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Our Wonderful Age of Abundance, in 9 Striking Infographics
Technology is driving us toward an era of exhilarating freedom, economic opportunity, and the profound gift of health. 04.24.2012
6 Creepy-Crawlies We Hate But Couldn't Do Without
You might think the world would be better off without the bacteria that cause acne and strep throat. You'd be wrong. 04.18.2012
Turning Lymph Nodes Into Liver-Growing Factories
If your liver fails, having 40 small but functional livers scattered around your body might be the next best thing. 04.11.2012
Of Mice and Men and Medicines
Drugs that alleviate symptoms of psychological illness in mice often wind up producing human treatments. There is just one small problem: Their mental breakdowns look nothing like ours. 02.24.2012
#18: Genome of Vegetables Remains Active After You Eat Them
microRNAs from rice survive digestion and alter human gene expression. 12.22.2011
The Forrest Gump of Mice (Minus the Insipid Adages)
A simple gene switch lets rodents run and run and run. 10.26.2011
Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul; Skin Is a Window to the Brain
A personalized source of stem cells could help find safer, more effective treatments for mental disorders. 10.25.2011
Dawn of the BioHackers
Do-it-yourself biologists are hunting down genetic disorders and creating synthetic life-forms in garages, closets, and backyards around the world. 10.05.2011
How Pig Guts Became the Next Bright Hope for Regenerating Human Limbs
A remarkable substance extracted from pigs enables the body to regenerate lost tissue, including fingertips and big chunks of muscle. And that may not be all it can do... 09.26.2011
We Can Now Safely Sequence a Fetus' Genome. Is the World Ready for This?
Researchers can now get the entire genome of a fetus just by sampling the mother's blood. While this could help new parents prepare, it may also lead to more abortions and more carefully selected offspring. 09.21.2011
Hit "Print," Make Blood Vessels
Instead of raiding a patient's body for a vein, heart surgeons could create a new one made from human cells. 08.10.2011
5 Questions for the Brain's Code-Breaker
Sheila Nirenberg hopes to cure blindness by combining an artificial eye, gene therapy in the brain, and some skillful translation between them. 08.04.2011
Neon Nerves for Safer Surgery
Even tiny nerves obscured by trauma or disease would be hard to miss if they glowed neon green. 07.24.2011
What Will Our Telomeres Tell Us?
Nobel Prize–winner Elizabeth Blackburn's company will soon begin selling a test of telomere length to consumers. Whether that information will actually help improve people's health remains to be seen. 05.18.2011
#2: First Synthetic Organism Created
04.28.2011
Dead People Science Won't Let R.I.P.
Medical researchers are determined to unearth the truth about these historical figures' lives and deaths: Eight tales of delayed diagnosis and extreme postmortems. 02.08.2011
The Timeless and Trendy Effort to Find—or Create—the Fountain of Youth
In the quest for longer life, scientists are trying to find the genes of longevity and bottle their benefits for all. 02.07.2011
How to Grow a New Lung
One key is getting rid of the donor's pesky cells, leaving the some critical structures behind. 01.27.2011
#66: Synthetic Lung Takes a Breath
12.16.2010
#56: Synthetic Antibodies Cure Infected Mice
12.16.2010
The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010
Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010
The Brain Is Ready for Its Close-Up
Neuroscientists know that the first step in understanding something is to get a good look at it. A new book showcases their finest attempts to image the brain, from Victorian drawings to state-of-the-art brainbows. 11.17.2010
8 Ways to Restore Eyesight to the Blind
Tiny telescopes, gene therapy, and more: Medical researchers are developing high-tech ways to treat blindness. 11.09.2010
Genetic Medicine Goes Nano
More researchers are using nanoparticles to deliver lethal toxins specifically to cancer cells, leaving regular cells unharmed. 04.14.2010
#11: The Age of Genetic Medicine Begins
After years of setbacks and failures, gene therapy begins to produce some viable cures. 01.25.2010
#26: Biologist J. Craig Venter
The pioneering scientist/entrepreneur on biology's next leap: digitally designed life-forms that could produce novel drugs, renewable fuels, and plentiful food for tomorrow’s world. 01.25.2010
#27: Genetic Disease Cured Using Cellular Shell Game
By swapping some of one mother's genes for another, an offspring can end up without birth defects (but with two mothers). 01.25.2010
#32: Fake DNA Fools Crime Lab
The science is accurate, but the sample may not be. 01.25.2010
"Frankenfoods" That Could Feed the World
Genetically modified crops designed for industrial agriculture have given the technology a bad rap. Here are 7 transgenic plants that could help the world's hungriest and poorest people. 01.05.2010
Bone/Tendon Hybrids Could Quickly Repair Injury
A new synthetic connector could help bridge the gap between mineral-rich bone and fully organic tissue. 01.04.2010
8 Lessons Medicine Is Learning From Mother Nature
Snail slime, worm glue, and squid beaks are inspiring a new generation of biomimetic medical devices. 12.02.2009
The 3-D Simulation that Lets Your Surgeon Practice...on You
A new technology lets doctors test out procedures on a simulation of the patient's anatomy. 10.28.2009
Future Tech: Doctor on-Call? Cell-Phone Cameras Can Diagnose Disease
Developing nations often have a lack of medical facilities but good cell phones. The CellScope turns the latter into the former. 10.20.2009
Five Questions: Turning Microbes Into Micro Refineries
Synthetic biologist Reshma Shetty predicts that we will eventually engineer organisms to grow everything that we manufacture today. 10.12.2009
The Second Coming of Gene Therapy
For years, gene therapy produced tons of hype but no results. Recently, though, new approaches have yielded its first successes: breakthrough treatments for blindness, cancer, and the deadly bubble boy disease. 09.02.2009
3-D Scanning: How to Put the Real World Into Your Computer
The recent imaging of two 300-million-year-old proto-spiders was just the tip of the iceberg: Here are 12 new scanning technologies that are bringing amazing 3-D images into Hollywood, medical care—and home PCs. 08.12.2009
Discover Interview: Thanks, Evolution, For Making the Great Building Material Called DNA
Electronic computers are great at what they do. But to accomplish really complicated physical tasks—like building an insect—Erik Winfree says you have to grow them from DNA. 08.11.2009
Shadow Life
DISCOVER Fiction: In the post-economic future, big-ticket science is dead and amateurs hunt aliens using gear scored cheap on eBay. 08.04.2009
Are Smart Drugs the Answer to Bad Moods—and a Bad Economy?
Today’s mind-altering chemicals can improve your memory, alertness, and mood. Just wait until you see what tomorrow’s crop can do. 04.02.2009
Autonomous Claw Could Become the World's Tiniest Surgeon
Snowflake-like robot could be used in biopsies and other procedures. 02.06.2009
Evolution by Intelligent Design
Bioengineers will likely control the future of humans as a species. 02.02.2009
Is That a Dead Mouse You're Cloning?
Researchers clone living pups from long-dead, frozen rodents. 01.12.2009
Skipping the Problem Is a Jump Towards Curing Paralysis
Researchers discover a way to re-route brain signals to a paralyzed limb. 01.10.2009
#9: Your Genome, Now Available for a (Relative) Discount
The first cost around $1 million; now, it's more like $200,000. 12.21.2008
#16: Researchers Produce Human Blood from Stem Cells
It's not quite the same, but lab-generated blood gets the job done. 12.19.2008
#41: A Synthetic Genome Is Built From Scratch
The art of recreating an entire bacterial genome. 12.14.2008
#47: Biologists Watch HIV Replicate in Real Time
Using fluorescent proteins, researchers observer the virus forming. 12.13.2008
#68: Solved: The Mystery of Gravity-Defying Sap
One synthetic tree accomplishes what loads of scientists never could. 12.10.2008
#74: Viruses Are Put to Work Building Superbatteries
Engineers turn viruses into little engineers. 12.09.2008
20 Best Brains Under 40
Young innovators are changing everything from theoretical mathematics to cancer therapy. 11.20.2008
What Is This? A Papier-Maché Piñata?
There's no candy hidden in these, but they do hold other secrets. 11.05.2008
The Invention that Saved—and Destroyed—Millions of Lives
A new book describes how German chemists find the secret to nitrogen fertilizer—and explosives. 10.12.2008
A Visual Tour of the World of Science
An upcoming museum exhibit shows Technicolor microexplosions, water lilies as delicate as breast tissue, and more. 10.02.2008
Fighting for the Right to Clone
Stem cell and cloning guru Robert Lanza has battled the Catholic Church, the White House, and violent protesters. 08.19.2008
How to Teach Science to the Pope
The Vatican keeps close tabs on the latest science—and integrates new research into its modern theology. 08.18.2008
10 Ways Genetically Engineered Microbes Could Help Humanity
Fighting cancer, producing renewable fuels, and making your clothing glow in the dark. 08.06.2008
The Beautiful Mind of Freeman Dyson
Thoughts and illustrations from the head of a science legend. 06.09.2008
A Dead Man's Eyes Hold the Key to His Age
Proteins in the eye offer a new means of identifying corpses. 05.02.2008
In Election Year, Stem Cell Question Grows Still Gnarlier
Bush says he won the war, but the prez ain't seen nothin' yet. 03.03.2008
A Chat With George W. Bush’s Conscience
Embryonic stem cells crashed against Leon Kass’ old-school moralism. 02.20.2008
62. Human Egg Harvesting Succeeds
01.11.2008
9. The Genome Turns Personal
With individual sequencing, medicine may soon be custom-tailored to your own DNA. 12.12.2007
Beauty Sans the Beast
Lab-grown skin saves cute li'l bunnies from cosmetics testing. 11.07.2007
Space-Faring Fungus Hats and Synthetic Biology
If the science moves like Moore's law, get ready for bio-freakiness. 10.22.2007
The Future of Blood
Some researchers tinker with real blood; some create from scratch. 08.06.2007
World's Smallest Liver
A nano-sized laboratory could help find cures for liver diseases. 05.01.2007
Good News for Alcoholics
Artificial livers can be grown in a petri dish 03.20.2007
World's Smallest Liver
A nano-sized laboratory could help find cures for liver diseases. 02.19.2007
Blinded by Science: The Way of All Flesh
Bringing home the bacon may become a thing of the past when we can grow our own. 07.12.2006
Taking the Sting Out of Brain Cancer
A new drug treatment uses scorpion venom to find tumors. 06.30.2006
Cancer Rewind?
Reversing cell division could have implications for cancer. 06.27.2006
Grow Your Own Organs
Organ printers build living transplantable organs one layer at a time. 06.25.2006
Raw Data: Restoring Eyesight to the Blind
06.25.2006
No More Nerve Damage
A new drug could reverse nerve damage in diabetics. 05.26.2006
Muscle Injection
Gene therapy could cure muscular dystrophy. 04.17.2006
Alzheimer's Hope
Gene therapy trial proves successful. 04.07.2006
Nanotube Knees and Elbows
Goodbye, metal: Doctors grow new bones. 03.31.2006
Young at Heart
Protein returns youth to cardiac muscle. 02.28.2006
Nerve Cell Repair
New hope for strokes. 01.19.2006
The Year in Science: Technology
Carbon nanotubes, lab-grown meat, humanoid robots, and more. 01.08.2006
The Year in Science: Medicine
The human gut's vulnerable to HIV, Race-based drugs approved, fetal skin grafts mend burns, and more. 01.08.2006
Tissue Engineering
Biochemistry that makes alchemy look easy 10.24.2005
The Brain
Neural implants will treat tremors, paralysis, and even memory loss 10.24.2005
I Spy a Bionic Eye
08.06.2005
Brain in a Dish
02.06.2005
The Biology of . . . Cryogenics
Wood frogs survive long periods in a deep freeze. Can people do the same? 02.06.2005
27: Frozen Ovary Restores Fertility
01.03.2005
52: Mice Breed Without Fathers
01.03.2005
Bite Back
12.03.2004
Get This to the CD Player, Stat!
10.06.2004
Midnight for Menopause
10.01.2004
Fat Into Bone
08.02.2004
Will Genetics Destroy Sports?
A new age of biotechnology promises bigger, faster, better bodies—and blood, urine, and saliva tests can't stop the cheating 07.25.2004
Fuzzy Duplicates
05.29.2004
Gross Anatomy
4 makes cadavers an art form and dissection uncomfortably real 03.28.2004
Artistic Neurons
11.10.2003
Discover Dialogue: Pharmacologist Susan Greenfield
Happy people are not ambitious; they do not build civilizations' 09.01.2003
Spray-On Organs
05.01.2003
Genetics
01.01.2003
Take a Deep Breath of DNA
01.01.2003
The Chemistry of . . . Blood
The first safe substitutes for blood are ready to start flowing 07.01.2002
20 Biotech Geniuses to Watch
Will biologists ever work exclusively at universities again? 06.01.2002
Follow Up:
05.01.2002
Winner - Editor's Choice
Laurence M. Corash, M.D.; Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer, Cerus Corporation; Concord, California 07.01.2001
Blood Without Fear
Discover Magazine Innovation Awards 07.01.2001
Pulling Pain Up
03.01.2001
Future Tech
What's beyond silicon and fiber optics? Would you believe microprocessors with living brain tissue? 10.01.2000
Sexing the Genome
09.01.2000
Immortal Cells
Is this the end of facial wrinkles and aging arteries that clog? 06.01.1999
How to Grow Bones From Scratch
02.01.1999
Vegetable Vaccines
09.01.1998
The Mothmobile
07.01.1998
Saviors
Someday the transplant you need may be growing on the hoof—or in a lab. 05.01.1998
Ontogeny Recapitulated
Biologists are learning how to turn on the genes that make our cells young. With them, we might repair our bones. Replenish our blood. Replace our limbs. And maybe some brain cells too. 05.01.1998
A Clone of One's Own
First sheep, then cows, soon monkeys: It's only a matter of time until the first human clone is cooing in its—uh, mother's?—arms. 05.01.1998
A Head Full of Hope
How do you launch something into orbit without using any fuel? A prototype spacecraft relies on a To attack a terrifying form of brain tumor, surgeons are adding a tiny new tool to their kit: a genetically tweaked virus, designed to mark cancer cells for death. 04.01.1998
The Year in Science: Genetics 1997
A Man-Made Chromosome 01.01.1998
Fake Cells
05.01.1997
Patent Medicine
01.01.1997
The Good Virus
As bacterial diseases develop resistance to antibiotics, medical resarchers rediscover an older strategy: setting one microbe to kill another. 11.01.1996
The Naked and the Webbed
08.01.1996
Gentle Bullets
01.01.1996
The Subtle Approach
01.01.1996
A More Careful Virus
01.01.1996
Gene Therapy: Special Delivery
01.01.1996
Fetal Attraction
In theory, brain cells that have been killed by Parkinson's disease can be replaced with cells from the brains of aborted fetuses. Now that the necessary politics and the technology are in place, neurosurgeons are about to find out if that theory is correct. 07.01.1995
The Mother of All Blood Cells
Stem cells, capable of generating an endless supply of red cells, white cells, and platelets, have also generated a heated scientific controversy--and millions of dollars for the man who claims to have found them. 03.01.1995
Weed on Parole
03.01.1992
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