Science & Tech

After a successful first year, the Harvard Data Science Initiative puts its focus on five new research areas and four new fellows.

A Harvard research team developed an analysis to measure millions of small genetic variations and calculate the risk of developing five serious common diseases: coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, Type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, or breast cancer.

In a new study, Harvard researchers say they may be able to estimate how glaciers moved by examining how the weight of the ice sheet altered topography and led to changes in the course of rivers. The study is described in a paper published in Geology.

Harvard researchers have found that by using evolving genetic barcodes, the process of cell division in developing mice can be recorded, enabling the lineage of every cell to be traced back to its single-cell origin.

A team of researchers has created a soft, animal-inspired robot that can safely be deployed in difficult-to-access environments, such as in delicate surgical procedures in the human body.

New Harvard research challenges conventional wisdom on what it takes to excel in calculus.

Harvard astronomer David Latham explains his role as science program director for NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

Researchers used “deep learning” to identify images captured by motion-sensing cameras.

Researchers believe that many of the plants and animals that call Latin America home may have their roots in the Amazon region.

A new device developed by Harvard researchers safely traps delicate sea creatures inside a folding polyhedral enclosure and lets them go without harm using a novel, origami-inspired design.

Robert Lue, principal investigator for the development of an online learning platform called LabXchange, aims to provide a virtual laboratory experience and social community for biology students.

An organization co-created by Harvard scientists is set to release a massive trove of Facebook data, strictly for research purposes.

Games that can change based on players’ actions help Harvard’s Martin Nowak and his fellow researchers to understand the evolution of cooperation.

Harvard researchers demonstrated a link between individual variation in risk-taking behavior and survival of animals in changing environments.

At Harvard College Observatory in the late 19th and early 20th century, Henrietta Swan Leavitt developed a powerful new tool for estimating the distances of stars and galaxies.

Harvard’s Ambulatory Microrobot explores new surfaces.

A team of researchers was able to show how sensory neurons in the face detect temperature, and how this information is later passed on to the hindbrain of zebrafish, where it is processed to produce behavior.

Harvard researcher Daniel Gilbert’s “prevalence-induced concept change” speaks to humankind’s conflicted relationship with progress.

Keynote speakers at the eighth Harvard IT Summit focused on how technology can contribute to a more diverse, just, and civil society.

Harvard researchers examined mysteries of color in the spider species Phoroncidia rubroargentea.

In a step to help fight global warming, Harvard Professor David Keith has a plan to repurpose existing technology to slash the costs of carbon capture.

Amgen and Harvard are teaming up to develop a free online education platform called LabXchange.

A graduate student, who had a baseball-sized brain tumor, was curious to see what his brain looked like before the tumor was removed. This led him to colleagues who collaborated on a new 3-D printing technique.

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics researchers explore dark matter particles that may carry an electric charge, and explain why that matters.

CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna discussed the gene-editing technology’s rapid spread and the need for a robust discussion about the ethics of its applications.

Natural lab holds promise to transform understanding of deep-ocean carbon cycling, says Professor Peter Girguis.

A new study shows that in repeated interactions winning strategies involve either partners or rivals, but only partnership allows for cooperation.

Harvard research teams systematically profiled every cell in developing zebrafish and frog embryos to establish a roadmap revealing how one cell builds an entire organism.

A group of Harvard researchers has developed a new genetic-analysis technique that harnesses “natural barcodes” to create what happens to cells when they are exposed to any kind of experimental condition, enabling large pools of cells from multiple people to be analyzed for personalized medicine.

“This is the miracle of being able to see what we have never been able to see before,” said Harvard Medical School professor and study co-author Tomas Kirchhausen.