Science

Peter Thiel’s Investment in a Vaccine Company Isn’t as Shady as People Want to Believe

The strange saga of a dying researcher desperate to cure herpes.

By Brian Bergstein

Brain Disorders May Start in the Gut — So Let’s Treat Them There

Dogfish sharks produce a remarkable antibacterial compound that might halt symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

By Amanda Schaffer

What if Number 2 Makes You Number 1?

Elite athletes have a greater variety of bacteria in their guts than couch potatoes do, raising the prospect of “poop doping.”

By Elizabeth Preston

The Gadget that Makes DNA Sequencing Child’s Play

The MinION cracks open biotech to the masses the way the PC democratized computing. What will we do with this newfound power?

By Dr. Sophie Zaaijer

This Artist Saw the Neobiological Future Before Any of Us

Lynn Hershman Leeson has spent 40 years grappling with cyborgs, genetically modified organisms, and AI.

By Dorothy Santos

It’s Time to Believe in Synthetic Biology

Juan Enriquez bets on the end of undruggable targets, the power of programmable cells, and a machine that cooks up biological material.

By David Ewing Duncan

For a Brain-Computer Interface to Work, Are Holograms the Only Hope?

Hardware visionary Mary Lou Jepsen’s next act is to read your mind—no implants required.

By Kristen V. Brown

Tales of the Neobiological Revolution

Writers, artists, experimenters of all kinds: we’re a platform for your great ideas!

By Jane Metcalfe

The Children You Could Have Produced Instead

Technology will dramatically increase the choices that parents can make about their offspring. But having too many options can be a bad thing.

By David Eagleman

This is Your Brain on Weed

Pot is being packaged like fine wines and sold with bold claims about physical and psychological benefits. Does science back up the marketing pitch?

By Maria Finn

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