biotech
Are some things so taboo that science should never research them?
Science has come a long way since Mary Shelley penned "Frankenstein." But we still grapple with the same questions.
Gene editing could reverse anxiety and alcohol-use disorder
An experiment in rats suggests that gene editing may be a treatment for anxiety and alcoholism in adults who were exposed to binge-drinking in their adolescence.
The price of Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality
After mammoth investments and two decades of anti-aging research, what do immortality proponents have to show for it?
New $5-device allows healthy sperm cells to isolate themselves
A new, easy-to-use, $5-device helps address male infertility. It isolates healthy sperm cells based on their natural behavior.
Scientists have finally filled in the last 8% of the human genome
The Human Genome Project put together 92% of our DNA blueprint. Here's what it took to complete the rest.
CRISPR could create hypoallergenic cats
The results of a recent study found that genetically engineering cats could be a solution to eliminating cat allergies.
The foul and the fragrant: what did the past smell like?
Most cities reeked of death, defecation, and industrial waste. Still, focusing only on stench means turning a blind eye (or nose) to the many other smells that helped shape human history.
New technique detects 95% of early-stage pancreatic cancer
If future studies prove it to be successful, this technique for the early detection of pancreatic cancer could save thousands of lives.
History of ultrasound: From bats to frogs to Nazis to modern-day brain stimulation
More than 200 years ago, scientists tried to figure out how bats navigate in the dark (or without eyes). This set in motion a series of events that led to the development of ultrasound as a form of psychotherapy.
How natural “short sleepers” thrive on 4 hours of sleep per night
Could we all attain this superpower?
Should we use genome editing to make better babies? Here’s what the experts think
Every year, scientists like George Church get better at editing the genomes of human beings. But will genome editing help or hurt us?
Northern white rhino: resurrecting an extinct species in four steps
Scientists at the San Diego Zoo are on a mission to resurrect the extinct northern white rhino.
Edible electronics: When will we be eating technology?
Edible electronics, devices that can be broken down and digested, could perform many useful functions inside the body.
Anti-aging isn’t a scam, but immortality almost certainly is
Altos Labs, a new biotech firm with $3 billion in funding, has announced plans to combat aging. But what does that mean for human life span, exactly?
A new treatment helped frogs regenerate their amputated legs – taking science one step closer to helping people regrow their body parts, too
Scientists looked for ways to trigger the “build whatever normally was here” signal for cells at the site of a wound.
Jeff Bezos is looking to defy death. This is what we know about the science of aging
Altos Labs is an ambitious new anti-aging company with billions of dollars to back it up.
Battling “butterfly disease”: Experimental therapy successfully regenerates skin
A boy in Germany seems to be the first person to be cured of a rare and painful skin condition commonly called "butterfly disease."
Genesis Machine: Synthetic biology will allow us to program living organisms like computers
The book "The Genesis Machine" outlines the promise and peril of synthetic biology, a powerful tool that will allow us to program life like a computer.
How biomining could sustain space colonies
Coupled with 3D printing, biomining the Moon or Mars with microbes could sustain human colonies without constant re-supply from Earth.
Man apparently cured of type 1 diabetes following new stem cell therapy
One patient’s surprising results have experts cautiously optimistic.
Injectable gel repairs severe spinal cord injuries and enables mice to walk
The scientists are headed "straight to the FDA" to begin human trials.
This tiny wireless device attaches directly to your bones to monitor health
The paper-thin device may also someday be used to stimulate bone growth.
An Alzheimer’s vaccine might be possible
The cause of Alzheimer's is still not fully understood, but we might be able to vaccinate against it anyway.
AI + Biology: DeepMind releases massive protein structure database
“This will be one of the most important datasets since the mapping of the Human Genome.”
How scientists and artists resurrected the scents of extinct flowers
Using DNA from samples of extinct flowers, synthetic biologists managed to approximate long-lost floral scents.
Genetic GPS system of animal development explains why limbs grow from torsos and not heads
An evolutionary biologist explains why you probably won't grow a tail.
How the antidepressant Prozac could treat blindness
Prozac is a widely used antidepressant. Data indicates that the drug could be used to prevent blindness due to macular degeneration.
“Micro-swimmers”: Tiny bots could soon deliver medicine through the bloodstream
Guided by ultrasound waves, swarms of microrobots could soon be used to deliver medicine to targeted sites in the body.
The incredible origin story of CRISPR
The development of the revolutionary gene-engineering tool CRISPR is a tale fit for the big screen.