Asimov Press

Some researchers claim that a Chilean vine can mimic the leaves of a plastic houseplant thanks to a form of primitive vision. But extraordinary claims require equally extraordinary evidence. Written and recorded by Martin Bourdev.Read every article from Asimov Press at press.asimov.com.

Why biologists should operate with a sense of urgency. A guest column by Stephen Malina.Read every article, for free, at press.asimov.com.

Sebastian Cocioba, a vocal advocate for amateur science, built a home laboratory from spare parts and second-hand machines purchased on eBay.

The discussion kicks off with the intricate challenge of creating life from basic components. It explores the struggle to reconstruct viable cells from their fundamental parts. Listeners will hear about the pivotal role of proteins and the complexities of energy dynamics in this scientific pursuit. The conversation delves into the evolving field of synthetic biology, highlighting both progress and roadblocks in the quest for artificial life. It's a fascinating look at the limits of our understanding and the potential breakthroughs that lie ahead.

Engineered ants are helping to reveal the neuroscience of pheromone signaling. Written by Taylor Hart.Read every article, for free, by visiting press.asimov.com.

Prions are extremely resilient, infectious proteins. Studying their shape-shifting abilities could reveal lessons for how proteins fold at a molecular level, helping scientists design better ones.

Prions are extremely resilient, infectious proteins. Studying their shape-shifting abilities could reveal lessons for how proteins fold at a molecular level, helping scientists design better ones. Written by Eryney Marrogi and Theodore Sternlieb.Read every article from Asimov Press, for free, at press.asimov.com.

Cultivarium, a small nonprofit, is building tools to grow and engineer peculiar organisms—and then giving their discoveries away for free.

Explore the audacious dream of terraforming Mars and the daunting environmental hurdles ahead. Discover how life thrives in Earth's fiercest conditions, yet faces dire challenges due to the lack of water on the Red Planet. Listen as scientists discuss the engineering of resilient microbes that could survive Martian extremes, while also wrestling with the ethical dilemmas of introducing modified life forms to another planet. It's a fascinating dive into the potential and challenges of establishing life beyond Earth.

Explore the astonishing fact that a tiny fern harbors a genome 50 times the size of a human’s. Discover the biological mechanisms behind DNA packing and learn why energy and diffusion, rather than nucleus volume, limit genome size. Delve into the environmental factors that support such expansive genomic growth, and consider the challenges researchers face when measuring these colossal genomes.