Research

Coverage of significant discoveries, academic studies, and research initiatives led by Harvard scholars across disciplines.

Colorful word cloud with various emotions and ideas related to learning and reflection.

AI Helps Human Caregivers Reframe Patient Experiences

But it can’t replace human connection.

by Saima Sidik

Photograph by Kevin Ma and Pakong Chirarattanonon, Robert Wood Laboratory

Building RoboBees: How Harvard Engineers Are Revolutionizing Micro-Robotics

The push to build flying, thinking, robot swarms

by Jonathan Shaw

A boy on a couch looks startled as a bull charges toward him, causing a cloud of dust.

Born to Rest: Why Exercise is Hard

Evolution shaped humans to rest—and to run only when absolutely necessary.

by Jonathan Shaw

Gary King’s study of social media uncovered massive government censorship in China.

Why “Big Data” is a Big Deal

Information science promises to change the world.

by Jonathan Shaw

This disortion-free flat lens, less than a millimeter across, uses antennae etched from a layer of gold, rather than glass, to focus laser light.

Lightweight, distortion-free flat lens uses antennae, not glass, to focus light

Harvard scientists have developed a tiny, lightweight, distortion-free lens that focuses light without glass.

by Jonathan Shaw

Mycobacteria form greasy, fatty-looking colonies. Their thick lipid coatings may play a role in allowing them to survive an onslught of antibiotics.

Where Does Tuberculosis Hide?

The fight against an ancient scourge shifts to new battlegrounds...

by Jonathan Shaw

Federico Capasso: The Quantum Designer

From quantum materials design to “voodoo physics” in the nanoscientists’ weird world

by Jonathan Shaw