Oceans without sharks would be far less healthy – new research

A broad review of shark research shows that sharks play critical roles in keeping ocean ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds healthy.

Michael Heithaus, Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
Aug. 1, 2024 ~8 min

Study across multiple brain regions discerns Alzheimer’s vulnerability and resilience factors

Genomics and lab studies reveal numerous findings, including a key role for Reelin amid neuronal vulnerability, and for choline and antioxidants in sustaining cognition.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
July 24, 2024 ~11 min


A new way to miniaturize cell production for cancer treatment

A chip the size of a pack of cards uses fewer resources and a smaller footprint than existing automated manufacturing platforms and could lead to more affordable cell therapy manufacturing.

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology • mit
July 9, 2024 ~7 min

Even short trips to space can change an astronaut’s biology − a new set of studies offers the most comprehensive look at spaceflight health since NASA’s Twins Study

A set of papers published in Nature contain groundbreaking research into how even quick jaunts to space can affect an astronaut’s health.

Susan Bailey, Professor of Radiation Cancer Biology and Oncology, Colorado State University • conversation
July 3, 2024 ~9 min

CHARMed collaboration creates a potent therapy candidate for fatal prion diseases

A new gene-silencing tool shows promise as a future therapy against prion diseases and paves the way for new approaches to treating disease.

Greta Friar | Whitehead Institute • mit
June 27, 2024 ~12 min

What happens during the first moments of butterfly scale formation

New findings could help engineers design materials for light and heat management.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
June 26, 2024 ~8 min

Genetic testing cannot reveal the gender of your baby − two genetic counselors explain the complexities of sex and gender

Cell-free DNA prenatal screening, sometimes called ‘the gender test,’ cannot determine gender because gender is more than just genes and genitals.

Kimberly Zayhowski, Assistant Professor, Boston University • conversation
June 25, 2024 ~10 min

New Ragon Institute building opens in the heart of Kendall Square

The building will serve as a hub for research on the development of immunology-based treatments.

Zach Winn | MIT News • mit
June 21, 2024 ~7 min


Ferns and flowers bribe helpful ant defenders with nectar, but ferns developed this ability much later – our study shows why

Ferns have evolved a mutually beneficial relationship with ants, but this happened late in their evolution. A recent study shows that old dogs can learn new tricks.

Jacob S. Suissa, Assistant Professor of Plant Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee • conversation
June 20, 2024 ~6 min

From glowing corals to vomiting shrimp, animals have used bioluminescence to communicate for millions of years – here’s what scientists still don’t know about it

Dozens of animals, some on land but many in the ocean, can produce light within their bodies through chemical reactions. Scientists are still trying to understand when and why this trait developed.

Andrea Quattrini, Research Zoologist and Curator of Corals, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
June 14, 2024 ~10 min

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