By Laura Odom It’s a tale as old as time: the farming of a crop supports the economy of a region until importation, human travel, or climate change introduces an invasive pest species that likes to snack on the aforementioned crop. Invasive species are often advantaged in new habitats, as they typically have no natural … Continue reading How Weevil Our Crops Recover?: The history of how Alabama farmers went (pea)nuts over an invasive pest
Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Lions Talk Science!
This spring, Lions Talk Science blog turned 10 years old! We have grown so much over the decade, with a total of 253 articles posted. Between 2013 and 2014, a total of 42 articles were published. Now we publish one every week! We thank our founder, Dr. Jordan Gaines Lewis, for creating a space for … Continue reading Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Lions Talk Science!
The science that your cat can teach you
By Olivia Marx If you have ever lived with a domestic, or house cat, you’re probably aware of some distinctly feline habits, such as sleeping most of the day, chasing bugs and toys around, staring out the window, and meowing in a way that you just can’t ignore. Cats are a delightful addition to any … Continue reading The science that your cat can teach you
APOE4-get About It: How the Greatest Genetic Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease affects the Brain and Body
By Rebecca Fleeman, PhD The following is a synopsis of my PhD thesis that I defended on January 19, 2023, titled Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Conveyed by Apolipoprotein E ε4: Immunometabolism and the Brain-Body Connection. Thank you to LTS for the opportunity to share my PhD findings in a unique way to reach more people! The … Continue reading APOE4-get About It: How the Greatest Genetic Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease affects the Brain and Body
Is eternal happiness a myth?
By Yash Kulkarni "One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be 'happy' is not included in the plan of 'Creation.' " –Sigmund Freud, Civilization, and Its Discontents, 1930 Sigmund Freud is indeed right; one cannot know the true meaning of pleasure (happiness) unless and until one hasn’t known what pain is. For … Continue reading Is eternal happiness a myth?
How do ancient rocks determine where we live?
By Jackson Radler Figure 1: Major East Coast cities follow are situated along the eastern border of the Appalachian Mountains. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_Atlantic_megaregion#/media/File:MapofEmergingUSMegaregions.png) Many major cities in the Northeastern region of the United States, such as New York City and Boston, are ports, and as such are situated directly on the coast. However, as you look farther … Continue reading How do ancient rocks determine where we live?
Drink to Your Health: The Gin and Tonic Story
By Greg Kincheloe Nearly everyone that enjoys cocktails has a go-to default drink. These drinks vary widely according to everyone’s personal taste, but often share two qualities: 1) they are widely known, implying that any self-respecting bartender should know how to make them, and 2) they are almost impossible to mess up, making them a … Continue reading Drink to Your Health: The Gin and Tonic Story
Breaking Barriers: 10 women that have changed the face of science
By: Carli King Women have been historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) fields. Currently, women account for nearly half of the United States workforce; however, they represent only 27% of STEM employees1. While gains have undoubtedly been made – from 8% of STEM workers in 1970 being women – there is still … Continue reading Breaking Barriers: 10 women that have changed the face of science
Help! My brain is on fire!
By Mariam Melkumyan Burnout is unfortunately a common feeling among graduate students. While you can find information on ways to fight burnout in a 2019 LTS article, in this piece, I intend to dive deeper and examine the neuroscience behind burnout. First, as a quick reminder of the definition of burnout: Burnout is a process … Continue reading Help! My brain is on fire!
Can nature work to nurture our brains?
By Alexandra Evans Most Americans are guilty of it, but how much time do we spend staring at our screens throughout the day? A Nielson Total Audience Report published in 2017 determined that a majority of Americans spend approximately 10 hours a day staring at a screen, whether that be a computer, laptop, smartphone, or … Continue reading Can nature work to nurture our brains?
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