Harvard

Most of us have woken up with an aching back after a sleepless night, only for that pain to then keep us awake the next night. Now Harvard scientists have discovered a possible link between pain and poor sleep, and maybe even a way to break the loop.

CRISPR systems are powerful tools for genetic engineering, but they have their limitations. Now, scientists have discovered almost 200 new CRISPR systems in bacteria, and found that some can edit human cells even more precisely than existing ones.

Inspired by a water-dwelling spider, researchers have created a novel surface material that stays dry for months underwater. They say the surface is easy to produce, scalable, and has a wide range of practical applications.

Scientists have demonstrated in mice that specially designed probiotics can reduce brain inflammation from diseases like multiple sclerosis. The study points to new potential therapies for chronic conditions that may be as simple as popping a pill.

The cosmos is full of surprises. Now astronomers have discovered a “heartbreak” star system where tidal waves, three times taller than the Sun, rise and crash on the surface of a giant star thanks to the motions of a smaller companion star.

In a glimpse of what could become a future Black Mirror episode, scientists have hooked the circulatory systems of old mice to young mice, and found that it slows the aging process in the older animals and increases their lifespan by up to 10%.

A new study led by scientists at Harvard Medical School has identified chemical cocktails that can restore cells to a more youthful state, paving the way for aging reversal treatments that are more accessible than gene therapy.

New research has uncovered the genetic signal needed to form and maintain the blood-brain barrier, which may enable a more effective way of delivering medicines to the brain to treat stroke, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, and cancer.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a new AI-powered tool to help brain surgeons combat cancer. CHARM rapidly evaluates tumorous tissue during surgery to help professionals make on-the-spot decisions about how to proceed.

Cancer is the end result of a wide range of problems, and learning how it occurs is key to prevention and treatment. Now, scientists have discovered a never-before-seen cancer-causing mechanism – a kind of clog in a cellular garbage disposal system.

Scientists have reconstructed the genomes of microbes from the Stone Age, and used them to produce new molecules. The complex puzzle was pieced together from DNA fragments of bacteria on the teeth of ancient humans and Neanderthals.

One of the biggest struggles of weight loss is maintaining it long term, but scientists have identified the neural pathway in the brain that changes during dieting, and inhibiting this connection could make it much easier to keep the pounds at bay.