By Olivia Marx As a budding biologist, my non-scientist family and friends sometimes seek my expert opinion on matters of the life sciences. Do they ask me my professional opinion on today’s pressing issues, such as “should we get the COVID-19 vaccine?” or “when does a fertilized egg become a fetus?”. No, they have already … Continue reading De-extinction: What are the odds you’ll be eaten by a dinosaur?
biology
Beer me, Temperance!
By Ian Hayman Alcohol has been a mainstay in human society for over 6,000 years and is essential to many aspects of culture due to it’s pain-killing, mind altering, disinfectant, and food preserving properties 1,2. Alcohol has been instrumental in the development of numerous celebrations and traditions, ranging from the unsanctimonious ’21 run’ to celebrate … Continue reading Beer me, Temperance!
Inconceivable! The Mechanisms Behind Birth Control and the Importance of Knowing What is Best for You
By Gaelyn Lyons Ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade in July2022, there have been concerns about the right to birth control for people who menstruate. Justice Clarence Thomas's comments about reconsidering previous Supreme Court decisions on birth control fueled many of these concerns.1 In response, the House of Representatives passed a bill … Continue reading Inconceivable! The Mechanisms Behind Birth Control and the Importance of Knowing What is Best for You
Stuff To Tick You Off
By Greg Kincheloe As the winter finally draws to an end (albeit a long and drawn-out end), it is time to start looking forward to warmer weather, sunshine, and leaves on the trees once again. Accompanying this warmer weather are more opportunities to reconnect with nature and the great outdoors. Soon, trails and parks will … Continue reading Stuff To Tick You Off
From Bakery to Bench: How Scientists use Yeast for Biomedical Research
By Gaelyn Lyons Yeast has been an essential tool to our society since the beginning of time. Beer, bread, and wine all use yeast due to their ability to undergo fermentation.1 Not only does yeast contribute to creating yummy food, but it also plays an important role in biomedical research. Many scientists, including some at … Continue reading From Bakery to Bench: How Scientists use Yeast for Biomedical Research
How to Grow a 4th Stomach for Your Thanksgiving Feast
By Rebecca Fleeman As the sweet potato casserole gets passed down the table and you scoot your green beans over to make room, this Thanksgiving you may think “will I be able to finish all the food on my plate?”. By the end of the meal, you are absolutely stuffed, eating more than twice what … Continue reading How to Grow a 4th Stomach for Your Thanksgiving Feast
Eavesdropping on Sperm Whales: The Cetacean Translation Initiative
By Julia Simpson An international team of roboticists, cryptographers, and biologists, along with experts in machine learning, underwater acoustics, and linguistics, recently assembled to decode messages from the deep1. That may sound like the title-card montage for the next “team of international super spies” blockbuster, but no: this is the diverse, interdisciplinary expertise behind the … Continue reading Eavesdropping on Sperm Whales: The Cetacean Translation Initiative
What’s the buzz about Mosquirix?
By Victoria Silvis While the world has focused on rapidly developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV2, the WHO recently approved a vaccine that has been developed for malaria, a serious illness endemic to poorer tropic and subtropic regions globally. In 2020 alone, there were 229 million cases with an estimated half a million deaths.1 Malaria infections … Continue reading What’s the buzz about Mosquirix?
The Great Barrier Reef in Danger of Decline
By Hannah Johnson Figure 1: An image of coral and fish from the Great Barrier Reef9 When it comes to the 7 natural wonders of the world, it probably comes as no surprise that the Great Barrier Reef falls under this classification. Located off the coast of Australia and considered to be the largest living … Continue reading The Great Barrier Reef in Danger of Decline
The Most Contagious Non-Disease: Yawning
By Mariam Melkumyan Figure 1: Humans and animals alike yawn when they are tired, bored, or not stimulated enough. Figure from Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. After a long day of traveling to Maryland and back, I started yawning every few minutes, but I didn’t feel that sleepy yet, so I was confused as to … Continue reading The Most Contagious Non-Disease: Yawning
Lions Talk Science 