Research & Ideas

Colorful abstract design resembling an octopus with intricate swirls and patterns.

Discoveries: Short Takes on Cutting-Edge Research

Growing liver implants, mapping the sense of smell, and journalism at risk

by Jonathan Shaw

Two colorful octopuses swim among vibrant coral and sea life in a lively underwater scene.

Let’s Talk About (Octopus) Sex

New Harvard research finds octopuses go beyond sight and touch to find mates.

by Schuyler Velasco

Two figures stand before a large, colorful pixelated face against a yellow background.

Humans Haven’t Stopped Evolving

Harvard scientists identify hundreds of genes under selective pressure.

by Monique Brouillette

A glowing orange sun with a star and a trailing gas cloud in space.

A Harvard Astrophysicist Explains the Bizarre Behavior of a Supergiant Star

The dimming and rapid rotation of Betelgeuse may be caused by a hidden companion.

by Saima Sidik

Four stylized magnifying glasses arranged in a gradient background with abstract patterns.

AI Hunts For Stolen Harvard Coins

A museum curator and a computer scientist track down ancient coins taken in a legendary heist.

by Schuyler Velasco

A colorful hummingbird hovering by vibrant flowers.

Discoveries

Short takes on cutting-edge research

by Jonathan Shaw

Four Labrador puppies—two black and two yellow—sitting in green grass.

What Do Puppies Know?

Canine capabilities emerge early and continue into adulthood.

by Schuyler Velasco

A close-up of a beetle on the textured surface of a cycad cone and cycad cones seen in infrared silhouette.

Research in Brief

Cutting-edge discoveries, distilled

by Jonathan Shaw

Purple violet flower with vibrant petals surrounded by green foliage.

Bees and Flowers Are Falling Out of Sync

Scientists are revisiting an old way of thinking about extinction.

by Andrés Muedano