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

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


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

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

New fuel cell could enable electric aviation

These devices could pack three times as much energy per pound as today’s best EV batteries, offering a lightweight option for powering trucks, planes, or ships.

David L. Chandler | MIT News • mit
May 27, 2025 ~11 min

Technique rapidly measures cells’ density, reflecting health and developmental state

The method could help predict whether immunotherapies will work in a patient or how a tumor will respond to drug treatment.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
May 20, 2025 ~9 min

Placenta bandages have far more health benefits than risky placenta pills − a bioengineer explains

Placentas contain a rich amount of nutrients and stem cells, but there’s a difference between eating it at home for wellness and using it in the clinic to improve wound healing.

Marley Dewey, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara • conversation
May 16, 2025 ~8 min


With AI, researchers predict the location of virtually any protein within a human cell

Trained with a joint understanding of protein and cell behavior, the model could help with diagnosing disease and developing new drugs.

Adam Zewe | MIT News • mit
May 15, 2025 ~8 min

How we discovered specific brain cells that enable intelligent behaviour

How do animals and humans come up with novel ideas? It may be down to some very specific cells.

Mohamady El-Gaby, Postdoctoral Neuroscientist, University of Oxford • conversation
May 1, 2025 ~6 min

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