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
The left–right twist that could rewrite tech
Scientists are harnessing chirality — the left- and right-handedness of molecules — to build better batteries, sharper displays, and more.
Longevity progress is real. So are the scams.
Longevity is in a paradoxical place at the moment, with anti-aging influencers misrepresenting real progress in order to make money.
How a dog’s life could extend yours
Studying animals — from long-lived clams to everyday dogs — is helping scientists understand aging and design therapies to slow decline.
Psychedelics & Mental Health
Living longer — and healthier — starts with boosting your brain
Science is beginning to unravel the reasons behind age-related cognitive decline — and what we can do about it.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
More
Ghana uses drones to speed up coronavirus testing
In Ghana, Zipline is helping speed up coronavirus testing by using drones to deliver test samples, and it wants to bring the service to the U.S.
Microsoft’s “Plasma Bot” helps you donate plasma for COVID-19
Microsoft is launching a “Plasma Bot” to make it easier for coronavirus survivors to donate plasma for research and trials.
Disease detectives: tracking invisible killers
Disease detectives on the frontlines of coronavirus track the person-to-person spread.
Chinese coronavirus vaccine advances to next trial phase
CanSino Bio’s Ad5-nCoV was the first Chinese coronavirus vaccine to be tested in humans. Now it’s the first in the world to enter Phase II trials.
Treating depression at home with a tDCS headset
At-home tDCS headsets are helping people treat their depression without having to go to a doctor’s office.
Modifying the measles vaccine could stop the coronavirus faster
To stop the coronavirus from spreading, researchers are working on a vaccine that would use the measles vaccine as its delivery vehicle.
Scientists find a way to quickly ID coronavirus mutations
A new tool that allows scientists to quickly identify coronavirus mutations could help experts track and treat COVID-19.
The rise of simulated sports in the face of COVID-19
Because of the coronavirus, sports have come to a screeching halt. Unless you look online.
Contact-tracing tech advances, the new saliva test, 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.
Lab plans to ship 20 million coronavirus antibody tests per month
Abbott Laboratories is shipping millions of coronavirus antibody tests to hospitals and labs across the United States.
FDA approves first saliva test for coronavirus
The FDA has granted a saliva test for coronavirus emergency use authorization, giving health officials a new way to diagnose COVID-19.
Could VR change how you trip on ketamine?
Virtual reality meets ketamine therapy to help treat pain, anxiety, and depression, to name a few.
Hong Kong protests in Animal Crossing
Hong Kong’s virtual protests, tech giants joining forces to slow the spread of COVID-19, and more top stories in our weekly Progress Report.
Major League Baseball joins massive coronavirus antibody study
More than 10,000 Major League Baseball players and employees agreed to have their blood tested for a massive coronavirus antibody study.
Major drugmakers team up on potential coronavirus vaccine
Major vaccine developers GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi are collaborating on a potential coronavirus vaccine to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doctors use AI to test new coronavirus treatments on patients
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center launched a new trial that uses artificial intelligence to test promising coronavirus treatments as quickly as possible.
Across America, libraries are fighting the coronavirus
Communities are using every resource available to fight the coronavirus. Across the country, libraries are using their resources and staff to join the battle.
Why scientists are turning the coronavirus’ structure into music
MIT scientists have translated a key part of the coronavirus’ structure into music — and the song could help researchers find a way to stop the virus.
Apple and Google join forces on coronavirus tracking project
Apple and Google are collaborating on a coronavirus tracking project they hope will eliminate the privacy concerns surrounding contact-tracing apps.
It's safe to order takeout during the coronavirus pandemic. here's why.
Many experts agree that you can safely order takeout during the coronavirus pandemic — you just need to follow these steps.
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.