 this research investigated the effects of environmental factors on human neural progenitor cells. The researchers used a fractional factorial experimental design, FFED, which allows for simultaneous testing of multiple environmental factors and their combinations. They found that certain environmental factors, such as lead and phlaksitin, had distinct effects on the cell's gene expression levels. Additionally, they observed that phlaksitin increased the production of fatty acids, which was confirmed through mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. This study provides valuable insight into how environmental factors may contribute to autism spectrum disorders. This article was authored by Abhishek Arora, Martin Becker, Keisha Marquez, and others.