Molecules as motors
Scientists from around the world gathered at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Friday to report on progress and exchange ideas about the advancing science of microscopic motion and the increasing understanding and use of molecules as motors. The all-day event, held in the Radcliffe Gymnasium, was introduced by Interim Dean Lizabeth Cohen, the Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies, who said the institute is proud of its annual science symposia, which have covered topics ranging from tissue engineering to the origins of life. The symposium highlights how the institute views itself: as a place that fosters cutting-edge research, as a central meeting site for authorities in many fields, and as a conduit through which that work is shared with the public. “This year’s symposium epitomizes how the institute sees itself,” Cohen said. Researchers from such places as Switzerland, California, and Missouri gathered to discuss topics ranging from molecular motors in axonal transport...