Technology Features in 2019

A small but powerful toolset makes sharing genomic data visualizations straightforward.

Microscopy has been a trade-off until now: the bigger the sample, the lower the resolution. But picking out cellular detail in mouse brains and more is becoming increasingly possible.

A new class of CRISPR-based tools efficiently corrects point mutations in cell lines, animal models and perhaps the clinic.

Container platforms let researchers run each other’s software — and check the results.

Genetically encoded voltage indicators change colour in real time when neurons transmit electrical information, offering unprecedented insight into neural activity.

The tools of chemical biology, genomics and data mining can yield insights into the metabolites of the microbiome.

Some advocates are betting that documenting experimental plans online will improve animal research, but uptake has been slow.

Combining the data-analysis tool Starfish with technologies to pinpoint RNA’s cellular locations can add spatial detail to in situ transcriptomics.

A new breed of protein engineers is finding that the best way to create a molecule is to build it from scratch.

Ecologists are monitoring biodiversity using DNA shed by wildlife into the environment.

Do-it-yourself projects give researchers the equipment they need at bargain prices. But making your own technology requires commitment and time, and it is rarely easy.

Researchers are realizing that the DNA–protein complex doesn’t just have one form but many.

A new class of chemical instrumentation seeks to alleviate the tedium and complexity of organic syntheses.

In the age of immunotherapy, cancer biologists are relying on a new generation of tools to learn how the interplay between tumours and immune cells shapes the course of disease.

The extracellular matrix governs a surprising number of cellular functions. New techniques are revealing how cells and matrix communicate — and why this cross-talk matters.

From higher-resolution imaging to genome-sized DNA molecules built from scratch, the year ahead looks exciting for life-science technology.