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
public health
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
Give “Seeing Red” a New Meaning by Donating Blood
By Carli King Ring in the new year with a lifesaving resolution: donating blood in 2023. Even a donation of one pint of blood has the possibility to save up to three lives1. Despite approximately 63% of the United States population being considered eligible blood donors2, only a mere 3% of the population currently donates … Continue reading Give “Seeing Red” a New Meaning by Donating Blood
“Quality is our Recipe” – Lettuce Reconsider That Slogan
By Savanna Ledford Wendy’s is a popular fast-food chain that promises quality and offers great late night eats to over 12 million loyal customers.1 However, in a turn of events that turned stomachs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched an E. coli investigation after 97 people fell ill after eating sandwiches with … Continue reading “Quality is our Recipe” – Lettuce Reconsider That Slogan
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
How Aggressive and Costly is End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias?
By Xingran Weng, DrPH This article is based on the dissertation of Dr. Xingran Weng who defended his thesis at PSCOM on February 22, 2022. Let’s think about a tough situation Imagine an older individual has been diagnosed with cancer and moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (roughly 20% older persons with cancer diagnosed with … Continue reading How Aggressive and Costly is End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias?
COVID-19 Causes Lingering Brain Fog: How Can We Combat The Effects?
By Laura Budurlean Are you a victim of “brain fog”? You can blame the pandemic. Individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, resulting in COVID-19, sometimes experience lingering brain fog, one of the symptoms of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS or “long-COVID”). Brain fog is characterized by a general confusion, an inability to focus, and decreased mental clarity … Continue reading COVID-19 Causes Lingering Brain Fog: How Can We Combat The Effects?
Navigating Conversations with Vaccine-Hesitant Family and Friends
By Julia Simpson One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, members of my extended family began reaching out to me with questions about the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that the FDA had approved under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) just a month prior1, 2. Anti-vaccine rhetoric rang through their social circles and media, and they hoped that, … Continue reading Navigating Conversations with Vaccine-Hesitant Family and Friends
How We Almost Eradicated Polio
By Sonam Lhamo In the late 1940s and early 1950s, polio was a feared infectious disease in the U.S. During summers, when the disease peaked, parents would keep their children from going to swimming pools and movies for fear of their children contracting polio from infected children1. Polio is a highly contagious, infectious disease caused … Continue reading How We Almost Eradicated Polio
Lions Talk Science 