Science & Tech

The art and technology of care giving — undervalued now — “cuts to the quick” of our humanity. Caring — for others, for ourselves, even for things and places — is at the core of our humanity. But how to cope with its demands in a medical setting was the subject of a two-panel conference, sponsored by the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard.

We resolve to exercise more and eat healthy, and then reach for a cupcake at the office holiday party. We pledge to put money away for retirement, but end up maxing out credit cards that charge 14 percent interest. According to Professor David Laibson, the reason for these struggles is that human beings are of two minds, one patient and one impatient.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that strong Republican gains in November’s election do not mean there is a public mandate to roll back EPA protections.

Gravity’s surprising effects when the Earth’s ice sheets melt can help to stabilize ones, such as those found in West Antarctica, that are grounded below sea level.

Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering officially opens new, expansive facilities in Boston and Cambridge to host its fast-growing enterprise.

Rosado enjoys managing museum’s massive collection of amphibians

A Harvard School of Public Health associate professor examines the link between health and neighborhoods to see whether people’s residential landscapes matter.

Harvard botanist Charles Davis is examining evolutionary relationships between species affected by climate change for clues to past and future changes.

The head of Nestlé explored ways to address a looming worldwide water crisis during a discussion at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Archaeologist Rowan Flad is seeking early traces of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Study of bilingual speakers suggests that language use can help to shape preferences.

Race may not be as important as previously thought in determining who befriends whom, suggests a study of Facebook habits by sociologists from Harvard and UCLA.

The air exchange system inside termite mounds provides a natural example of how to harness intermittent winds.

Study says microbes may consume far more gaseous waste from gulf oil spill than previously believed.

Harvard Physics Professor Gerald Gabrielse was named the recipient of the 2011 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize, awarded by the American Physical Society for outstanding contributions to physics.

An executive of the Indian conglomerate Tata described how the company promotes innovation, resulting in the creation of the world’s cheapest car, a $2,500, fuel-efficient four-seater.

An interdisciplinary Harvard working group on sustainable cities is in search of some organizational details, but is already certain of its urgent mission.

With 8 million orphans living in institutions worldwide, an ongoing Harvard study highlights the devastating effect institutionalization has on children, providing support for a switch to foster care.

Mathematics Professor Shing-Tung Yau tells how he discovered the Calabi-Yau manifold, a mysterious but important mathematical concept important in string theory.

Why aren’t you listening? Scientists discuss the difficulty of transferring scientific consensus to the public.

Researchers from Harvard University and MIT have demonstrated that graphene, a surprisingly robust planar sheet of carbon just one-atom thick, can act as an artificial membrane separating two liquid reservoirs.

A video tour through five case studies of sustainability at Harvard, including: * Student Peer-to-Peer Programs Educate and Inspire * Innovative Solutions that Serve as Models for Other * Greener, Healthier, More Efficient Buildings * Rethinking Campus Operations * Building a Culture of Sustainability

Reducing dependence on foreign oil and reducing greenhouse gases are the two major challenges facing U.S. energy systems, a visiting federal energy official told a Harvard audience.

Answers to questions about life in the universe is “within our grasp,” astronomer Lisa Kaltenegger said at an Origins of Life Initiative forum.

Engineers’ finding could provide crucial clues about cloud formation, differences between natural and polluted environments, and climate change.

Since Harvard received its first telescope in the 1670s, its astronomers have pushed back the frontiers of knowledge about the ever-expanding, planet-rich place that is the universe.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced that it is resuming funding embryonic stem cell research. “We are pleased with the…interim ruling” yesterday by a three-judge panel of the…

A temporary restraining order last month that blocked federal funding for certain kinds of stem cell research was viewed by many as a blow to cutting-edge science that already is…

A temporary restraining order that blocked federal funding for certain kinds of stem cell research was viewed by many as a blow to cutting-edge science. In response, President Drew Faust said, “We hope that the temporary injunction will soon be lifted and that Congress will take the steps necessary to ensure that stem cell scientists can carry on their work vigorously and responsibly, in the interests of the millions of people who may someday enjoy its benefits. …”

Harvard engineers have created a millionth-scale automobile differential to guide tiny aerial robots.