk," according to a public health specialist I spoke to this week. Flu viruses have a pretty horrific track record when it comes to pandemics.

In the US, H5N1 is spreading through dairy cows, there have been 66 cases confirmed in people...
January 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Jess Hamzelou
#ABSWawards

🎯 News Item of the Year
For a single news item published or broadcast in any medium. Examples include breaking news stories and first in-depth reports.
Enter now! 🔗 zurl.co/mcWto

@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
January 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Engineers can make computer models of your organs, and some doctors are already using them to decide which bits of people's hearts to burn off in surgery(!)

Everything you wanted to know about digital twins (the health ones!) here: www.technologyreview.com/2024/12/19/1...
Digital twins of human organs are here. They’re set to transform medical treatment.
The models can be used to plan surgeries and in the future could be used to help trial new drugs.
www.technologyreview.com
December 19, 2024 at 1:52 PM
Wow TIL this is what a mouse uterus looks like
December 16, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by Jess Hamzelou
Nominate someone to our 2025 list of Innovators Under 35
Every year, MIT Technology Review recognizes 35 young innovators who are doing pioneering work across a range of technical fields including biotechnology, materials science, AI, computing+more. 35innovators.secure-platform.com/a
December 3, 2024 at 5:17 PM
Bird flu is still spreading in the US. The virus is in 675 cattle herds (that we know of), and is showing up in dairy produce. There are 55 reported cases in people so far. And we still don't even know how the virus is spreading.

It's not looking great... www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/29/1...
The risk of a bird flu pandemic is rising
Human cases in the US are on the rise and the virus is turning up in cows and dairy products. Luckily, we have some vaccines ready to go if needed.
www.technologyreview.com
November 29, 2024 at 10:10 AM
It's ten years since the first birth following a uterus transplant. But since then, only around 135 transplants been performed. It's still a new procedure, and uteruses are a scarce resource. So who should get one? www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/22/1...
Who should get a uterus transplant? Experts aren’t sure.
Around 135 transplants have been performed, but it's probably too soon to offer the procedure to trans women.
www.technologyreview.com
November 22, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Fascinating piece by the brilliant @eileenguo.bsky.social about Clear, a company that is helping people in the US skip airport queues but wants to expand into other areas of daily life... in exchange for your face www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/20/1...
Inside Clear’s ambitions to manage your identity beyond the airport
The company that has helped millions of people cut security lines wants to give you a frictionless future—in exchange for your face.
www.technologyreview.com
November 20, 2024 at 4:52 PM
So I watched The Substance last week and feel pretty confident some of those images will be burned into my mind forever.

It got me thinking about the impacts of problematic thinking about women. Especially the use of the term "women of childbearing age" www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/15/1... 🧪
Why the term “women of childbearing age” is problematic
New movie The Substance showcases how women are thought about in terms of youth and fertility. That idea makes for bad research and health guidance.
www.technologyreview.com
November 18, 2024 at 11:19 AM