Synthetic Biology

Biohackers in Space (Almost)

This eclectic mix of researchers is exploring off-Earth living in radical new ways.

By Alex Pearlman

Cloning Wildlife and Editing their Genes to Protect Them and Us

Tweaking the genes of wild animals could save endangered species and protect humans from disease. What could possibly go wrong?

By Hannah Thomasy

The Revolution Will Not Be Tenderized

We’re more than a decade into the alt-protein revolution. Will meatless beef ever replace the real thing?

By Andrew Rosenblum

To Boldly Go Where No Pharma Has Gone Before

Astropharmacies could grow drugs on demand for future space travelers.

By Alex Pearlman

30 Great Gifts for Biologically Inspired People

Featuring cactus shoes, custom probiotics, never-ending glow sticks, and more.

By Jane Metcalfe

Get Up to Speed On the State of Eco-Fashion

The race is on to bioengineer carbon-neutral, recyclable, biodegradable, and affordable materials.

By Alden Wicker

After the Madness—Pandemic Silver Linings in Bioscience

Will the frenzied rush to understand and treat SARS-CoV-2 bring longer lasting benefit to the world of scientific research and medicine?

By David Ewing Duncan

Plastic-Eating Microbes to the Rescue?

Nature breaks everything down—eventually. It’s time to accelerate the process.

By Grace Rubenstein

The Dawn of Cheap and Easy DNA Writing

These startups are developing new ways to reprogram biology by producing custom genes from scratch.

By Lauren Gravitz

How to Turn Science Fiction into Science Fact

George Church and Ramez Naam on the limitations of evolution, the power of matchmaking, and why we should send single-cell computers into deep space.

By Ramez Naam