Explained: Directed evolution
Speeding up protein evolution in the lab can yield useful molecules that nature never intended.
New insights into the mystery of natural HIV immunity
A new finding from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard may have implications for designing an effective AIDS vaccine.
Slackers and superstars of the microbial workplace
MIT chemical engineers find that yeast engineered to manufacture drugs vary widely in their productivity
In the World: Nanotech on the farm
MIT chemical engineer Paula Hammond lends her nanotechnology expertise to farmers in Africa.
Listening in on single cells
A novel sensor array is the first to detect single molecules produced by living cells.
A new way to build membranes for fuel cells
Layer-by-layer assembly system could lead to improved fuel cells, batteries and solar panels
New ‘nanoburrs’ could help fight heart disease
Targeted nanoparticles can home in on damaged vascular tissue and may be used to deliver drugs that help clear arteries
New and improved RNA interference
Researchers use RNA interference to silence multiple genes at once. The advance, which one expert calls a ‘substantial breakthrough,’ could lead to new treatments for liver diseases.
A greener way to get electricity from natural gas
A proposed system would use solid-oxide fuel cells to produce power without sending CO2 into the atmosphere. But can it compete with conventional power plants?
Astronaut and orthopedic surgeon Bobby Satcher tweets his NASA mission
The shuttle Atlantis brought seven astronauts including Robert Satcher ’86, PhD ’93, an orthopedic surgeon who tweeted through space, back to Earth on Nov. 27, after a 11-day NASA mission to stock the International Space Station.
One word: bioplastics
At a new plant in Iowa, MIT-rooted technology will use bacteria to turn corn into biodegradable plastics.