Tiny organisms, huge implications for people
A new book by Thomas Levenson examines how germ theory arose, launched modern medicine, and helped us limit fatal infectious diseases.
Drawing inspiration from ancient chemical reactions
By studying cellular enzymes that perform difficult reactions, MIT chemist Dan Suess hopes to find new solutions to global energy challenges.
When did human language emerge?
A new analysis suggests our language capacity existed at least 135,000 years ago, with language used widely perhaps 35,000 years after that.
Curiosity, images, and scientific exploration
Professor of the practice Alan Lightman’s new book digs into the wonder of striking visual phenomena in nature.
AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects?
New dataset of “illusory” faces reveals differences between human and algorithmic face detection, links to animal face recognition, and a formula predicting where people most often perceive faces.
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.
Study explains how part of the nucleolus evolved
A single protein can self-assemble to build the scaffold for a biomolecular condensate that makes up a key nucleolar compartment.
Focus on function helps identify the changes that made us human
A new approach for identifying significant differences in gene use between closely-related species provides insights into human evolution.
Studying phages far from home
Biology graduate student Tong Zhang has spent the last two years learning the intricacies of how bacteria protect themselves.
River erosion can shape fish evolution, study suggests
The new findings could explain biodiversity hotspots in tectonically quiet regions.
3 Questions: A new model of nervous system form, function, and evolution
Developing a new neuroscience model is no small feat. New faculty member Brady Weissbourd has risen to the challenge in order to study nervous system evolution, development, regeneration, and function.
Like ancient mariners, ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes rode out to sea on exoskeleton particles
A new study shows the carbon-capturing phytoplankton colonized the ocean by rafting on particles of chitin.
Scientists track evolution of microbes on the skin’s surface
A new analysis reveals how Staphylococcus aureus gains mutations that allow it to colonize eczema patches.
Scientists uncover the amazing way sandgrouse hold water in their feathers
The structure of the desert birds’ belly feathers enables males to carry water over long distances to their chicks.
Brandon Ogbunu is a radical collaborator
MLK Visiting Professor tries to “maximize connection time” while studying protein evolution.