Food

The Bugs that Give Wine Its Flavor

Can sequencing a vineyard’s microbiome make it possible to reverse engineer a fine wine?

A Peek Inside the Fridge of the Future

Four big ideas about where food is heading.

Will You Eat CRISPR Produce?

Gene editing will make plants hardier and healthier. Hopefully people won’t freak out.

Lab-Grown Dog Food Is First Step to a Clean Meat Empire

This startup’s founders eat their own kibble—and they plan to feed you someday too.

So Should I Eat Apples, or Not?

Two different microbiome tests give me conflicting dietary advice. Only one lets me verify the science behind it.

Are You a Wizard or a Prophet?

A new book argues that technology and environmentalism clash. But that’s not a useful way to think about the future.

When a Double-Chocolate Brownie is Better for You Than Quinoa

A $299 microbiome test from DayTwo turns up some counterintuitive dietary advice.

6 Amazing Things to Watch in Synthetic Biology

Teleported molecules, custom genomes, and other innovations that will deliver on the technology’s biggest promises.

What Are Your Genes Telling You to Eat?

Companies are using your DNA to customize a diet plan. If it works, it might not be for the reasons advertised.

The Secret Sauce of Test-Tube Fish

Lab-grown meat is still weird. This tiny startup is spawning something better. by Corby Kummer