By: Natale Hall The overlooked safety (or lack thereof) of menstrual products Menstruation, or the process by which the inner lining of the uterus is shed each month, is experienced by roughly 1.9 billion individuals worldwide. However, the safety concerns of common menstrual products such as tampons has been largely overlooked despite nearly 100 years … Continue reading Cadmium, arsenic, and lead, oh my! The implications of heavy metals in menstrual products
Fetal microchimerism: a lovely mix
By Luz E. Ortiz Pregnancy is a season of hormonal, emotional and physical changes. I know because I have “been there and done that”! Despite being five years into my motherhood journey, it wasn’t until recently that I heard a passing comment by an older man mentioning how during pregnancy the baby’s cells travel to … Continue reading Fetal microchimerism: a lovely mix
Sugar Substitutes: Sweet for Your Tastebuds but Maybe Not Your Health
By: Abbey Rebok Cakes, cookies, pies – oh my! Desserts full of sugary goodness may be good for your soul, but it is no surprise that too much sugar may not be so sweet for your health. As of 2021, approximately 11.6% of the U.S. population has diabetes, and this number is expected to continue … Continue reading Sugar Substitutes: Sweet for Your Tastebuds but Maybe Not Your Health
The Second Reactor was the Problem: the Story of Three Mile Island
By: Peter C. Forstmeier The massive smokestacks of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Plant stand, imposing and sentinel-like, in the Susquehanna River just downstream of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. More imposing than their stature, however, is their history: the memory of the nuclear meltdown that occurred there almost half a century ago. Despite the event’s significance, … Continue reading The Second Reactor was the Problem: the Story of Three Mile Island
Magic in the Mushrooms: Exploring the Health Benefits of Ergothioneine
By: Abbey Rebok Mushrooms are a vital part of any healthy ecosystem, but are they also a vital component to human health? Mushrooms possess various environmental roles such as decomposing plant matter to recycle nutrients, generating symbiotic relationships with other organisms, breaking down environmental pollutants, and in some species, controlling pest populations. While most people … Continue reading Magic in the Mushrooms: Exploring the Health Benefits of Ergothioneine
Making Stuff (Taste) Great: How MSG Got Its Bad Reputation
By: Rachel Kang You may have noticed products at the grocery store proudly advertising “No MSG Added” on the packaging. We’ve been taught to avoid and fear MSG, but have you ever questioned why that is – or what MSG even is? Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common additive to savory dishes that adds an … Continue reading Making Stuff (Taste) Great: How MSG Got Its Bad Reputation
“You (Don’t) Got Male”: Parthenogenesis and its Applications in Biomedical Research
By Laura Odom If you watched HBO's House of the Dragon this summer, you might be missing all the dragon- and family-centered drama right about now. If so, don't worry - here's a new dragon family tree to become invested in! This story takes place in our own world and features a real-life dragon: the … Continue reading “You (Don’t) Got Male”: Parthenogenesis and its Applications in Biomedical Research
Green Gains: Are plant-based diets as effective as animal-based diets for athletic performance?
By: Jenny Lausch Consumption of the standard Western diet, which is characterized by high quantities of processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats, is quickly becoming the norm. The prevalence of the Western diet, combined with higher prices for whole foods (non-processed foods1) and social media crazes about protein, means people are eating fewer plants … Continue reading Green Gains: Are plant-based diets as effective as animal-based diets for athletic performance?
The Puppeteer of Your Dietary Choices: How the Microbiota Dictates Dietary Preference
By Seth Kabonick The animal kingdom relies on microbes that have co-evolved with their hosts for millions of years. Symbiotic bacteria are beneficial bacteria that fulfill a necessary role defending against pathogens, regulating the immune system, and breaking down dietary nutrients. For this reason, most topical microbiome research emphasizes the host’s influence on microbes; however, … Continue reading The Puppeteer of Your Dietary Choices: How the Microbiota Dictates Dietary Preference
Can AI Give NICU Babies a Better Chance at Survival?
By Luz E. Ortiz The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is where you will find the smallest and cutest patients. Newborns may become temporary residents of the NICU if additional medical care is needed for complications such as pre-term birth, congenital conditions, and low-weight birth. A “full-term” baby is born between weeks 38 and 40+ … Continue reading Can AI Give NICU Babies a Better Chance at Survival?
Lions Talk Science 