techniques

There are benefits of studying certain biological processes under microgravity, but whether those advantages outweigh the costs of getting experiments off Earth remains to be seen.

From a rapid molecular test for COVID-19 to tools that can characterize the antibodies produced in the plasma of patients recovering from the disease, this year’s winners reflect the research community’s shared focus in a challenging year.

Images from a Cold War spy satellite help researchers piece together the effects of land-use decisions in Kazakhstan.

A CRISPR-based, paper-strip test developed by Indian researchers performs as well as real-time PCR in identifying the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and returns results within an hour.

An imaging agent reveals aggregated tau protein in the brain during PET scans and could improve the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly tauopathies.

Scientists seek to combine genome editing with a technique used in chicken breeding to try to bring back lost birds.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers monitored subsecond changes in levels of the neurotransmitters in the human brain, unlocking new insight into their function.

The effects seem to be mediated by a reactive oxygen species in the animals’ livers.

From hospitals and college campuses to remote villages in French Guiana, scientists have pit the two approaches against one other. See which one comes out ahead.

The University of Oregon scientist studied the structure and function of chromatin, with the intent of designing new therapeutic tools.

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna reprogrammed the bacterial immune response into one of the most popular tools for genetics and molecular biology.

Almost 60 percent of people in a new study on attitudes in the US felt comfortable using animals to grow human organs from induced pluripotent stem cells.

A nascent but growing consumer market for brain-computer interface technology is driving the development of sleek new tools for decoding brain activity.

A small study shows artificial intelligence can pick out individuals with coronavirus infections, but ophthalmologists and AI experts say the approach is far from proven to be capable of distinguishing infections with SARS-CoV-2 from other ills.

Other recipients of the award for laugh-worthy achievements experimented with alligators on helium and vibrating worms.

Norris, who founded the research firm Bio-Waves, furthered the study of marine mammals using passive acoustic monitoring technology he designed himself.

Researchers are adapting CRISPR, synthetic biology, and other creative approaches to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids outside of the lab or doctors’ offices, in the hopes of making diagnostics more affordable and accessible.

Microscopic analysis of charred, shapeless lumps from archaeological sites revealed ancient cereal grains that may have undergone malting to make beer.

The MIT physicist has demonstrated the importance of clusters of RNA polymerase and other transcription mediators in regulating RNA production.