In the 1920s, the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin was a haven for queer people, many of whom came to the institute seeking to express their identities without fear of being imprisoned. This undated photo depicts a costume party at the institute; its founder, Magnus Hirschfeld (second from right, in glasses), can be seen holding hands with his partner, Karl Giese (center).
| 3 min read
German physician and sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld founded a revolutionary clinic where transgender people could receive gender-affirming care, but he left behind a complicated medical and scientific legacy.

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Giant Study Helps Clarify Role of Genes in Same-Sex Sex

Putative Gay Genes Identified, Questioned

Zika Transmitted via Anal Sex

Epigenetic Marks Tied to Homosexuality

Zeroing in on the “Gay Gene”

Carnal Knowledge

To Study Unfettered

Going Beyond the Lab

Contributors

Searching for Gay Genes

Behavior Brief

Can Epigenetics Explain Homosexuality?

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Biomedical Informatician Atul Butte Dies at 55

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Universe 25 Experiment

An illustration showing the accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cells, which is the underlying cause of disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

A Gut Pathogen’s Unexpected Weapon Against Amyloid Diseases

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An AI-Powered Scientist Proposes a Treatment for Blindness

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Taking Control of Cellular Contamination with PCR Testing

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Electronic Records in Cell Culture Management

Image of small blue creatures called Nergals. Some have hearts above their heads, which signify friendship. There is one Nergal who is sneezing and losing health, which is denoted by minus one signs floating around it.
June 2025, Issue 1

Nergal Networks: Where Friendship Meets Infection

A citizen science game explores how social choices and networks can influence how an illness moves through a population.

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Unraveling Complex Biology with Advanced Multiomics Technology

Unraveling Complex Biology with Five-Dimensional Multiomics

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Resurrecting Plant Defense Mechanisms to Avoid Crop Pathogens

Resurrecting Plant Defense Mechanisms to Avoid Crop Pathogens

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Seeing and Sorting with Confidence

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Streamlining Microbial Quality Control Testing

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Agilent Unveils the Next Generation in LC-Mass Detection: The InfinityLab Pro iQ Series

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Pioneering Cancer Plasticity Atlas will help Predict Response to Cancer Therapies

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How Alderley Analytical are Delivering eXtreme Robustness in Bioanalysis