Technology Features in 2025

Tools that track specific molecules in neurons have enabled researchers to probe previously unexplored aspects of neurobiology — although important caveats remain.

An artificial-intelligence-guided software-evolution system tweaks tools to boost performance.

An innovative strategy has produced light-emitting proteins that can be differentiated both by colour and by how long the molecules remain in an excited state.

‘Digital twins’ of real-world objects are moving from manufacturing to wildlife management.

Microsoft researchers found a biological zero-day vulnerability — and created a software patch.

Gene-editing tools transform cells into record-keepers, capturing hidden timelines of health and disease.

From large national databases to bespoke sample collections, biobanks offer a wealth of avenues for scientific enquiry.

Scientists are seeking to decipher the role of non-coding DNA in the human genome, helped by a suite of artificial-intelligence tools.

Spreadsheet software can be frustrating, but adopting some helpful habits can improve its effectiveness.

Artificial intelligence models are too often assessed against flawed goals — a stumbling block for progress.

Researchers can target effector proteins to cells on the basis of which molecules those cells express.

Enzyme-based techniques and refinements in organic chemistry ease the generation of extended DNA sequences.

Researchers engaged in long-term projects often need to update their data sets over time. Here’s how to do it while maintaining reproducibility.

AI tools have been slow to enter academic recruitment — but recent developments could change that.

After a quarter of a century, the website remains an essential tool for navigating the genome and understanding its structure, function and clinical impact.

For water-bear enthusiasts, it’s the creature’s legs that make it stand out.

Synthetic peptide fixes biomolecular condensates, revealing how these enigmatic cell structures actually work.

Time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy can resolve protein motion on millisecond or even microsecond timescales, but the need for highly specialized tools and skills limits the method’s reach.

As a student, Alex Kachkine can only afford damaged art in need of repair. Here’s how they turned their conservation work into a science.

Some researchers say that deep-learning ‘foundation’ models will revolutionize the field — but others are not so sure.