Science

Discover the scientific breakthroughs and engineering innovations being pioneered across Harvard’s labs and centers.

Smiling woman stands beside a large skull in a display cabinet.

Don’t Call Stephanie Pierce A Paleontologist

From competing in youth gymnastics to studying tetrapods, the Harvard curator has always chased her curiosity.

by Laurel M. Shugart

Decoding Diabetes

Elizabeth Gudrais reports on how discoveries in genetics, cell metabolism, and the study of small molecules point the way to new therapies and perhaps a cure for diabetes.

by Elizabeth Gudrais

High windows overlooking a courtyard reflect the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The low granite curbs among the trees frame skylights.

Labs, Size Large

The new Northwest Science Building at Harvard

Viral delivery of a three-transcription-factor cocktail has transformed pancreatic exocrine cells (blue) into scattered insulin-producing beta cells (red). A preexisting islet, or grouping of beta cells, is outlined at the upper left.

Stem-Cell Progress

Harvard researchers at the Stem Cell Institute achieve major breakthroughs.

Tiktaalik Resurfaces

In today’s New York Times, science writer John Noble Wilford reports on new findings (to be published tomorrow in the journal Nature) about Tiktaalik roseae, a fossil fish that...

Martin Chalfie ’69, Ph.D. ’77, and Roger Y. Tsien ’72 Share Chemistry Nobel Prize

Fundamental work on the green fluorescent protein, isolated from jellyfish, is now a basic tool used to study biological processes...

$125-Million Gift for Bioengineering

Hansjörg Wyss, M.B.A. ’65 has given the University $125 million—the largest donation in its history—to create a research institute for biologically inspired engineering...

The Teen Brain

It’s a paradoxical time of development. These are people with very sharp brains, but they’re not quite sure what to do with them...

by Debra Bradley Ruder

Proof Positive

Richard L. Taylor’s work connects two discrete domains of mathematics: curved spaces, from geometry, and modular arithmetic, which has to do with counting...

by Elizabeth Gudrais

This unorthodox de-mining team avoids most of the traditional pitfalls. Metal detectors give too many false alarms, fooled by bullets or other debris. Hand-held ground-penetrating radar machines are too expensive. Dogs weigh enough to trigger mines, injuring or killing themselves and their handlers.

Man, Mongoose, and Machine

Standing outside a Sri Lankan army base in the spring of 2007, Thrishantha Nanayakkara mapped an entire minefield without once setting foot in it.

by Paul Gleason

Doing Community Medicine

A few years ago, instructor of medicine Pieter Cohen began noticing a strange pattern of symptoms among some of his Brazilian immigrant patients...