Microbiology
The Arcane Research That Prepared Us for COVID-19
Decades of basic science research on an obscure virus helped fast-track COVID-19 vaccines.
Carbon, It’s Elementary, Dear Reader
A selection of illustrations from the new book Carbon, One Atom’s Odyssey.
The Vast Viral World: What We Know (and Don’t Know)
Exploring the minuscule and mysterious world of viruses.
Plant Cells of Different Species Can Swap Organelles
In grafted plants, shrunken chloroplasts can jump between species by slipping through unexpected gateways in cells walls.
Preserving a Sense of Wonder in DNA
A bold project codes human data into microbes that will survive for millions of years.
‘Zombie’ Microbes Redefine Life’s Energy Limits
A new model shows that the denizens of a vast, ancient biome beneath the seafloor use barely enough energy to stay alive—and broadens understanding of what life can look like.
A Digital Locksmith Has Decoded Biology’s Molecular Keys
Neural networks have been taught to quickly read the surfaces of proteins—molecules critical to many biological processes. The advance is already being used to create defenses for the virus responsible for COVID-19.
The Superorganism That Created the Pandemic
A spotlight on the species that dominates the global ecosystem.
The Man Who Saw the Pandemic Coming
Will the world now wake up to the global threat of zoonotic diseases?
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.
Unscrambled Eggs: Self-Organization Restores Cells’ Order
To scientists’ surprise, blended mixtures of cytoplasm can reorganize themselves into cell-like compartments with working structural components.
The Non-Human Living Inside of You
Half of your genome started out as an infection; if left unchecked, some parts of it can turn deadly all over again.
