For the first time, a cell built from scratch grows and divides

Astrophysicists puzzle over Webb’s new universe; What breaks a cell’s ribs can make it stronger; The Quanta Podcast

Math and Science News from Quanta Magazine View this email in your browser SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY | ALL TOPICS   For the First Time, a Cell Built From Scratch Grows and Divides By YASEMIN SAPLAKOGLU Scientists built a synthetic cell with more lifelike properties than ever before — proof of concept that nonliving materials may be brought to life, or something close to it, in the lab. Read the article ASTROPHYSICS   Astrophysicists Puzzle Over Webb’s New Universe By JAY BENNETT Faced with observations of early black holes and galaxies that weren’t expected to exist, scientists have come up with a wealth of new theories to explain them.  Read the article BIOMECHANICS   What Breaks a Cell’s Ribs Can Also Make It Stronger By JAKE BUEHLER The mechanical process of cell division exerts powerful, if microscopic, forces. How do the molecular machines that power it manage the strain? Read the article THE QUANTA PODCAST   Are Memories Transferable — or Edible? Podcast hosted by SAMIR PATEL with CLAIRE L. EVANS Decades ago, scientists allegedly fed a memory to a worm. Then, 36 labs reported similar results. But today, when scientists tried to recreate the experiments, they came up empty. What happened? Listen (Apple) | Listen (Spotify) Read the article Follow Quanta Unsubscribe | About Quanta | My Bookmarks Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact Us   Copyright © 2025 Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent division of the Simons Foundation Simons Foundation 160 5th Avenue, 7th Floor New York, NY 10010