Science

Why happiness is not the best indicator of well-being

Achieving values and pursuing growth is the real secret to a fulfilled life.

Jason Crawford

How Arc Institute is bringing science into the century of biology

Stephen Johnson

A vibrant graphic illustration featuring a large leafy plant with integrated plant sensors, comic-style speech bubbles containing exclamation marks, and a round bubble depicting ants, set against a blue textured background.

Agriculture

Plant sensors could act as an early warning system for farmers

Using sensors made from carbon nanotubes, researchers discovered signals that help plants respond to stresses like heat, light, or attack.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office

Animals

These psychedelic “body snatchers” regenerate their bodies and absorb other organism’s attributes

These bizarre mollusks have the ability to regenerate their bodies and to absorb other organisms' attributes.

Jonny Thomson

Physics

How Greek philosopher Democritus predicted the atom in 400 B.C.E.

The idea of atoms goes as far back as the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus in 400 B.C.E., who thought physics left no room for free will.

Jonny Thomson

Physics

Einstein’s theory of general relativity passes another test, with implications for dark matter and dark energy

Scientists carried out an ultra-precise test of a core premise of Einstein’s modern theory of gravity. The theory stood up.

Don Lincoln

Biology

Scientists discover slug that can decapitate itself, grow new body

Scientists observed two species of sea slug that were able to self-decapitate, survive for weeks without organs, and regenerate new bodies.

Stephen Johnson

Physics

Quantum entanglement wins 2022’s Nobel Prize in physics

Three pioneers — John Clauser, Alain Aspect, and Anton Zeilinger — helped make quantum information systems a bona fide science.

Ethan Siegel

Archaeology

Svante Pääbo wins Nobel Prize for discovering an extinct human species via DNA

Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo has won the Nobel Prize for "discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution."

Ross Pomeroy

Biology

Why does nature create patterns?

A physicist explains the molecular-level processes behind crystals, stripes, and basalt columns in nature.

Maxim Lavrentovich

Biology

Genetically engineered bacteria make living materials for self-repairing walls and cleaning up pollution

With just an incubator and some broth, researchers can grow reusable filters made of bacteria to clean up pollution and more.

Sara Molinari

Neuroscience

Three reasons “you” won’t return after this life

Entire religions are constructed around theories of an afterlife, but former monk Stephen Batchelor lists three reasons you won't come back.

Derek Beres

Animals

Scientists discover animal that doesn’t need oxygen to live

The parasite infects salmon and lives within the fish muscle, though scientists aren't quite sure how it breaks down nutrients for survival.

Stephen Johnson

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