Capturing the complete process of embryonic development
By tracking over 1 million cells, researchers created a detailed map of embryonic development in mice. It could provide development and disease insights.
How the biggest Alzheimer’s risk gene disrupts the process of insulating neurons
MIT researchers showed that the APOE4 gene variant suppresses molecular signaling needed for oligodendrocytes to myelinate neurons and also demonstrated a proof-of-concept fix.
The ocean’s most abundant “loner” microbe has a sticky second life
Researchers in the Chisholm lab find Prochlorococcus can switch between drifting alone and living in attached communities, a discovery that could reshape estimates of how much carbon the ocean moves to the deep sea.
AI model decodes the language cells use to communicate
A new computational approach reveals how cells communicate to assemble into tissues. This could accelerate stem cell engineering, improve disease models, and inform therapies.
Powered by muscle cells, a paper-thin robot swims through watery maze
MIT engineers’ new aquabot offers a way to design small, efficient “biohybrid” robots.
New cell-collection device could improve early cancer detection
MIT researchers developed a handheld system that gently collects living cells from patient samples to aid cancer testing and development of personalized medicines.
How the brain keeps its options straight at decision time
Making a decision requires juggling a set of options without getting them confused or losing track of them. A new MIT study shows how neurons encode information to maximize clarity throughout the process.
Unmasking “zombie cells” in aging tissue with an AI-powered barcode
Tracking down senescent cells, which accumulate as we age, could help diagnose age-related disorders and guide researchers working on new treatments.
Injectable nanodevices could provide effective treatment for drug-resistant glioblastoma
MIT researchers show implanted nanoantennas can be activated wirelessly to kill brain cancer cells without damage to healthy tissue.
Cells use a little-known molecule to protect themselves from iron overload
This discovery points toward new combination strategies against cancer, and may explain the iron buildup seen in disorders such as early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
How the Toxoplasma parasite adapts to crowded conditions in host cells
A new study by Whitehead Institute researchers identifies how the widespread parasite Toxoplasma gondii survives in crowded environments in infected cells, which helps it persist in long-lasting brain cysts.
DNA shaper steers nervous system development
A study of worms finds a protein that helps shape the structure of the genome is critical for establishing the identity of some neurons.
Cells pulse together as they grow — and malignant cells pulse the longest
MIT researchers discovered a cellular dance that may offer clues to the development of cancer, asthma, and other diseases.
MIT engineers find a precise way to grow artificial blood vessels
Gently stretching and pulling a “blood vessel on a chip” encourages controlled sprouting of new vessels, for possible use in artificial tissues or organs.
The rules neurons follow to make sense of what we see
Brain cells take in many signals through thousands of circuit connections. A new study discerns the rules that turn inputs into a functional arrangement for neurons that process vision.