David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian were honored for their discoveries about how heat, cold and touch can initiate signals in the nervous system.
Tag: Science and Technology
India’s I.C.M.R. Is a ‘Political Weapon’ Under Modi, Some Scientists Say
The country’s top science agency tailored its findings to fit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s optimistic narrative despite a looming crisis, researchers say.
Japan Needs a Lot More Tech Workers. Can It Find a Place for Women?
The country is pushing to digitally modernize itself, but one of the developed world’s starkest gender gaps is holding it back.
Covid Lab-Leak Theory Renews “Gain-of-Function” Research Debate
Talk of ‘gain-of-function’ research, a muddy category at best, brings up deep questions about how scientists should study viruses and other pathogens.
Shi Zhengli, A Virologist in Wuhan, Speaks Out Against ‘Lab Leak’ Theory
The virologist, Shi Zhengli, said in a rare interview that speculation about her lab in Wuhan was baseless. But China’s habitual secrecy makes her claims hard to validate.
Lab-Leak Theory: Kristian Andersen On His Fauci Email and Covid Origins
In early 2020, Kristian Andersen wrote to Anthony Fauci about the possibility of an engineered coronavirus. His research has since dispelled those suspicions.
Shi Zhengli, Chinese Virologist, Faces Scrutiny Over Wuhan Lab Research
Shi Zhengli, a top virologist, said in a rare interview that speculation about her lab in Wuhan was baseless. But China’s habitual secrecy makes her claims hard to validate.
Reading Dan Frank, Book Editor and ‘Champion of the Unexampled’
Alan Lightman, Janna Levin and others recall the editor who shaped their work and a literary genre. Plus, more reading recommendations in the Friday edition of the Science Times newsletter.
Some Scientists Question W.H.O. Inquiry Into the Coronavirus Pandemic’s Origins
Those who still suspect the outbreak in China may have been caused by a lab leak or accident are pressing for an independent investigation.
‘Smart’ Office Cushions Track Workers by the Seat of Their Pants
A Chinese tech company designed a way to track employees’ health, but sensors were also monitoring when they were away from their desks, setting off a debate about privacy and surveillance.