Biotech
Human history has been all but defined by death and disease, plague and pandemic. Advancements in 20th century medicine changed all of that. Now advancements in 21st century medicine promise to go even further. Could we bring about an end to disease? Reverse aging? Give hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind? The answer may be yes. And soon.
Featured
Ancient Olympians wouldn’t qualify for today’s Games
Across history, the human body has been reshaped by discipline, medicine, and now technology — each era redefining peak performance.
Why AI gets stuck in infinite loops — but conscious minds don’t
Anil Seth suggests the difference is that living beings are rooted in time and entropy, a grounding that may be essential for consciousness.
We purged worms from our bodies — and may have made ourselves sick
Biotech labs are mining worm chemistry to design medicines that calm the immune system without the risks of live infection.
Psychedelics & Mental Health
Inside a neuroscientist’s quest to cure coma
Thousands of Americans are trapped in disorders of consciousness. Neuroscientist Daniel Toker is searching for a way out.
Pac-Man turned 45 today. The surgeon general once warned that playing it could make kids violent.
Officials’ warnings about the impact of video games on kids were never proven true. They may be making the same mistake with social media.
Flexible brain implant takes major leap forward
The FDA’s clearance of Precision Neuroscience’s flexible electrode array pushes the startup ahead in the race to BCI commercialization.
Biohacking
Three founders look to the future at Freethink’s inaugural Great Progression event
The tech community came together for the launch of the Great Progression event series, curated by Peter Leyden and produced by Freethink.
We’re able to create new creatures through gene editing. What’s stopping us?
The question isn’t whether we can sculpt new life. The question is what comes next.
This conservationist is trying to bring extinct species back to life
Ryan Phelan, co-founder of Revive & Restore, talks about the future of conservation at Freethink’s Great Progression event.
Ray Kurzweil explains how AI makes radical life extension possible
Life expectancy gains in developed countries have slowed in recent decades, but AI may be poised to transform medicine as we know it.
Vaccines
Personalized cancer vaccines are having a moment
Personalized cancer vaccines were a recurring theme at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in 2024.
The threat of avian flu — and what we can do to stop it
Avian flu is infecting cows on US dairy farms, and now a person has caught it — but new research could help us avoid a bird flu pandemic.
One shot recreates younger immune systems, in mice
An antibody treatment designed to revitalize an aging immune system delivers “surprising” results in elderly mice.
More
“That is insane”: The strange, deadly coronavirus immune response
Research suggests the coronavirus immune response is different than with other viruses. It may help inform treatments and our understanding of COVID-19.
A soaring employment rate and more COVID-19 updates
In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.
Where did the coronavirus come from?
After analyzing dozens of coronaviruses, U.S. scientists believe COVID-19’s origin story involves not one, but two animal species.
Singapore to give all residents wearables for contact tracing
Singapore is testing the ability of wearables for contact tracing to prevent an increase in coronavirus infections as it lifts lockdown restrictions.
First coronavirus antibody drug trial launches in us
An antibody drug developed to treat people with COVID-19 — and potentially prevent new infections — is now being tested in humans.
Hospitals, morgues, and drive-ins: Empty stadiums fill new purposes
Their roars dulled, empty stadiums are serving as field hospitals, supply depots, morgues, drive-in theaters … and an Airbnb.
Telemedicine is the new normal. But can it survive after COVID?
As medical professionals struggle to meet the needs of patients during the coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine companies have become welcome allies that could drastically alter the future of healthcare.
Ketamine discovery may lead to new antidepressants
Researchers have uncovered new insights into how ketamine affects the brain, potentially illuminating the path to new antidepressants.
New health wearable measures sweat to track your mood
An app that works with a wearable wrist sensor to track how much a person sweats could change how we harness the power of biodata in the future.
New drug could provide long-term HIV prevention
HIV prevention typically requires a daily pill. A new, injectable drug may be able to work for over a month at a time.
Wearables can detect coronavirus symptoms early
A study involving more than 600 people found that the Oura Ring wearables can detect coronavirus symptoms 72 hours prior to onset with 90% accuracy.
Gamers are helping find COVID-19 vaccines
Developing COVID-19 vaccines is a challenge. RNA platforms show some promise, but overcoming their drawbacks requires help — perhaps from a video game.
The science behind your crazy pandemic dreams
If you’ve been having strange dreams and poor sleep during lockdown, you’re not alone. The anxiety-inducing pandemic, less activity, and more screen-time have many more people struggling with insomnia than usual.
This company is using beer yeast to make psilocybin
Brewing the magic in Psilocybe cubensis is difficult at scale. One Danish company thinks beer yeast may be the answer.
Japan ends state of emergency, seniors DJ from home, and more
In our weekly news roundup, we take you inside the fight against COVID-19 to explore the solutions on the frontlines of an unprecedented global response.
The rise of virtual therapy
In a time when the need is great and the future is unknown, virtual mental health services like BetterHelp are bringing relief and hope.
Prosthetic leg uses AI to adjust to different terrains
A new computer vision system developed to work with a prosthetic leg predicts the type of terrain ahead so that the limb can adjust accordingly.
How GMO zebrafish could inspire new infertility treatments
By genetically modifying zebrafish, researchers have discovered a sex hormone that could lead to future infertility treatments for humans.
New app lets sports fans cheer (or jeer) athletes remotely
Yamaha’s “Remote Cheerer” system lets sports fans stuck at home during the pandemic use an app to make noise at live sports facilities.
A new electric face mask kills the coronavirus
A new electric face mask prototype uses heat to kill the coronavirus. Another model generates an electric field that hinders its ability to infect cells.
Special Collection
Collection
The Science of Death
Explore the journey from life to death and beyond. Near-death experiences, death doulas, digital immortality, and more – join us for a thoughtful exploration of one life’s most intriguing and inevitable phenomena with stories from the frontlines of death.
Get inspired with the most innovative stories shaping the world around us.