What, exactly, is space-time?
Few ideas in modern science have reshaped our understanding of reality more profoundly than space-time — the interwoven fabric of space and time at the heart of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Space-time…
How staph bacteria latch onto human skin
Imagine a child with eczema who scratches a patch of irritated skin. A tiny opening forms, invisible to the eye. Into that breach slips a common bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. For many people, the…
New particle detector passes the “standard candle” test
Jennifer Chu | MIT News A new and powerful particle detector just passed a critical test in its goal to decipher the ingredients of the early universe. The sPHENIX detector is the newest experiment at…
A mind-reading brain implant with password protection
A brain implant can decode a person’s internal thoughts, but it only works if the user thinks of a pre-defined password. The device, a brain–computer interface (BCI), was able to decipher up to…
Scientists grow pure, stable human mini-kidneys for the first time
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center achieved an unprecedented feat: creating human mini kidneys — called organoids — in the laboratory from stem cells taken from kidney tissue. These mini…
A new era of sutureless tissue reconstruction for better healing
Zach Winn | MIT News When surgeons repair tissues, they’re currently limited to mechanical solutions like sutures and staples, which can cause their own damage, or meshes and glues that may not adequately bond with…
New Drug Targets for Ebola Identified Through Optical CRISPR Screening
The following press release was issued today by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Although outbreaks of Ebola virus are rare, the disease is severe and often fatal, with few treatment options….
Cow-Free Milk Proteins
A study published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology reveals an innovative solution for producing dairy proteins without the need for cows. European researchers have successfully manufactured functional casein using bacteria, an alternative…
How Your Brain Decides to Keep Going or Give Up
When we feel mentally exhausted, our brain may be performing silent calculations that go beyond the simple sensation of tiredness. A new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that two specific…
New approach to spinal cord injury
A study published in Nature Communications introduces a promising innovation for treating spinal cord injuries. Scientists from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) and Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) have developed an ultrathin…