Prof. Feng Zhang and his colleagues have created a CRISPR-based system that can edit RNA in human cells, reports Amy Dockser Marcus for The Wall Street Journal. “The new RNA-editing system, which the scientists have dubbed Repair, allows the editing of individual RNA letters, correcting a common mutation known to play a role in a number of diseases.”
Financial Times reporter Clive Cookson writes that Prof. Feng Zhang and his colleagues have engineered CRISPR so that it can edit single RNA letters in human cells. Cookson explains that the researchers believe that, “RNA editing offers a safer and more flexible way to make corrections than the permanent changes involved in DNA editing.”
New Scientist reporter Michael Le Page writes that a study co-authored by Prof. Kerry Emanuel finds that while in the future hurricanes may be more likely to miss New York City, the city could experience 15-metre storm surges. “The result is peculiar to New York City,” says Emanuel. “Almost everywhere else, including Boston, we see an increase in surge heights and storminess.”
CNN reporter Jacqueline Howard highlights a new study by MIT researchers examining how children interpret an adult’s emotional response to a situation. "The results were surprising in the sense that we found infants were able to make fine-grained distinctions among positive emotions," explains graduate student Yang Wu.
CBC News reporter Michael MacDonald spotlights the work of Prof. Sara Seager, who he calls a “certified rock star” in her field, describing everything from her interest in astronomy as a young child to her current search for exoplanets and alien life. McDonald writes that, “ultimately, her research could help answer some of the biggest questions facing humankind.”
Wired reporter Abigail Beall explores the science behind the successful detection of two colliding neutron stars. "It immediately appeared to us the source was likely to be neutron stars, the other coveted source we were hoping to see—and promising the world we would see," says MIT’s David Shoemaker, spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
Boston Globe reporter Eric Moskowitz explores the significance of the first detection of two colliding neutron stars using gravitational wave detectors and telescopes. Moskowitz notes that the discovery offers, “so many immediate and long-term rewards that researchers struggled to pick their favorite part.” Senior Research Scientist Erik Katsavounidis explained that, “It’s like getting a kid in the candy store and telling them to choose.”
Boston Herald reporter Marie Szaniszlo writes about how the first successful detection of gravitational waves and light emitted from the collusion of two neutron stars has provided insight into gamma rays and heavy elements. Prof. Anna Frebel explains that, “What makes this such an important discovery is that we can actually see element formation in action.”
Channel 7’s Matt Rascon reports on how scientists from LIGO, Virgo and 70 observatories around the world have detected gravitational waves and light emitted from two colliding neutron stars. “For the first time we’re able to put it all together and get a much more complete picture of what nature is doing,” explains Prof. Nergis Mavalvala.
AFP reporter Mariëtte Le Roux writes about how the detection of two colliding neutron stars has provided scientists with new insights into the universe. "It was clear to us within minutes that we had a binary neutron star detection," said MIT’s David Shoemaker, spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. "The signals were much too beautiful to be anything but that.”
Washington Post reporters Ben Guarino and Sarah Kaplan delve into the first detection of a kilonova using both gravitational wave detectors and telescopes. “It's a monumental thing, a testimony to a lot of people working together,” explains David Shoemaker, a senior research scientist at MIT and spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
Wall Street Journal reporter Robert Lee Hotz writes that scientists have detected colliding neutron stars and found that the smashups are the source of gold and other heavy elements found throughout the universe. “The neutrons can condense down into the heavy elements—gold, platinum and others—that make pretty jewelry so pretty,” explains MIT’s David Shoemaker.
MIT’s David Shoemaker, spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, speaks with NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce about the first detection of colliding neutron stars. Shoemaker recalls the excitement of the discovery, “as we tried to figure out how we could most quickly get the news out to observers to try and make the most of this event."
Researchers from the LIGO, Virgo and 70 additional observatories around the world have detected gravitational waves and light from the collision of two neutron stars, reports Dennis Overbye for The New York Times. MIT’s David Shoemaker, the spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, described the event as, “joy for all.”
A new study by MIT researchers shows that different types of learning correspond with different brainwave frequencies, reports Brooks Hays for UPI. The findings, “could help doctors diagnose and treat learning disabilities and cognitive diseases.”