Topics: Biology+Life Sciences

Mriganka Sur, head of MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Photo: Len Rubenstein
Fall 2009

MIT Brainpower

Institute experts are now addressing one of the greatest intellectual and scientific challenges of the 21st century — understanding the human brain and mind.

Prof. Penny Chisholm, who recently wrote a book for kids, says understanding photosynthesis
Fall 2009

Living Sunlight

Prof. Penny Chisholm co-writes a children’s book that explains how the Sun creates life on Earth.

K. Dane Wittrup is developing a class of cancer drugs inspired by the immune system's own disease-fighting antigens. Photo: Thomas Gearty
Summer 2009

Enemy Invaders

Molecular bioengineer K. Dane Wittrup is designing cancer-fighting drugs.

Ram Sasisekharan was worried that the bird flu might affect people, causing a global pandemic. Photo: Ed Quinn
Spring 2009

Bird Flu

Thanks to a new finding by biologist Ram Sasisekharan, the bird flu virus may not endanger human life.

Heidi Nepf's work has relevance
Spring 2009

Restoring Balance

Prof. Heidi Nepf says that plant life can help repair damage to nature.