Christie Wilcox
How Neutral Theory Altered Ideas About Biodiversity
The simple insight that most changes are random had a profound effect on genetics, evolution and ecology.
Extra DNA May Make Unlikely Hybrid Fish Possible
The unintentional creation of “sturddlefish” hybrids may illuminate the genomic mechanisms that govern whether species can interbreed.
Why We’re a Lot Better at Fighting Cancer Than We Realized
Using data-mining techniques, doctors have discovered dozens of anti-tumor drugs hiding in plain sight.
The Future of Food Looks Small, Dense, and Very Bushy
Vertical farming could make agriculture more robust and sustainable. To unlock that potential, scientists are redesigning crops for urban life.
Cracking the Case of the Norovirus
A pervasive, pernicious virus has evaded vaccine developers for decades. By getting a clear look at its protective shell, they might finally know how to defeat it.
What Google Could Learn from a Fruit Fly
By tapping into life’s algorithms, scientists are finding elegant solutions to some of the hardest problems in computer science.
Can New Species Evolve From Cancers? Maybe.
Reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine’s Abstractions blog. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Aggressive cancers can spread so fiercely that they seem less like tissues gone wrong and more like invasive parasites looking to consume and then break free of their host. If a wild theory recently floated […]