Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy
The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads.
Jan. 8, 2021 • ~7 min
chemistry environment bacteria biology microbes research school-of-science oceanography-and-ocean-engineering eaps ocean-science
Pikas are adapting to climate change remarkably well, contrary to many predictions
Pikas – small cousins of rabbits – live mainly in the mountainous US west. They've been called a climate change poster species, but they're more adaptable than many people think.
Jan. 7, 2021 • ~8 min
climate-change mammals canada wildlife temperature mountains conservation-biology us-west
RNA molecules are masters of their own destiny
Research suggests the products of transcription — RNA molecules — regulate their own production through a feedback loop.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~8 min
physics chemistry genetics biology rna research drug-development school-of-engineering school-of-science whitehead-institute chemical-engineering
Turning microbiome research into a force for health
A diverse group of researchers is working to turn new discoveries about the trillions of microbes in the body into treatments for a range of diseases.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~10 min
health medicine bacteria startups broad-institute microbes disease research drug-development school-of-engineering innovation-and-entrepreneurship-ie alumniae biological-engineering
Atlantic discovery: 12 new species 'hiding in the deep'
A dozen ocean species new to science could already be threatened by climate change, scientists find.
Dec. 28, 2020 • ~4 min
climate-change environment nature marine-biology atlantic-ocean marine-conservation
Museum specimens could help fight the next pandemic – why preserving collections is crucial to future scientific discoveries
Specimen preservation means researchers don't need to reinvent the wheel each time they ask a new question, making it critical for the advancement of science. But many specimens are discarded or lost.
Dec. 16, 2020 • ~11 min
biology museum-collections specimens reproducibility zoonotic-diseases zoonotic-viruses natural-history-collections museums natural-history
Virgin births from parthenogenesis: How females from some species can reproduce without males
Parthenogenesis, a form of reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by sperm, might be more common than you realized.
Dec. 15, 2020 • ~6 min
reproduction biology eggs wasps lizards sexual-reproduction embryo crustaceans aphids egg curiosity-question
3 Questions: Phillip Sharp on the discoveries that enabled RNA vaccines for Covid-19
Curiosity-driven basic science in the 1970s laid the groundwork for today’s leading vaccines against the novel coronavirus.
Dec. 11, 2020 • ~9 min
genetics covid-19 biology pandemic rna vaccines history-of-science research school-of-science faculty 3-questions koch-institute
SMART researchers use lysins to selectively target bacteria
The discovery can help to cure bacterial infections without inducing resistance or causing harm to good bacteria.
Dec. 10, 2020 • ~6 min
health medicine public-health bacteria health-care antibiotics pharmaceuticals disease research drug-development school-of-engineering biological-engineering health-sciences-and-technology drug-delivery bioengineering-and-biotechnology singapore-mit-alliance-for-research-and-technology-smart
Bitter battles between stinkbugs and carnivorous mice could hold clues for controlling human pain
Animals that regularly dine on toxic food may hold clues for designing new drugs to treat persistent pain in humans.
Dec. 9, 2020 • ~9 min
desert biology mice beetles pain rodents venom carnivores predator-and-prey poison
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