Can Artificial Intelligence Outsmart Cancer?

By Jude B. Khatib Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field of computer programming that aims to teach machines to perform basic human cognitive functions such as self-learning, problem-solving, and reasoning. Algorithms, which can be defined as a list of rules or procedures that the AI can follow to solve a problem, are the most essential … Continue reading Can Artificial Intelligence Outsmart Cancer?

Taking a Shot at Cancer: The Future of Cancer Vaccines

By Olivia Marx Most people know someone affected by cancer and are familiar with the toll the disease takes on a person’s life – from tangible impacts on their body to intangible ones on their close relationships. Since the early 1990s, clinical and research advancements have supported a 31% decline in the overall cancer death … Continue reading Taking a Shot at Cancer: The Future of Cancer Vaccines

Moving Science Fur-ward: The Work of Lab Animal Veterinarians

By Joshua Place, DVM Scientists, though experts on their specific area of study, may not be familiar with the quirks of the animals they use as their models. Understanding reproduction, complex medical treatments, and providing the appropriate environmental enrichment of an animal model in a way that minimally impacts study results is a crucial part … Continue reading Moving Science Fur-ward: The Work of Lab Animal Veterinarians

Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Rare Skin BlistERing Disease

By Coryn Hoffman The skin, or the epidermis, is the largest organ in your body, but have you ever thought about the structural components that allow your skin to stay intact? Cell-cell junctions are critical for maintaining the integrity of the epidermis, which protects your body from dehydration and external elements such as infection, physical … Continue reading Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Rare Skin BlistERing Disease

If you give a mouse medical marijuana…

By Victoria Vernail If you give a mouse medical marijuana… Could it treat cancer? Does it minimize pain? Can it decrease anxiety? Does it lower blood pressure? The Penn State College of Medicine (COM) is trying to answer these questions and more through the Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center (MMACRC). This collaborative research effort … Continue reading If you give a mouse medical marijuana…

Five-Time Apocalypse Champion, the Tardigrade, Shares Its Secrets (And Maybe Saves Some Lives)

By Kalynn Alexander What’s smaller than a grain of salt, thrives at extreme temperatures, and is the only animal able to survive exposure to the cold vacuum of outer space - and how is this creature now propelling new developments in biomedical research? The tardigrade has already spiked the interest of many people worldwide with … Continue reading Five-Time Apocalypse Champion, the Tardigrade, Shares Its Secrets (And Maybe Saves Some Lives)

What does she see in that serial killer? The psychology of morbid curiosity

By Savannah Moscon & Rebecka Serpa You are scrolling online and see a breaking news article with a large “GRAPHIC CONTENT” warning. Do you click on the link? You may be surprised to learn that the graphic content warning is often the hook that draws people in to read the article. The fascination that people … Continue reading What does she see in that serial killer? The psychology of morbid curiosity

“I’m simply saying that life, uh.. finds a way”

By Paige Elizabeth Bond Famous birth scene of velociraptor in Jurassic Park (1993). {Spoiler Alert} Bringing back the dinosaurs did not go well for people… in all seven movies [1].             Don’t worry, scientists haven’t brought back the dinosaurs... yet. Instead, researchers are working on developing new ways to understand reproduction through a genetically engineered … Continue reading “I’m simply saying that life, uh.. finds a way”

Robust and Efficient Dose-Response Curve Estimation for Drug Discovery

Xinying Fang, Ph.D. candidate in Biostatistics In drug development, it is very important to understand how the dose of a drug relates to its effectiveness, a relationship known as the dose-response curve. Scientists often use a formula called the median effect equation to understand this relationship, but there are some issues with using a simple … Continue reading Robust and Efficient Dose-Response Curve Estimation for Drug Discovery