Harvard scientists detect atmosphere on distant ‘Earth-like’ planet
The first-of-its-kind discovery is expected to set off a search for signs of life.
Inquiry & Impact
The pursuit of knowledge through research, teaching, and learning, with impact at the FAS and beyond
Women more likely to marry, land jobs after taking GLP-1s
New research by economist Rebecca Diamond found an increase in marriage among single women and an increase in employment rates among unemployed women after they started taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Diamond says the pattern suggests that at least part of the female obesity penalty — the social and financial costs women bear due to their body size — is linked to first impressions.
Chemist’s fix for a stubborn biomanufacturing problem? Engineer the liquid, not the machine
FluxBio’s near-term focus is to help biomanufacturers get more out of the reactors they already own.
Fly ball!
For more than a century, the fruit fly has been a workhorse of the biological sciences that has helped scientists to make fundamental breakthroughs in fields such as genetics and neuroscience.
Experiment asks: What helps trees resist climate change?
This April, one thousand red oaks will be planted at Harvard Farm. The species, native to New England’s northern temperate climate zone, is increasingly threatened by drought and heat.
The atlas maker of the microscopic world
Throughout the history of biology, numerous discoveries stemmed from observing living systems, but seeing the innerworkings of living organisms presents challenges.
The oyster’s invisible architects
For an oyster, creating an internal environment for calcification that forms its distinctive hard shell is essential. But new Harvard research has found that these bivalves may outsource the work.
Assignment: Walk that robot across campus
Three robots walked into the Science Center, their human handlers trailing several feet behind. Within seconds, a crowd circled the cute one, a jaunty silver contraption.
Inside the very hungry brains of preschoolers
Childhood is understood as a time to learn and grow. What Christopher Kuzawa’s research shows is that learning and growing are interconnected.
For policymakers, standing behind the curtain comes with risks
More than $198 billion in green investments were enacted under former U.S. President Joe Biden. But who reaped the political rewards from a set of policies that advanced renewable energy projects and green jobs across all 50 states?
Study suggests healing skin without scarring may be possible
New findings by Harvard stem cell biologists suggest it may be possible in the future to regrow wounded skin without scarring.
How inflammation may prime the gut for cancer
A study in mice suggests that even intestinal cells that appear healthy may hold epigenetic “memories” of earlier bouts of inflammation that can promote colon cancer later in life.
A clear roadmap for engineering combs of light
Insights into electro-optic frequency combs could lead to new applications.