Health

The future of fertility, from artificial wombs to AI-assisted IVF

A look back at the history of infertility treatments and ahead to the tech that could change everything we thought we knew about reproduction.

Kristin Houser

Overlay of hands and abstract patterns in purple and blue tones, symbolizing hope for Parkinson's cure.

Drugs

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.

Kevin Dickinson

A child sitting on a couch in a dimly lit room, holding and looking intently at a tablet, as if testing the Goldilocks hypothesis for the perfect screen brightness.

Mental Health

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.

Kevin Dickinson

Surgery

This adjustable heart valve would grow as a child ages

A new, prototype artificial heart valve can adjust to a child’s growing body, potentially sparing them from multiple open-heart surgeries before adulthood.

Kristin Houser

Medicine

“Electronic nose” can detect a cancer precursor on patients’ breath

A new study found that an electronic nose could be an improved screening tool for Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Why aren’t the World Bank’s pandemic bonds helping fight COVID-19?

The World Bank sold pandemic bonds to address global health emergencies, but it has yet to release any of the money to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

Data scientists are making it easier to track COVID-19

Teams of computer scientists across the globe are working tirelessly to help track COVID-19 through the use of computer modeling and data dissemination.

Kristin Houser

Virology

Can an algorithm predict the next disease outbreak?

Researchers are using this algorithm to predict which regions are likely to see a zoonotic disease outbreak, and hopefully prevent the next global pandemic.

B. David Zarley

Coronavirus

AI helps scientists discover powerful new antibiotic

Using a computer model powered by artificial intelligence, researchers at MIT have identified several promising candidates for powerful new antibiotics.

Kristin Houser

Series| Dope Science

I use ketamine for depression – here’s how it works

7:31

Commonly known as a party drug, ketamine’s powerful effects on the brain have led doctors to further explore its medical potential. Now, the animal anesthetic is providing relief and hope for people with severe depression.

Doug Dais

Neuroscience

New lasers see into the brain to detect concussions

Researchers are attempting to improve the age-old concussion test with a device that can measure CCO levels in the brain using infrared lasers.

B. David Zarley

Genetics

$100 genome sequencing has finally arrived

China-based genome sequencing company MGI says it can sequence a human genome for just $100, a cost that could make the service available to all.

Kristin Houser

Drugs

Intro to LSD

LSD, also known as acid, is a synthetic chemical that causes hallucinations, synesthesia, and sometimes, distress - the dreaded “bad trip.”

B. David Zarley

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.