Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain
These immature connections may explain how the adult brain is able to form new memories and absorb new information.
New CRISPR-based tool inserts large DNA sequences at desired sites in cells
Known as PASTE, the technique holds potential for treating a variety of diseases caused by faulty genes.
Keeping indoor humidity levels at a “sweet spot” may reduce spread of Covid-19
A new study links very dry and very humid indoor environments with worse Covid-19 outcomes.
Not every reader’s struggle is the same
An MIT study finds that children from different socioeconomic backgrounds tend to have different brain patterns associated with reading difficulty.
Genome-wide screens could reveal the liver’s secrets
A new technique for studying liver cells within an organism could shed light on the genes required for regeneration.
A new control system for synthetic genes
Researchers have developed a technique that could help fine-tune the production of monoclonal antibodies and other useful proteins.
Study finds the risks of sharing health care data are low
Greater availability of de-identified patient health data would enable better treatments and diagnostics, the researchers say.
Four from MIT receive NIH New Innovator Awards for 2022
Awards support high-risk, high-impact research from early-career investigators.
Scientists chart how exercise affects the body
A new study maps the genes and cellular pathways that contribute to exercise-induced weight loss.
Breaking through the mucus barrier
A capsule that tunnels through mucus in the GI tract could be used to orally administer large protein drugs such as insulin.
Neurodegenerative disease can progress in newly identified patterns
A machine-learning method finds patterns of health decline in ALS, informing future clinical trial designs and mechanism discovery. The technique also extends to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
In-home wireless device tracks disease progression in Parkinson’s patients
By continuously monitoring a patient’s gait speed, the system can assess the condition’s severity between visits to the doctor’s office.
Study reveals how environment and state are integrated to control behavior
A simple animal model shows how stimuli and states such as smells, stressors, and satiety converge in an olfactory neuron to guide food-seeking behavior.
How the brain focuses on what’s in mind
When holding information in mind, neural activity is more focused when and where there are bursts of gamma frequency rhythms.
Biologists glean insight into repetitive protein sequences
A computational analysis reveals that many repetitive sequences are shared across proteins and are similar in species from bacteria to humans.