War, politics and religion shape wildlife evolution in cities

Humans change the urban landscape with religious, cultural and political activities, which in turn can influence the evolution of urban animals and plants.

Elizabeth Carlen, Living Earth Collaborative Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University in St. Louis • conversation
July 3, 2025 ~10 min

New method combines imaging and sequencing to study gene function in intact tissue

The approach collects multiple types of imaging and sequencing data from the same cells, leading to new insights into mouse liver biology.

Whitehead Institute • mit
June 30, 2025 ~9 min


MIT and Mass General Brigham launch joint seed program to accelerate innovations in health

The MIT-MGB Seed Program, launched with support from Analog Devices Inc., will fund joint research projects that advance technology and clinical research.

Mary Beth Gallagher | Office of Innovation • mit
June 27, 2025 ~6 min

Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity

Not only do mitochondria serve as the engine of the cell – they also act as watchtowers for the immune system.

Andrew Monteith, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Tennessee • conversation
June 25, 2025 ~7 min

Neuropathic pain has no immediate cause – research on a brain receptor may help stop this hard-to-treat condition

Chronic pain affects millions of people in the US. Targeting an oft-overlooked brain receptor could one day offer relief.

Siddhesh Sabnis, Ph.D. Student in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University • conversation
June 23, 2025 ~7 min

MIT engineers uncover a surprising reason why tissues are flexible or rigid

Watery fluid between cells plays a major role, offering new insights into how organs and tissues adapt to aging, diabetes, cancer, and more.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
June 20, 2025 ~7 min

When Earth iced over, early life may have sheltered in meltwater ponds

Modern-day analogs in Antarctica reveal ponds teeming with life similar to early multicellular organisms.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
June 19, 2025 ~8 min

50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology

A shark expert whose own curiosity about these fascinating fish was sparked by the movie explains some of their unique features. Many discoveries came in the decades after ‘Jaws.’

Gareth J. Fraser, Associate Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, University of Florida • conversation
June 18, 2025 ~11 min


RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome

Researchers discovered a previously unknown function of RNA, potentially opening the door to new ways to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Francesca Storici, Professor of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
June 16, 2025 ~6 min

Trade in a mythical fish is threatening real species of rays that are rare and at risk

They look like devils and hence are called pez diablo in Spanish, but these demonic objects are dried and mutilated versions of living rays known as guitarfish.

Peter Kyne, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University • conversation
June 16, 2025 ~8 min

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