Biological sex is far from binary − this college course examines the science of sex diversity in people, fungi and across the animal kingdom

Spanning evolutionary biology, genetics, development, neurobiology, endocrinology and psychology, as well as current events and sports, students explore the complexities of the biology of sex.

Ari Berkowitz, Presidential Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Biology; Director, Cellular & Behavioral Neurobiology Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma • conversation
Oct. 23, 2023 • ~6 min

Wobbly gel mat trains muscle cells to work together

The vibrating platform could be useful for growing artificial muscles to power soft robots and testing therapies for neuromuscular diseases.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Oct. 20, 2023 • ~7 min

What 2,500 years of wildfire evidence and the extreme fire seasons of 1910 and 2020 tell us about the future of fire in the West

As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?

Philip Higuera, Professor of Fire Ecology, University of Montana • conversation
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min

What 2,500 years of wildfire evidence tells us about the future of fires in the West

As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?

Philip Higuera, Professor of Fire Ecology, University of Montana • conversation
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min

What the extreme fire seasons of 1910 and 2020 – and 2,500 years of forest history – tell us about the future of wildfires in the West

As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?

Philip Higuera, Professor of Fire Ecology, University of Montana • conversation
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min

Thousands of programmable DNA-cutters found in algae, snails, and other organisms

New research finds RNA-guided enzymes called Fanzors are widespread among eukaryotic organisms.

Jennifer Michalowski | McGovern Institute for Brain Research • mit
Oct. 13, 2023 • ~6 min

Targeting a coronavirus ion channel could yield new Covid-19 drugs

Chemists discover the structures of open and closed states of the channel, which could help the development of antiviral drugs to reduce inflammation.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Oct. 13, 2023 • ~6 min

Cell death is essential to your health − an immunologist explains when cells decide to die with a bang or take their quiet leave

Your cells die to keep you alive. Cell death does everything from fighting cancer cells and pathogens to forming your fingers and toes.

Zoie Magri, Ph.D. Candidate in Immunology, Tufts University • conversation
Oct. 4, 2023 • ~8 min

A more effective experimental design for engineering a cell into a new state

By focusing on causal relationships in genome regulation, a new AI method could help scientists identify new immunotherapy techniques or regenerative therapies.

Adam Zewe | MIT News • mit
Oct. 2, 2023 • ~8 min

Study explains why certain immunotherapies don’t always work as predicted

The findings could help doctors identify cancer patients who would benefit the most from drugs called checkpoint blockade inhibitors.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Sept. 14, 2023 • ~8 min

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