Science & Tech

David Ginty probes pleasure and pain to shed light on autism and other conditions 

Psychologists found OpenAI’s GPT-4o showing humanlike patterns of cognitive dissonance, sensitivity to free choice

Study finds some sea slugs consume algae, incorporate photosynthetic parts into their own bodies to keep producing nutrients

New finding underscores need to intervene before kids start school, say researchers

Vera Rubin, whose dark-matter discoveries changed astronomy and physics, gets her due with namesake observatory, commemorative quarter

New research reveals how the octopus uses arms to sense chemical clues from microbiomes

By 15 months, children can learn the names of objects they’ve never seen

New molecular method differentiates sexes, reveals whether females have mated

75 years after Fermi’s paradox, are we any closer to finding extraterrestrial life? 

Policy expert Dustin Tingley studies transition to renewable energy, knows from work, life how economic shifts rattle through communities

Study finds pairing members of opposing parties on the same side to compete in specially designed quiz eases partisanship

Climate researchers wrestling with losses of federal funding, data, and key tools

Steven Pinker breaks down the history of taboo words, different categories of swearing, and the meaning conveyed by a bleep

David Liu’s gene-editing technologies demonstrate game-changing potential in two recent cases

Seven novel research projects awarded grants by Star-Friedman Challenge

Geneticists find method to turn tiny bugs into living robots

In new book, neuroscientist Leor Zmigrod traces connections between brain biology, political beliefs

Salata panelists warn that damage from executive orders and cuts to research funding won’t be easily overcome

Panelists in University-wide symposium explore promise, peril of AI in academia

Test the limits of your cosmic IQ by taking our quiz based on Harvard astronomy research

Astrophysicist says they may have more money than you, but they don’t know anything more about future than anyone else

Researchers compile dictionary of vocalizations suggesting the animals use equivalent of word compounds, phrasings to communicate complex social situations

Wyss’ Don Ingber details rush to hold onto consequential projects, talented researchers — and system that has driven American innovation 

Gary Ruvkun recounts years of research, which gradually drew interest, mostly fueled by NIH grants

Researchers find way to confirm existence of axions, which make up dark matter

New apps for cancer patients, cannabis users, others make use of algorithms that continually customize support

After decades of research, potential therapies for Fragile X and Rett syndromes come into view

NASA technology guides scientists as they track health of ‘Earth’s lungs’

Novel system works like a coffee filter to dry, cool air more efficiently

Science historian examines how Benjamin Franklin’s invention sparked new thinking on weather, technology