Science

Side by side of mouse embryos. The one on the left appears to be developing normally, but the one on the right has an extra pair of legs.

How turning off one gene causes mice to grow 6 legs

A study of embryo development in mice led to the creation of a mutant mouse fetus with an extra pair of legs in place of genitals.

Kristin Houser

A man in a suit stands next to a robotic arm with computer-brain interfaces on a stage under blue lighting.

Big Tech

In a future with brain-computer interfaces like Elon Musk’s Neuralink, we may need to rethink freedom of thought

In a future with more “mind reading,” thanks to computer-brain interfaces, we may need to rethink freedom of thought.

Parker Crutchfield

Oceans

Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage

An MIT team is hoping to fortify coastlines with “architected” reefs engineered to mimic the wave-buffering effects of natural reefs.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office

Two people standing close together, united by a surge of oxytocin, one wearing a white top and the other in a red top, against a clear blue sky.

Neuroscience

Oxytocin’s effects aren’t just about love

At last, neuroscientists are learning how the hormone shapes social behaviors such as pair-bonding and parental care. It’s more complicated than they thought.

Bob Holmes | Knowable Magazine

Agriculture

World’s first GM banana approved in Australia

Australian regulators have approved a GM banana modified to resist Panama Disease, a devastating fungal infection.

Kristin Houser

Genetics

How our “junk DNA” led to humans being tailless

A CRISPR study out of NYU suggests that junk DNA likely led humans to evolve to be tailless millions of years ago.

Kristin Houser

A person cutting yellow flowers in a garden affected by water pollution.

Sustainability

Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit

Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways and even make a profit from cut flower sales.

Krishnaswamy Jayachandran and Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez

A woman holds a heart-shaped potato, mutated by nuclear radiation, in her hands.

Agriculture

How potatoes can keep an eye on nuclear radiation

Plants scientists are researching how fields of genetically modified potato plants could detect radiation.

Neal Stewart and Robert Sears

CRISPR

CRISPR could eradicate horrific parasite that’s killing cattle

Uruguay is developing a CRISPR gene drive to eradicate the New World screwworm fly, a horrific agricultural pest.

Kristin Houser

stylized grains of rice colored blue and red

Food

Korean scientists grow beef inside of rice

By growing cow cells inside rice, Korean researchers boosted its protein content by 8%, without substantially increasing its cost.

Kristin Houser

A glowing green plant is illuminated against a black background, creating a mesmerizing scene.

Genetics

Bioluminescent plants don’t exist in nature — but you can buy one for $29

Biotech firm Light Bio is selling gene-edited bioluminescent plants that glow green in the dark for just $29.

Kristin Houser

Brain

Scientists create the first “functional” 3D-printed mini brains

The first 3D-printed brain organoids that function like natural brain tissue could lead to breakthroughs in neuroscience.

Kristin Houser

a collage of different organisms under a microscope

Biology

“Insane” new type of virus-like organisms found in human gut

Stanford scientists have discovered a strange new class of virus-like organisms, called “obelisks,” in the human gut microbiome.

Kristin Houser

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