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 rendering of three massive silver containers with "Ark" written on them

Food

This startup is trying to solve lab-grown meat’s biggest problem

A biotech startup has developed a new kind of bioreactor that could help increase cultivated meat production.

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

Medicine

Human-like "organ chips" could eliminate animal studies

To rapidly test for COVID-19 treatments without animal studies, researchers make a model human body out of “organ chips.”

Teresa Carey

Researchers discover living 100-million-year-old microbes

Researchers have found microbes in deep sea sediment millions of years old. Given food, they sprung back to life.

B. David Zarley

CRISPR

This genetically modified cow could transform beef production

Cosmo the bull calf has an extra SRY gene, which makes him more likely to sire male cows — and also makes him a strong candidate for use as a GMO food.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

Small protein, big breakthrough for CRISPR gene editing

A new protein opens doors for gene editing by gaining access to hard-to-reach areas of the genome.

Teresa Carey

Genetics

For the first time, researchers edit human mitochondrial DNA

Researchers can now edit a part of the human genome that CRISPR has never been able to. This opens up new possibilities for research and cures for devastating rare genetic diseases.

Teresa Carey

Genetics

Gene writing: A new type of genetic engineering

Startup Tessera Therapeutics has developed gene writing, a new approach to genetic engineering that it says overcomes CRISPR’s shortcomings.

Kristin Houser

Robotics

Cracking the mystery of how insects fly — with robots

Scientists made a robot that can keep up with flying insects, helping researchers understand flight physics.

Teresa Carey

Biology

New 3D bioprinting method uses light to grow ears in mice

A new 3D bioprinting technique uses near-infrared light to trigger a bioink to form shapes, even when placed under the skin of mice.

Kristin Houser

Oceans

The first person to reach space and Challenger Deep

Astronaut Kathy Sullivan has visited the Challenger Deep, making her the first human to reach both space and the bottom of the ocean.

Kristin Houser

Biology

Scientists reveal first 3d heart model that shows heart’s neurons

Researchers built a virtual 3D heart model in unparalleled detail, mapping the neurons for the first time.

Teresa Carey

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.