
Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal
A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines

Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal
A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines

Bacterial ‘Nanosyringe’ Could Deliver Gene Therapy to Human Cells
This novel injection system could help advance gene therapy by nimbly inserting gene-editing enzymes into a variety of cell types


Gene Drives Could Fight Malaria and Other Global Killers but Might Have Unintended Consequences
A new technology could wipe out whole species. Is it a magic bullet or a genetic atom bomb?

Tiny ‘Rover’ Explores Cells without Harming Them
A miniature antenna can transmit data from inside cells without using damaging microwaves

‘Devilfish’ Could Help Treat Wastewater from Ceramics
Invasive suckermouths can be transformed into an industrial water cleaner

Moth Wings Are Beautiful in Infrared Light
Drab brown moths’ infrared glittering could be key to tracking different species through the night

AlphaFold Developers Win $3-Million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
DeepMind’s system for predicting the 3D structure of proteins is among five recipients of science’s most lucrative awards

Cilia Are Minuscule Wonders, and Scientists Are Finally Figuring Out How to Mimic Them
A new cilia-covered chip could revolutionize portable medical diagnosis

Electronic Skin Lets Humans Feel What Robots Do—And Vice Versa
An integration of soft materials, sensors and flexible electronics is bringing robotic “skin” closer than ever to reality

Racism in Medical Tests
Many diagnostic assessments are inherently biased against people of color

Mysterious ‘Retron’ DNA Helps Scientists Edit Human Genes
For the first time, researchers have used this bacterial tool to edit genes in human cells

Brain-Reading Devices Help Paralyzed People Move, Talk and Touch
Implants are becoming more sophisticated—and are attracting commercial interest