By Chris Pallés As we work our way into the fall semester and feel the chill of the changing season settling in, many of us are preparing for the start of the holiday season – Halloween. This beloved holiday is known for its use of scary creatures, which often includes spiders. As a spider-lover myself, … Continue reading Fall in Love with Jumping Spiders This Fall
Author: lionstalkscience
WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DRINK!? An Analysis of Energy Drinks
By Louis Betz In the United States, approximately 93% of Americans consume caffeine. Of that 93%, 75% consume caffeine daily, and 25% report consuming it three or more times a day. Though I haven’t done the research, I’d make an educated guess that the stats for graduate students are even higher! But how much do … Continue reading WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DRINK!? An Analysis of Energy Drinks
Friends, Food, and Fighters: How Biotics Shape Your Microbiome
By: Jenny Lausch As humans, we are composed of more bacterial cells than human cells.1 These bacteria take up residency in our mouth, skin, and intestines from the day a person is born and establish a cooperative relationship with their human host that allows them to persist over time. These co-evolved strains make up the … Continue reading Friends, Food, and Fighters: How Biotics Shape Your Microbiome
Creatine Isn’t Just for Muscles — It’s for Your Brain, Body, and More
By Jessenia Chavez What if one of the most studied supplements in sports science… wasn’t just for athletes? Creatine has long been associated with gym-goers and bodybuilders looking to pack on muscle. But a growing mound of research shows that its benefits extend far beyond the weight room. From improving brain energy metabolism to supporting … Continue reading Creatine Isn’t Just for Muscles — It’s for Your Brain, Body, and More
Measles is back, and we aren’t alarmed enough
By Zoe Katz The measles virus is one of the oldest viruses to exist on this planet 1. An ancient disease, measles was first described in the ninth century by a renowned Persian physician and scholar named Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi. In his landmark “A Treatise on the Small-Pox and Measles” 2, al-Razi, … Continue reading Measles is back, and we aren’t alarmed enough
How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
By Vanshika A. Patel Have you ever wondered how a favorite song can lift you up when you're down or transport you back in time? Music has a remarkable power to engage emotions, evoke memories, and even affect our well-being. Recent studies in neuroscience investigate the complex relationship between music and the brain, showing how … Continue reading How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
Homeopathy: Less is (NOT) More
By Christina McAninch Figure 1. Homeopathy: sham, placebo, or both? Source: NPR Modern medicine is truly a miracle. Today, we have vaccines, antibiotics, and treatments for cancer, diabetes, and HIV, resulting in longer-than-ever lifespans. However, for most of human history, medicine was often more likely to cause harm than cure you. In medieval Europe, bloodletting … Continue reading Homeopathy: Less is (NOT) More
Misfolded proteins love company: the prion-like nature of neurodegenerative disease
By Makenzie Nolt While watching the news or reading about current events, you may have heard of Mad Cow or Chronic Wasting Disease in deer. Although these are two different conditions, they both result from misfolded proteins called prions1. Prion diseases are not exclusive to livestock; humans can also be affected by prion diseases such … Continue reading Misfolded proteins love company: the prion-like nature of neurodegenerative disease
A Bid for Bite-Sized Immunity: A Story of Safety Checkpoints in Vaccine Development Working Like They Should
By: Marissa Padilla and Julia Simpson Today, we have vaccines available for various pathogens (disease-causing agents) that have historically plagued mankind, including measles, tetanus, the flu, and most recently, COVID-19. Vaccines are our best form of defense against deadly pathogens because they teach our immune system to create small proteins, called antibodies, that help neutralize … Continue reading A Bid for Bite-Sized Immunity: A Story of Safety Checkpoints in Vaccine Development Working Like They Should
Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
By Victoria Vernail We are nearing the arrival of springtime. Flowers blooming, birds chirping, and – wait – one less hour of sleep? Thanks, Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the period from March to November where most of the United States turns the clocks forward one hour ahead of Standard Time (ST). … Continue reading Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
Lions Talk Science 