Science & Society
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Particle Physics
William Detmold: Looking deep into atoms’ hearts
MIT theoretical physicist William Detmold probes the fundamental bits of matter that combine to form the nuclei of atoms.
- Genetics
Benyam Kinde: Gene expression and Rett syndrome
M.D.-Ph.D. student Benyam Kinde studies how genetic changes affect brain cells’ activity in Rett syndrome.
- Health & Medicine
Isaac Kinde: Finding cancer via altered genes
Isaac Kinde helped create a technology that can spot cancers early to give patients a better chance at survival.
- Neuroscience
Priya Rajasethupathy: Memories mark DNA
Neuroscientist Priya Rajasethupathy has discovered a tiny molecule that may turn off part of the genome to help the brain store long-term memories.
- Neuroscience
Steve Ramirez: Erasing fear memories
Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez is manipulating memories in mice to one day erase fearful memories of PTSD.
- Chemistry
Sarah Reisman: Better synthesis of natural compounds
Chemist Sarah Reisman is trying to find new ways to build complicated chemical compounds found in nature.
- Neuroscience
Yasser Roudi: Creating maps in the brain
Physicist Yasser Roudi does the math on how the brain and other complex systems process information.
- Quantum Physics
Shinsei Ryu: Error-free quantum calculations
Physicist Shinsei Ryu navigates the confusing border between the quantum and everyday realms.
- Life
Gia Voeltz: Redrawing the cell’s floor plan
Cell biologist Gia Voeltz has changed our view of the endoplasmic reticulum.
- Genetics
Feng Zhang: Editing DNA
Scientist Feng Zhang has developed a system to easily and precisely edit genomes.
- Climate
Hurricane reports ignore indirect deaths
Nearly half of all hurricane and tropical storm fatalities are indirect, yet they typically aren’t included in official storm reports.
- Science & Society
A parting shot of coffee
Science News biomedical writer Nathan Seppa gives some final thoughts on coffee, saunas and skepticism as he retires from the magazine after 18 years.
