Equipping living cells with logic gates to fight cancer

Founded by MIT researchers, Senti Bio is giving immune cells the ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells.

Zach Winn | MIT News • mit
April 18, 2025 ~8 min

The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability

Public records requested under the Freedom of Information Act have helped shape health policy and keep the government accountable – but recent staff cuts may make this impossible.

Reshma Ramachandran, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale University • conversation
April 16, 2025 ~10 min


Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research

Pharmaceutical pollution can significantly affect wild animal behaviour, including speeding up salmon migration.

Michael Bertram, Assistant Professor in Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Guest Researcher, Stockholm University • conversation
April 10, 2025 ~7 min

Could LLMs help design our next medicines and materials?

A new method lets users ask, in plain language, for a new molecule with certain properties, and receive a detailed description of how to synthesize it.

Adam Zewe | MIT News • mit
April 9, 2025 ~8 min

Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths

Increasingly, these types of tranquilizers are turning up in fentanyl, oxycodone and other illegal opioids.

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut • conversation
April 7, 2025 ~6 min

Engineers develop a way to mass manufacture nanoparticles that deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors

Scaling up nanoparticle production could help scientists test new cancer treatments.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
April 3, 2025 ~7 min

How do psychedelics affect sexuality and intimacy?

Psychedelic experiences enhanced study participants' perceptions of their relationship quality, attraction to their partner, and sexual activities.

David Hill-Buffalo • futurity
March 31, 2025 ~6 min

Massive cuts to Health and Human Services’ workforce signal a dramatic shift in US health policy

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vision for US health policy prioritizes deregulation and leaves Americans with fewer benefits, services and protections.

Simon F. Haeder, Associate Professor of Public Health, Texas A&M University • conversation
March 31, 2025 ~12 min


Engineers develop a better way to deliver long-lasting drugs

With tinier needles and fewer injections, the approach may enable new options for long-term delivery of contraceptives or treatments for diseases such as HIV.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
March 24, 2025 ~7 min

New tech could speed drug development and use fewer mice

New work should not only speed up the research and development pipeline for new drugs, but also hugely cut the number of lab animals needed.

U. Zurich • futurity
March 18, 2025 ~6 min

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