Biologists identify a cellular pathway that allows colorectal cancer to metastasize
They also found that obesity may put patients at higher risk for activation of the pathway. Drugs that block the pathway may help prevent metastasis.
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.
New AI technique could make minimally invasive surgeries safer and more precise
This patient-specific method, called xvr, helps doctors use X-rays for surgical navigation in fields such as orthopedics and neurosurgery.
Lifesaving Lincoln Laboratory device wins 2026 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award
The handheld catheterization device AI-GUIDE, created by Lincoln Laboratory and Massachusetts General Hospital, promises improved health outcomes for injured service members and civilians.
A burst of “pink noise” may lead to more restorative sleep
Delivered at just the right time, this type of auditory stimulus can strengthen the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which clears debris from the brain and keeps it healthy.
New method allows scientists to follow gene activity over time in the same cells
In the new method, cells package and export their RNA, enabling researchers to sequence and analyze the RNA without killing the cells.
Cognition and consciousness arise from analog computations, says new theory
The brain's ability to generate quick, nimble volitional thought — and a unified awareness of thought and experience — arises from analog computations, MIT neuroscientists argue in a new review.
Study: Peptides can form well-defined structures in harsh, Venus-like conditions
New research offers support for the possibility that complex biological molecules could exist in the highly acidic environment of Venus’s cloud layer.
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.
Brain circuit keeps tabs on what just happened to aid judgment of what’s happening now
To keep track of what’s going on in front of it, the brain relies not only on what it sees, but also a comparison with what it just saw. A new study pinpoints the circuit that provides that service.
Language skills stay strong in older adults, even while other cognitive abilities decline
MIT researchers find that activity in the brain’s language network is nearly identical in young and old people.
The importance of indoor airflow patterns in spreading airborne disease
Researchers explore how a key factor can mitigate or promote tuberculosis transmission.
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.
Drug that targets an inflammatory enzyme could help prevent lung cancer
A new study by MIT researchers shows that inhibiting caspase-1 can reduce the risk of tumor growth.