AI models are powerful, but are they biologically plausible?

A new study bridging neuroscience and machine learning offers insights into the potential role of astrocytes in the human brain.

Adam Zewe | MIT News • mit
Aug. 15, 2023 ~9 min

Study explains how part of the nucleolus evolved

A single protein can self-assemble to build the scaffold for a biomolecular condensate that makes up a key nucleolar compartment.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Aug. 15, 2023 ~7 min


Newly discovered bacterial communication system aids antimicrobial resistance

SMART researchers find the enzyne RlmN, which directly senses chemical and environmental stresses, can be targeted in drug development.

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology • mit
Aug. 2, 2023 ~6 min

Making sense of cell fate

MIT researchers find timing and dosage of DNA-damaging drugs are key to whether a cancer cell dies or enters senescence.

Bendta Schroeder | Koch Institute • mit
July 27, 2023 ~7 min

New sensor mimics cell membrane functions

The device detects the same molecules that cell receptors do, and may enable routine early screening for cancers and other diseases.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
July 21, 2023 ~9 min

It takes three to tango: transcription factors bind DNA, protein, and RNA

Whitehead Institute researchers find many transcription factors bind RNA, which fine-tunes their regulation of gene expression, suggesting new therapeutic opportunities.

Greta Friar | Whitehead Institute • mit
July 17, 2023 ~7 min

Scientists pinpoint where thousands of individual proteins are made in intact tissue and single cells

A new technology called RIBOmap can give researchers valuable insight into how protein production in animal and human tissue is altered in disease.

Sarah C.P. Williams | Broad Institute • mit
July 14, 2023 ~6 min

Focus on function helps identify the changes that made us human

A new approach for identifying significant differences in gene use between closely-related species provides insights into human evolution.

Greta Friar | Whitehead Institute • mit
July 6, 2023 ~11 min


Without a key extracellular protein, neuronal axons break and synaptic connections fall apart

Scientists find a protein common to flies and people is essential for supporting the structure of axons that neurons project to make circuit connections.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
June 23, 2023 ~7 min

Atlas of human brain blood vessels highlights changes in Alzheimer’s disease

MIT researchers characterize gene expression patterns for 22,500 brain vascular cells across 428 donors, revealing insights for Alzheimer’s onset and potential treatments.

Rachel Gordon | MIT CSAIL • mit
June 21, 2023 ~17 min

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