Collaborating in Person May Spark More Innovative Research
Bringing people together virtually doesn’t seem to boost disruptive research
Stories by Simon Makin
Simon Makin is a freelance science journalist based in the U.K. His work has appeared in New Scientist, the Economist, Scientific American and Nature, among others. He covers the life sciences and specializes in neuroscience, psychology and mental health. Follow Makin on Twitter @SimonMakin
Here’s Why Infants Are Strangely Resistant to COVID
Very young children’s developing immune systems respond to the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 very differently than do those of adults
People Have Very Different Understandings of Even the Simplest Words
Distinctive meanings for a word like “risk” can have a big impact on public messaging, especially when it comes to issues like climate change
Newfound Hybrid Brain Cells Send Signals like Neurons Do
Some astrocytes, thought to play only a supportive role in the brain, can communicate with neurons
Machine Learning Creates a Massive Map of Smelly Molecules
Scientists can finally predict a chemical’s odor without having a human sniff it
New Portable Breast Cancer Scanner Can Fit in a Bra
Scientists have developed an ultrasound device to detect aggressive breast cancer that may develop between screenings
A Nasty Tropical Skin Disease Is Now Endemic in the U.S.
A unique U.S. strain of leishmaniasis has just been reported
Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger
Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life
New Soft Electrode Unfolds inside the Skull
An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces
Shape-Shifting, Self-Healing Machines Are Among Us
Electronics that can bend, stretch and repair themselves could potentially work in applications ranging from tougher robots to smart clothes
Images in the Mind’s Eye Are Quick Sketches That Lack Simple, Real-World Details
Pictures conjured by the mind’s eye lack detail, despite how vividly you picture them
Electric Bandages Heal Wounds That Won’t Close, Animal Study Shows
New technology combines electricity and drugs to stimulate healing of tenacious wounds
Quitting Smoking Is Hard. New Brain-Zapping Tech Could Help
Magnetic stimulation of brain regions could help people stop smoking, but researchers are still learning how to deliver the treatment effectively
Virtual Reality System Lets You Stop and Smell the Roses
A wireless device worn on the face or lip can produce fragrances such as lavender and green tea in a virtual world
Bionic Finger ‘Sees’ Inside Objects by Poking Them
A robotic finger’s supersensitive touches could probe inside body parts and circuits
People Differ Widely in Their Understanding of Even a Simple Concept Such as the Word ‘Penguin’
We think about what a penguin is like in dozens of different ways—one reason why we often talk past each other
Lab-Made Enzymes Could Chop Up the Virus That Causes COVID
Artificial enzymes could fight COVID and other tough diseases
New COVID Antiviral Cuts Hospitalizations in Half
An injection of a type of interferon drastically reduced the risk of severe COVID in a late-stage trial
Smart Algorithms Could Identify Animal Viruses with Pandemic Potential
Machine learning could find the viruses that are most likely to spill over from animals and cause future pandemics
How Viruses Hop from Wild Animals to Humans
A virologist explains what it takes for a virus to leap from an animal host into humans
A Hormone May Boost Cognition in Down Syndrome
The hormone GnRH may have potential for improving language, memory and other intellectual functions in people with Down syndrome, according to a pilot study
Restrictions on Psilocybin ‘Magic Mushrooms’ Are Easing as Research Ramps Up
Here’s how the psychedelic substance’s legal status has been shifting
A Portable MRI Makes Imaging More Democratic
An open-source approach downsizes today’s clunking behemoths with permanent magnets and deep-learning algorithms
An Inventory of All the Brain Cells That Let You Run, Jump and Roll
A project to map the motor cortex used the widest range of tools for probing brain cells ever deployed in a single, coordinated effort