The first animals on Earth may have been sea sponges, study suggests
MIT researchers traced chemical fossils in ancient rocks to the ancestors of modern-day demosponges.
Why animals are a critical part of forest carbon absorption
An MIT study shows decreases in seed-dispersing animals can lead to a major reduction in forest carbon absorption.
Deep-dive dinners are the norm for tuna and swordfish, MIT oceanographers find
These big fish get most of their food from the ocean’s “twilight zone,” a deep, dark region the commercial fishing industry is eyeing with interest.
MIT scientists engineer starfish cells to shape-shift in response to light
The research may enable the design of synthetic, light-activated cells for wound healing or drug delivery.
Streamlining data collection for improved salmon population management
Assistant Professor Sara Beery is using automation to improve monitoring of migrating salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
Modeling complex behavior with a simple organism
By studying the roundworm C. elegans, neuroscientist Steven Flavell explores how neural circuits give rise to behavior.
Ecologists find computer vision models’ blind spots in retrieving wildlife images
Biodiversity researchers tested vision systems on how well they could retrieve relevant nature images. More advanced models performed well on simple queries but struggled with more research-specific prompts.
Curiosity, images, and scientific exploration
Professor of the practice Alan Lightman’s new book digs into the wonder of striking visual phenomena in nature.
Oceanographers record the largest predation event ever observed in the ocean
The scientists’ wide-scale acoustic mapping technique could help track vulnerable keystone species.
MIT chemists explain why dinosaur collagen may have survived for millions of years
The researchers identified an atomic-level interaction that prevents peptide bonds from being broken down by water.
What happens during the first moments of butterfly scale formation
New findings could help engineers design materials for light and heat management.
Exploring the mysterious alphabet of sperm whales
MIT CSAIL and Project CETI researchers reveal complex communication patterns in sperm whales, deepening our understanding of animal language systems.
Juana De La O: Food for thought
This biology graduate student is building connections through her thesis work in mouse development and her passion for cooking and baking.
Study decodes surprising approach mice take in learning
In a simple game that humans typically ace, mice learn the winning strategy, too, but refuse to commit to it, new research shows.
Cracking the code that relates brain and behavior in a simple animal
MIT researchers model and create an atlas for how neurons of the worm C. elegans encode its behaviors, make findings available on their “WormWideWeb.”