What's up in

Biology

Latest Articles

AI Overcomes Stumbling Block on Brain-Inspired Hardware

February 17, 2022

Algorithms that use the brain’s communication signal can now work on analog neuromorphic chips, which closely mimic our energy-efficient brains.

sex

A Billion Years Before Sex, Ancient Cells Were Equipped for It

February 16, 2022

Molecular detective work is zeroing in on the origins of sexual reproduction. The protein tools for cell mergers seem to have long predated sex — so what were they doing?

New Map of Meaning in the Brain Changes Ideas About Memory

February 8, 2022

Researchers have mapped hundreds of semantic categories to the tiny bits of the cortex that represent them in our thoughts and perceptions. What they discovered might change our view of memory.

Secrets of Early Animal Evolution Revealed by Chromosome ‘Tectonics’

February 2, 2022

Large blocks of genes conserved through hundreds of millions of years of evolution hint at how the first animal chromosomes came to be.

Neural Noise Shows the Uncertainty of Our Memories

January 18, 2022

The electrical chatter of our working memories reflects our uncertainty about their contents.

Evolution ‘Landscapes’ Predict What’s Next for COVID Virus

January 11, 2022

Studies that map the adaptive value of viral mutations hint at how the COVID-19 pandemic might progress next.

Flying Fish and Aquarium Pets Yield Secrets of Evolution

January 5, 2022

New studies reveal the ancient, shared genetic “grammar” underpinning the diverse evolution of fish fins and tetrapod limbs.

The Year in Biology

December 21, 2021

The detailed understanding of brains and multicellular bodies reached new heights this year, while the genomes of the COVID-19 virus and various organisms yielded more surprises.

Q&A

When a Gene Illness Discovery Means Breaking Bad News

December 14, 2021

When scientists discover genes linked to dangerous illnesses in their samples, how should they convey that news to the study participants? The geneticist Cristen Willer had to tackle that challenge.

Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox