By: Sydney Callender Cats are one of the most popular pets, with 49 million US households owning a cat (Figure 1). These furry felines are full of quirky behaviors, like waking up their owners at the crack of dawn every day, vanishing from sight at the first sign of an impending trip to the vet … Continue reading The Purr-suit of Knowledge: A New Era of Cat Research
science
Not a Death Wish – An Immune Response: How Ants Fight Disease
By: Habiba Abdelhalim In many animal societies – including humans! – illness can affect more than just the individual that becomes sick. Diseases can spread rapidly amongst members of a group, especially when animals live closely together. Humans regularly implement strategies to mitigate this spread: we stay home when contagious, avoid sick people, and sometimes … Continue reading Not a Death Wish – An Immune Response: How Ants Fight Disease
Slowly at first, then all at once
By Seth Kabonick Ernest Hemingway describes the rising of the morning sun as something that happens slowly at first, then all at once. This quote has been used to illustrate everything from financial markets to drunkenness, but I believe it also applies to recent challenges plaguing the scientific community. It has been a long and … Continue reading Slowly at first, then all at once
The Search for a Universal Snake Antivenom
By Arrienne Butic In 2001, avid snake collector Tim Friede embarked on a mission that was equal parts bold and dangerous – in a bid to obtain immunological protection from his venomous reptilian charges, he began dosing himself with snake venom. Over a 17-year period, Friede injected himself with venom more than 850 times and … Continue reading The Search for a Universal Snake Antivenom
Houston, we have a problem: can we solve the reproducibility crisis in science?
By: Jenny Lausch Public trust in our work as scientists is of the utmost importance. While some scientists receive funds from private companies and individuals, most science in the United States is funded and made possible by tax dollars that are allocated by the government through the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science … Continue reading Houston, we have a problem: can we solve the reproducibility crisis in science?
Ocean, Going Dark: Diving into the Darkening of the Global Ocean
By: Natale Hall When you hear the words “ocean” and “climate change” together in a sentence, your mind probably jumps to the flashy – and therefore commonly reported climate concerns – like the melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, more frequent algal blooms, and maybe even coral bleaching. But there’s another, less familiar shift … Continue reading Ocean, Going Dark: Diving into the Darkening of the Global Ocean
Why Ants Don’t Lose Their Cool
By: Habiba Abdelhalim In crowds, concerts, and colonies, the behavior of one individual can quickly spread to others. This phenomenon, known as social contagion, is a powerful force that can lead to synchronized actions, like applause in an audience or collective movement in a school of fish. But it can also have dangerous consequences, such … Continue reading Why Ants Don’t Lose Their Cool
Fall in Love with Jumping Spiders This Fall
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
Chonkus! The Cyanobacteria that Could Save the Planet
By Makenzie Nolt Figure 1. 24 1-billion-dollar disasters that occurred in the United States through October 2024. Sourced from National Centers for Environmental Information. In 2024, there were seemingly never-ending weather- and-climate related disasters (Figure 1). The increased frequency and severity of these devastating events is the consequence of climate change, driven by elevated emissions … Continue reading Chonkus! The Cyanobacteria that Could Save the Planet
More Than Meets the Eye: The Chemistry of Art Objects
By: Elise M. Rizzi Gently meandering around a gallery, shuffling between works of art and closely admiring the details. Such appreciation is a common experience, though few ponder, how did this art come to exist? Not who created this piece of art, but how this conglomeration of matter came together. How did each molecule, each … Continue reading More Than Meets the Eye: The Chemistry of Art Objects
Lions Talk Science 