How viruses blur the boundaries of life

The question of whether viruses are alive or dead is a controversial one in science.

Heshmat Borhani, Lecturer in Bioinformatics, University of Nottingham • conversation
March 31, 2025 ~7 min

How viruses blur the the boundaries of life

The question of whether viruses are alive or dead is a controversial one in science.

Heshmat Borhani, Lecturer in Bioinformatics, University of Nottingham • conversation
March 31, 2025 ~7 min


‘Pac-Man with a ponytail’ proteins regulate everything from night vision to heartbeats – studying what GRKs look like could improve an array of drugs

Master switches of cell communication, G protein-coupled receptor kinases are the target of many drugs across a range of diseases.

Priyanka Naik, Ph.D. Candidate in Structural Biology, Purdue University • conversation
March 7, 2025 ~7 min

Enzymes are the engines of life − machine learning tools could help scientists design new ones to tackle disease and climate change

Enzymes significantly speed up the chemical reactions that keep you alive. Researchers are using AI to create new ones to tackle modern challenges.

Sam Pellock, Postdoctoral Scholar in Biochemistry, University of Washington • conversation
Feb. 13, 2025 ~9 min

AI plus gene editing promises to shift biotech into high gear

AI has learned the ins and outs of proteins. Gene editing gives scientists control of life’s molecular machinery. Together they could lead to a revolution in biotechnology.

Marc Zimmer, Professor of Chemistry, Connecticut College • conversation
June 6, 2024 ~8 min

Fruit fly testes enzyme could stymie harmful pests

An enzyme found in fruit fly testes could control bugs that carry disease and harm crops by stunting their ability to procreate.

Roberto Molar Candanosa-Johns Hopkins • futurity
May 14, 2024 ~5 min

Team cracks 2 enzymes’ role in cancer mutation

Two enzymes that play a role in cancer mutation offer potential new targets for intervention strategies, researchers report.

UC Irvine • futurity
March 25, 2024 ~4 min

Method could pave way for drugs to target ‘rogue enzymes’

When enzymes go rogue, they can cause a range of diseases, including cancers. A new platform could reveal molecules that target them.

Katherine Fenz-Rockefeller • futurity
March 20, 2024 ~5 min


Vaginal bacteria must eat to survive — but how?

Chemical analysis brings understudied microbiome into sharper focus.

Anne J. Manning • harvard
Aug. 15, 2023 ~5 min

How do _Candida auris_ and other fungi develop drug resistance? A microbiologist explains

Multidrug-resistant fungal infections are an emerging global health threat. Figuring out how fungi evade treatments offers new avenues to counter resistance.

Jeffrey Gardner, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
May 3, 2023 ~7 min

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