Can Plants Really “See”?

Some researchers claim that a Chilean vine can mimic the leaves of a plastic houseplant thanks to a form of primitive vision. But extraordinary claims require equally extraordinary evidence.

A Brief History of the Miracle Bacterium

Serratia marcescens, a pathogen with an uncanny resemblance to blood, has had an outsized influence on modern science.

Healing My Family’s Future

Jennifer Lai Remmel

How genetics and IVF empowered a family to leave cancer behind.

What Limits a Cell’s Size?

Two physical constraints help explain why cells are so tiny: surface area-to-volume ratios and diffusion. The first article in our new Data Series.

The Making of a Gene Circuit

Nehal Udyavar & Niko McCarty

A brief history of the repressilator, a genetic circuit that gave rise to synthetic biology.

A Search for Sick Animals

A 2020 study suggests that monkeys can develop Parkinson’s, just like humans. Why haven't the findings been duplicated, and what will it take to find more “natural” animal models?

Stories We'd Like to Publish (Part II)

A sizeable list, covering everything from "The $100 Electron Microscope" to "A Brief History of NSAIDs." Come write with us!