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Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data
A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.
Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data
Researchers Report Decoding Thoughts from fMRI Data

A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.

A method appears to be the first to noninvasively reconstruct language from brain activity.

privacy

Q&A: George Church’s Genome Up for Auction
Jef Akst | Apr 19, 2021 | 5 min read
A founder of the field of synthetic biology is selling data from his own DNA as a nonfungible token, or NFT, through Nebula Genomics, a personal genome company he cofounded.
AI-Assisted Cough Tracking Could Help Detect the Next Pandemic
Max Kozlov | Dec 6, 2020 | 7 min read
Some researchers have turned their focus to artificial intelligence to study an underused symptom common to most respiratory pathogens—cough.
Exclusive
Disputed Hydroxychloroquine Study Brings Scrutiny to Surgisphere
Catherine Offord | May 30, 2020 | 9 min read
Scientists have raised questions about the dataset published in The Lancet last week that triggered the suspension of clinical trials around the world—and about Surgisphere Corporation, the company behind the study.
antibody test coronavirus covid-19 sars-cov-2 immunity privacy confidentiality ethics bioethics public safety health
Opinion: Public Health Trumps Privacy in a Pandemic
John D. Loike and Ruth L. Fischbach | Apr 16, 2020 | 4 min read
If governments were to use SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests to manage who can re-enter the workplace, society must accept a sacrifice of privacy.
US Government Considers Collecting Detained Immigrants’ DNA
Ashley Yeager | Oct 3, 2019 | 2 min read
The Department of Justice plans to require cheek swabs at the border, with the data then entered in a national criminal database.
The Open Data Explosion
Viviane Callier | Jan 1, 2019 | 8 min read
Scientists are working to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of sharing.
DNA strands on a blue background
“Co-op” Lets Users Barter DNA and Health Information for Shares
Shawna Williams | Dec 7, 2018 | 2 min read
LunaDNA receives Securities and Exchange Commission approval to treat the data as currency.
Hackers Are Breaking into Medical Databases to Protect Patient Data
Catherine Offord | Oct 1, 2018 | 4 min read
Agencies such as the NIH reward the discovery of vulnerabilities in their computer systems—before criminals can exploit them.
MyHeritage Account Data Compromised in “Cybersecurity Incident”
Catherine Offord | Jun 6, 2018 | 2 min read
A security researcher found the email addresses and encrypted passwords of more than 92 million users of the genealogy site on a private server outside the company.
Companies to Help People Sell or Rent Out Their Health Data
Catherine Offord | Jun 5, 2018 | 2 min read
Luna DNA, Nebula Genomics, and other “bio-brokers” will allow customers to make money by granting access to their genetic and personal information for research purposes.
NIH Plans to Enroll 1 Million People for Health Database
Catherine Offord | May 3, 2018 | 2 min read
The agency says it has taken various steps to ensure the privacy of participants’ data. 
Criticism for Craig Venter’s “Face-Prediction” Software
Catherine Offord | Sep 11, 2017 | 2 min read
The tool cannot predict a person’s face from DNA, say researchers—including some listed as coauthors on the publication. 
Speaking of Science
The Scientist | Dec 1, 2015 | 2 min read
December 2015's selection of notable quotes
Toward Protecting Participants’ Privacy
Ruth Williams | Oct 29, 2015 | 3 min read
Genomic data shared via the Beacon Project are vulnerable to privacy breaches, scientists show.
Opinion: Public Data, Private Concerns
Viviane Callier | May 20, 2015 | 2 min read
Research participants aren’t always clear on open data policies when consenting to studies.
Microbiome Fingerprints
Kate Yandell | May 11, 2015 | 3 min read
Researchers identify people by the unique combinations of microbes found in and on their bodies.
Judge Wants Info on PubPeer Commenter
Kerry Grens | Mar 23, 2015 | 1 min read
In a defamation lawsuit involving anonymous comments on the post-publication peer review website, a judge requests potentially identifying information.
Court: Scientist’s Emails Are Private
Kerry Grens | Apr 22, 2014 | 2 min read
Judges rule that climate scientist Michael Mann’s communications are not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Funders Fight Re-Identification
Tracy Vence | Mar 25, 2014 | 2 min read
Four UK research funding agencies firm up their stance against deliberate attempts by researchers to re-identify supposedly anonymous study participants.
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