50 Years Ago

  1. Genetics

    50 years ago, chimeras gave a glimpse of gene editing’s future

    Advances in gene editing technology have led to the first successful transplant of a pig kidney into a human.

    By Abby Wallace
  2. Health & Medicine

    50 years ago, phantom pain was blamed on misfiring nerves 

    Researchers now know that the cause of post-amputation pain is more complex, which is leading to new treatments.

    By Helen Bradshaw
  3. Health & Medicine

    50 years ago, margarine’s ‘healthy’ reputation began to melt away

    In the 1970s, scientists began to suspect that margarine was bad for heart health. A key component, artificial trans fat, was a major factor.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  4. Animals

    50 years ago, scientists wondered how birds find their way home

    In the 1970s, lab tests hinted that birds can navigate using magnetic fields.