Microbes and minerals may have set off Earth’s oxygenation
Scientists propose a new mechanism by which oxygen may have first built up in the atmosphere
An “oracle” for predicting the evolution of gene regulation
Researchers create a mathematical framework to examine the genome and detect signatures of natural selection, deciphering the evolutionary past and future of non-coding DNA.
The promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence explored at TEDxMIT event
MIT scientists discuss the future of AI with applications across many sectors, as a tool that can be both beneficial and harmful.
Speeding up directed evolution of molecules in the lab
Using a new robotic platform, researchers can simultaneously track hundreds of microbial populations as they evolve new proteins or other molecules.
Study finds a striking difference between neurons of humans and other mammals
Human neurons have fewer ion channels, which might have allowed the human brain to divert energy to other neural processes.
At MIT, Nobel laureate Frances Arnold describes innovation by evolution
In the Hoyt C. Hottel Lecture, Arnold tells the story of her pathbreaking research to engineer better enzymes for critical applications.
Dinosaurs may have lived in social herds as early as 193 million years ago
Fossils indicate a communal nesting ground and adults who foraged and took care of the young as a herd, scientists say.
Zeroing in on the origins of Earth’s “single most important evolutionary innovation”
A new study shows oxygenic photosynthesis likely evolved between 3.4 and 2.9 billion years ago.
Q&A: Holly Jackson on building a cosmic family tree
Undergraduate in electrical engineering and computer science contributes to startling new astronomy research.
Study sheds light on the evolution of the earliest dinosaurs
Geological evidence suggests the known dinosaur groups diverged early on, supporting the traditional dinosaur family tree.
Playing a new tune
Meet Professor David Rand, a one-time punk rock guitarist who now digs into psychology, cooperation, and politics.
The growth of an organism rides on a pattern of waves
Study shows ripples across a newly fertilized egg are similar to other systems, from ocean and atmospheric circulations to quantum fluids.
How long will a volcanic island live?
Plate tectonics and mantle plumes set the lifespan of volcanic islands like Hawaii and the Galapagos.
A new way to regulate gene expression
Biologists uncover an evolutionary trick to control gene expression that reverses the flow of genetic information from RNA splicing back to transcription.
How biomarkers can record and reconstruct climate trends
Scientists reveal the genes and proteins controlling the chemical structures underpinning paleoclimate proxies.