Scientists program cells to remember and respond to series of stimuli

Cambridge, Massachusetts - Synthetic biology allows researchers to program cells to perform novel functions such as fluorescing in response to a particular chemical or producing drugs in response to disease markers. In a step toward devising much more complex cellular circuits, MIT engineers have now programmed cells to remember and respond to a series of events. 

First atmospheric study of Earth-sized exoplanets reveals rocky worlds

Cambridge, Massachusetts - On May 2, scientists from MIT, the University of Liège, and elsewhere announced they had discovered a planetary system, a mere 40 light years from Earth, that hosts three potentially habitable, Earth-sized worlds. Judging from the size and temperature of the planets, the researchers determined that regions of each planet may be suitable for life.

Lockheed Martin Teams with Purdue, New Mexico State and New Mexico Tech for Sandia Competition

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Lockheed Martin has named a national research university and a consortium of New Mexico universities to its team competing for the Sandia National Laboratories Management and Operating contract. Purdue University, New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will play key roles in Sandia’s specialized research and development and technology transfer initiatives.

The quest for clean water

Cambridge, Massachusetts - The air was hot and gritty. Shehazvi had to squint to see past the sun into the edge of town, past the cars and motorcycles whizzing by, past the scorched earth, to where old buildings stood beautiful in their own way, muted pinks and oranges still curving and curling in all the right places. No rain again today

Oceans May Be Large, Overlooked Source of Hydrogen Gas

Durham, North Carolina - Rocks formed beneath the ocean floor by fast-spreading tectonic plates may be a large and previously overlooked source of free hydrogen gas (H2), a new Duke University study suggests.