Biotech
Human history has been all but defined by death and disease, plague and pandemic. Advancements in 20th century medicine changed all of that. Now advancements in 21st century medicine promise to go even further. Could we bring about an end to disease? Reverse aging? Give hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind? The answer may be yes. And soon.
Featured
Are microplastics really destroying our health?
Scientists still don’t know how microplastics impact human health, but they do have ideas for stopping their spread.
The exciting research that may cure Parkinson’s
GeneCode is developing a drug it hopes won’t just alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms but also protect and restore patient’s neural health.
This $400 genetic test could save your life
Nucleus Genomics’ new whole genome sequencing and analysis service promises to reveal the secrets hidden in your DNA.
Psychedelics & Mental Health
AI chatbots may ease the world’s loneliness (if they don’t make it worse)
AI chatbots may have certain advantages when roleplaying as our friends. They may also come with downsides that make our loneliness worse.
Beyond screen time: Rethinking kids’ tech use with the “Goldilocks hypothesis”
The “Goldilocks hypothesis” asks parents to think beyond screen time and consider the habits that teens build around technology use.
Potato chips or heroin? The debate on social media and mental health
Experts disagree on whether social media causes mental health issues in adolescents despite looking at the same data. Here’s why.
Biohacking
Boosted Breeding and beyond: 3 tech trends that could end world hunger
A world without hunger is possible, and the development and deployment of new farming technologies could be one key to manifesting it.
New AI generates CRISPR proteins unlike any seen in nature
An AI that generates CRISPR proteins is opening the door to gene editors with capabilities beyond what we’ve found in nature.
The threat of avian flu — and what we can do to stop it
Avian flu is infecting cows on US dairy farms, and now a person has caught it — but new research could help us avoid a bird flu pandemic.
Ray Kurzweil explains how AI makes radical life extension possible
Life expectancy gains in developed countries have slowed in recent decades, but AI may be poised to transform medicine as we know it.
Vaccines
Personalized cancer vaccines are having a moment
Personalized cancer vaccines were a recurring theme at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in 2024.
One shot recreates younger immune systems, in mice
An antibody treatment designed to revitalize an aging immune system delivers “surprising” results in elderly mice.
A protein found in human sweat may protect against Lyme disease
Human sweat contains a protein that may protect against Lyme disease, according to a study from MIT and the University of Helsinki.
More
New evidence of memory consolidation while we sleep
Thanks to brain implants, scientists have the first direct evidence of “offline replay” in humans, a process thought to be key to memory consolidation.
The truth about coronavirus mutations and more COVID-19 updates
In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.
Ultraviolet cleaning robots kill coronavirus at US airport
Pittsburgh International Airport is using cleaning robots modified with ultraviolet light fixtures in an effort to kill the coronavirus.
The DIY heroes of the pandemic
Volunteers delivering meals to hospital workers, the 100-year-old man fundraising millions, and more inspiring stories in our weekly Progress Report.
Microbe in mosquito guts completely blocks malaria parasite
Scientists have discovered a microbe in the guts of mosquitoes that appears to prevent the most common malaria parasite from infecting the insects.
Bioengineered blood soaks up toxins inside the body
Tiny sponges that look and act like red blood cells remove toxins from the body.
Computer scientists build new tool to fight coronavirus
Computer scientists are using AI and text mining to sort through thousands of coronavirus research papers that could help fight the disease.
Cheap CRISPR-based coronavirus test delivers fast results
Scientists have unveiled STOPCovid, a CRISPR-based coronavirus test that avoids many of the shortcomings of existing diagnostic tests.
Scientists use CRISPR to reverse diabetes in mice
Scientists have used CRISPR to correct a diabetes-causing mutation in stem cells and then use those cells to reverse diabetes in mice.
COVID’s unique challenge for the Navajo nation
With a lack of access to running water and other resources, the Navajo Nation faces a tough challenge in COVID-19. But the Diné are fighting back.
Newly discovered coronavirus antibody blocks infection in cell cultures
A newly discovered coronavirus antibody produced using mice was able to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting cells in the lab.
CRISPR virus detection tool can test you for 169 viruses at once
A new virus detection tool can simultaneously test more than 1,000 patients for a virus — a capability that could prove invaluable during an outbreak.
CBD slows growth of brain cancer cells in a Petri dish
The cannabis compound CBD can slow the growth of brain cancer cells, but it’s a long way from a new cancer treatment.
Will the coronavirus end in the summer?
Will the coronavirus end in the summer as a result of warmer temperatures? The public is hopeful, but here’s what the experts say.
Researchers are rushing to freeze… lab mice sperm?
With their labs closing and the future unclear, researchers are sending precious cargo — the sperm of lab mice — to be frozen and stored.
A proposal to infect volunteers, the race to a vaccine, and more COVID-19 updates
In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.
Reading your digital signature to detect depression, Parkinson’s
Digital phenotyping uses our smartphones to detect anything from Parkinson’s disease to mental health disorders.
New VR system uses strings to provide haptic feedback
Wireality is a new device that provides haptic feedback for someone using a VR system by pulling on their fingers and wrist with a series of strings.
Where can you get tested for the coronavirus?
Everything you need to know to get tested for the coronavirus, including COVID-19 testing requirements and resources to help you find testing sites.
Why the MLB antibody study matters
10,000 MLB employees, from players to concession stand attendees, are volunteering to help scientists study how COVID-19 has spread throughout the country.
Special Collection
Collection
The Science of Death
Explore the journey from life to death and beyond. Near-death experiences, death doulas, digital immortality, and more – join us for a thoughtful exploration of one life’s most intriguing and inevitable phenomena with stories from the frontlines of death.
Subscribe to the newsletter