A new way to see the activity inside a living cell

Using fluorescent labels that switch on and off, MIT engineers can study how molecules in a cell interact to control the cell’s behavior.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Nov. 28, 2023 ~8 min

The way a sperm tail moves can be explained by mathematics worked out by Alan Turing

The movement patterns in sperm could be explained by maths often used to describe the way chemicals interact.

Hermes Bloomfield-Gadêlha, Mathematician, University of Bristol • conversation
Nov. 24, 2023 ~7 min


Search algorithm reveals nearly 200 new kinds of CRISPR systems

By analyzing bacterial data, researchers have discovered thousands of rare new CRISPR systems that have a range of functions and could enable gene editing, diagnostics, and more.

Allessandra DiCorato | Broad Institute • mit
Nov. 23, 2023 ~8 min

Forensic anthropologists work to identify human skeletal remains and uncover the stories of the unknown dead

Forensic anthropologists are specialized scientists who analyze the skeletal remains of the recently deceased to help authorities figure out who the person was and what happened to them.

Katherine Weisensee, Professor of Anthropology, Clemson University • conversation
Nov. 22, 2023 ~9 min

Lizards, insects and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough

From dark dragonflies becoming paler to plants flowering earlier, some species are slowly evolving with the climate. Evolutionary biologists explain why few will evolve fast enough.

James Stroud, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~10 min

Lizards, fish and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough

From dark dragonflies becoming paler to plants flowering earlier, some species are slowly evolving with the climate. Evolutionary biologists explain why few will evolve fast enough.

James Stroud, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~10 min

Insight into evolution of cooperation

As one of our closest living animal relatives, bonobos show humanlike ability to work together outside social borders in new study.

Anne J. Manning • harvard
Nov. 17, 2023 ~5 min

Why are hybrid animals sterile?

Study of crossbred butterflies sheds new light on why sexual differences in fertility follow the pattern known as Haldane’s Rule.

Anne J. Manning • harvard
Nov. 17, 2023 ~3 min


Forget ‘Man the Hunter’ – physiological and archaeological evidence rewrites assumptions about a gendered division of labor in prehistoric times

Female bodies have an advantage in endurance ability that means Paleolithic women likely hunted game, not just gathered plants. The story is written in living and ancient human bodies.

Cara Ocobock, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame • conversation
Nov. 17, 2023 ~12 min

How cell identity is preserved when cells divide

MIT study suggests 3D folding of the genome is key to cells’ ability to store and pass on “memories” of which genes they should express.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Nov. 16, 2023 ~9 min

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