Science
John Huth Discusses New Book ‘A Sense of Space: A Local’s Guide to a Flat Earth, the Edge of the Cosmos, and Other Curious Place’
Harvard physics professor and author John E. Huth discussed his new book, “A Sense of Space,” which explores the interaction between society and evolving scientific explanations of space, in the Science Center on Tuesday.
Harvard To Admit 50% Fewer Ph.D. Students in Science, Walking Back Deeper Cuts
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that it would reduce the number of Ph.D. admissions slots for the Science division by 50 percent for the current admissions cycle, walking back plans for even steeper cuts after faculty responded with frustration to the reductions.
More Americans Are Dying Before They Can Access Medicare Benefits, Researchers at Harvard and Brown Find
A rising share of Americans are dying before they can benefit from Medicare than in 2012 — including 38 percent more Black adults, according to a study published by researchers at Harvard and Brown University last week.
Nobel-Winning DNA Scholar James Watson, Dead at 97, Leaves Famed but Fraught Legacy at Harvard
James “Jim” D. Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA at age 25 and went on to spend 21 years as a Harvard biology professor, died last Thursday at 97.
At Harvard Panel, Scholars Say Ancient DNA May ‘Challenge Assumptions’ of Ethnic Homogeneity in Medieval England
A German archaeologist discussed his team’s research on two cadavers buried in early medieval England — both of whom had recent West African ancestry and appeared to be socially integrated with their communities — at a Harvard panel on Thursday.
Professor Steve Ramirez Talks Memory Manipulation, Loss, and Grief at Harvard Science Book Talk
Boston University professor Steve Ramirez promoted his new book, which dives into his experiences with grief after the death of his research partner and explores the science of memory manipulation, in the Science Center on Monday.
Harvard Scientists Build Model Uterus on a Chip to Model Menstruation
Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute are building model uteruses the size of a thumbdrive to diagnose heavy menstrual bleeding, after receiving a grant from the non-profit Wellcome Leap last month.
Ancient DNA Database Faces Uncertain Future after Funding Expires
Researchers at a Harvard Medical School laboratory are uncertain how they will continue supporting a large public genetic database after its primary source of funding expired last month.
Dr. Mike Advocates Social Media Use to Combat Scientific Misinformation at Harvard Talk
Social media influencer and board-certified physician Mikhail “Dr. Mike” O. Varshavski urged healthcare practitioners to capitalize on social media to combat medical misinformation at a Harvard Premedical Society event Monday night.
Primatologist Christine Webb Criticizes ‘Human Exceptionalism’ in Science at Harvard Talk
Primatologist Christine Webb argued at a Harvard talk on Tuesday that modern science is often skewed by “human exceptionalism."
Harvard Researchers Design Algorithm to Improve Wearable Robot for Stroke, ALS Patients
Harvard researchers created an algorithm that allows a wearable robot to adapt to and assist the arm movements of stroke and Lou Gehrig’s disease patients in real-time.
Harvard Researchers Reveal New Insights Into Human Bipedalism
Harvard scientists have discovered new evolutionary changes in pelvic structure that allowed the first humans to walk upright on two legs.
Truck Hits Northwest Building, Causing Minor Damage and Temporary Street Closure
A food delivery truck hit the corner of the Northwest Science Building on Wednesday morning, causing minor structural damage and a temporary street closure.
Harvard Was Cleared To Get Some Federal Funds. Then DOGE Stepped In.
DOGE officials have used their control of a federal payment system to keep money away from Harvard — even after a judge’s ruling required the National Institutes of Health to let some grants start flowing in July.
HMS Researcher Denies Lying To Border Patrol Officials
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard Medical School researcher detained by Customs and Border Patrol officials in February, denied lying to authorities about the contents of her luggage in a Thursday statement.
From Lab to Startup: Harvard’s Office of Technology Development Paves the Way for Research Commercialization
With their research in hand, they approached Harvard’s Office of Technology Development to license their invention for commercial use. Four years later, Schaefer and Feldhaus not only secured a patent, but also launched start-up company Rarefied Technologies to commercialize their invention.
Paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey Talks Turkana Basin Discoveries at Peabody Museum
Paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey, the granddaughter of Mary and Louis Leakey, who first determined that early humans evolved in Africa, presented a history of her family’s research in north Kenya at the Peabody Museum on Thursday.
Harvard Researchers Develop AI-Driven Framework To Study Social Interactions, A Step Forward for Autism Research
Harvard researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence-driven framework to track and analyze how rats interact in social environments, offering a new tool for studying autism and other disorders.
From the Seafloor to Outer Space: Marine Microbiology in the Girguis Lab
Girguis, a professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, specializes in biochemistry and ecological physiology. His work focuses on the deep sea, studying the “linkages” between marine organisms and their environment, with implications for everything from space exploration to human health.
Human Evolutionary Biology Concentration Will Be Renamed This Summer
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences has officially voted to change the name of the Human Evolutionary Biology concentration during a meeting on April 1. Effective as of July 1, 2025 — when the academic year rolls over — the concentration will now be known as Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution.
Fears Over Safety of Energy Facility in Brighton Will Lead City to Adopt New Regulations
Boston’s first Battery Energy Storage System, proposed for construction in Brighton at 35 Electric Ave., has generated a wave of resident backlash to underdeveloped regulation of BESS facilities, which state officials say are necessary to achieve carbon neutrality.
Biogen to Move Global Headquarters to Kendall Commons in 2028
Cambridge-based biotechnology company Biogen Inc. announced Monday that it will move its global headquarters to a new building in Kendall Square in 2028, consolidating its various branches and operations into a single “innovation hub” while drawing the company still closer to nearby MIT.
HMS Researchers Discover Key Protein in Activating Autoimmune Responses
Harvard Medical School scientists have identified a key protein in the human immune system that drives inflammatory and autoimmune conditions when it turns against the body.
Harvard Professor Paola Arlotta Receives Momentum Award from the International Society of Stem Cell Research
Harvard Professor and Broad Institute member Paola Arlotta received the Momentum Award from the International Society of Stem Cell Research, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting human health through “excellence in stem cell research,” for her work on neurological diseases and stem cell-derived brain organoids.