Science

April 29, 2024

Artiom Peshkur

This research focuses on the extraction of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) utilizing hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and recombinant DNA. Despite initial challenges with heat-shocking for the E. Coli to uptake the plasmid, successful culturing in LB broth led to GFP over-expression, as visible under the ultraviolet light. Subsequent centrifugation and cell lysis led to GFP extraction from the supernatant. HIC purification yielded fractions containing GFP, with varying concentrations across samples. This work underscores the viability of GFP as a biomarker for gene expression in biological systems...click here to read more

April 26, 2024

Arielle Nguyen

Don’t get me wrong; I would love to be paid to sleep. It would be my dream job. But occasionally, sleep feels unnecessary, especially on days when I’m extremely busy. Sometimes you just wish for more hours in the day, and to retaliate against the ancient Egyptians who started 24-hour days, you choose to stay up. And for good reason, probably. Maybe you have a pile of homework waiting to be finished, or your projects must be checked on. Maybe you’ll never regret not sleeping… until you wake up. And then, that question begins to impale like a… Well, I’m not exactly sure. Did you know that lack of sleep affects your memory, too? Why do we sleep despite our hatred for rest?...click here to read more

April 15, 2024

Jessica A. Dennehy

Genetic modification is the umbrella term indicating the process of altering the genetic makeup of an organism. Modifying an organism's DNA can range from deleting segments, adding new segments, transferring segments from one organism to another, or even intentionally altering a singular base pair. Any organism that has been genetically modified would fall under the category of a genetically modified organism (GMO); they are typically used to improve a characteristic or trait, ranging from decreased susceptibility to disease to increased fertility. Various gene-editing technologies can be used in tandem or separately to genetically alter organisms; one of which is CRISPR/Cas-9...click here to read more

April 12, 2024

Claire Story

The SYNGAP1 gene, located on chromosome 6, has recently been discovered to have novel implications. It was originally discovered in 1998 by Richard Huganir, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was known for controlling learning and memory in mammals. It was previously thought that the gene solely encoded proteins to regulate the formation of synapses, links between brain cells that strengthen as a person learns something new. Recent experiments have revealed a new function of the SYNGAP1 gene, and this discovery may alter the methods and treatments used for children with SYNGAP1 irregularities...click here to read more

April 2, 2024

Jasmine Nguyen

For decades, plastic consumption has been a significant threat to our environment. The consequences of overconsumption have been made apparent through wildlife endangerment, polluted habitats, and food contamination. Scientists have taken action, recognizing these recurring issues due to plastic pollution, and increased their focus on combating these issues. The carbon structures of plastic make it much harder to decompose in a natural process. Scientists have been working hard to understand and reveal the works behind breaking down plastics. So, how have scientists combated the study of decomposing plastic? In what ways have they developed the process of breaking down these stubborn bonds? Is there a way to assess this problem without further damage to our environment?...click here to read more

March 29, 2024

Ela Selin Akgün 

The US Environmental Protection Agency, also known as the EPA, is an institution responsible for the protection of human, public, and environmental health within the United States, utilizing tactics such as including the regulation of pesticide usage, marketing of chemicals, and cleaning up chemically contaminated lands to safeguard the environment. The EPA has authorized the use of OX5034 GM Ae. aegypti mosquitoes for release in counties in Florida and Texas. Genetic modification is a process of altering the gene sequence of an organism with laboratory-based technologies by using methods like nucleotide insertion, deletions, and gene replacements...click here to read more

March 27, 2024

Lily Sharkey

Scientists believe that about half of all human DNA descends from viruses that infect the germline of our ancestors with viral nucleic acid. Indeed, the human body contains ten times more bacterial cells than human ones. Microbes such as these exist all throughout our bodies and carry out processes that synthesize vitamins, digest food into nutrients, and stimulate immune systems. The ten trillion microbes found in the gastrointestinal tract protect the gut from disease-causing microorganisms, called pathogens...click here to read more

March 26, 2024

Audrey Tran

Stronger than steel and thinner than human hair, spider silk has remained a fascination to scientists. The liquid silk is secreted by glands in the abdomen and passed through the spider's spinnerets, leaving the body as a dry material. With its high tensile strength, flexibility, and lightweight nature, this natural fiber is extremely difficult to replicate synthetically. Its unique properties can be used in clothing and rope and its biodegradability and biocompatibility present much potential in medical applications...click here to read more

March 22, 2024

Monique Nguyen

With the exponential growth in the healthcare industries, medical ethics is involved in even the most basic of operations. It is loosely defined as the moral obligations involved in a healthcare worker’s decisions to ensure a patient’s safety. As the concept has been developed, basic principles have been integrated as standards in procedures. This includes beneficence, autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice. Beneficence is ensuring patient safety, autonomy is considering the patient’s will, nonmaleficence means doing no harm, and justice means providing fair treatment...click here to read more

March 22, 2024

Caroline Cronin

Climate change has been gradually affecting our planet since the 1950s. For the past 50 years, the Earth has warmed by 0.13℃  (1/4 of a degree Fahrenheit). While this may not seem like a lot, the impacts are detrimental and continue to worsen as more time passes. Scientists predicted that in the next twenty years, our planet will warm up 1 ⁄ 3 of a degree Fahrenheit. While climate change affects many things, its effects on agriculture are quite damaging. With the increase in heavy rains, nutrients in the soil are rapidly being expended. If crops can not be grown, then supply cannot keep up with demand, and the economy will as a result of this catastrophe...click here to read more

March 7, 2024

Mouzdalifa Boughris

From the sniffles to HIV, viruses are the microscopic troublemakers that cause it all. Although our immune system does its hardest to fend them off, we occasionally require more assistance. Antiviral drugs are specialist pharmaceuticals that are intended to interfere with the plans of viruses. However, what are these medications precisely, how do they function, and how are they different from their cousins in prevention, and vaccines?...click here to read more

March 4, 2024

Aliyan Nadeem

Pollution is an intractable issue that has been persisting for centuries. More specifically, air pollution is the deadliest type of pollution, with around 99% of the global population breathing air that exceeds the WHO guidelines. Consequently, the combined effect of environmental and household air pollution leads to seven million annual premature deaths. To tackle this pressing issue, a team of researchers in the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research of the University of Belgrade, Serbia, developed a photo-bioreactor that they call Liquid 3. Liquid 3 essentially mimics the photosynthesizing functions of a tree– that is, cleansing the environment’s air by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere. As such, Liquid 3 has fittingly been referred to as a “liquid tree”, despite it not being a liquidized tree, but rather a photo-bioreactor containing water, nutrients, and microalgae...click here to read more

February 28, 2024

Amy Nangia

   Neurodivergence refers to the natural variations in how individuals' brains function. It encompasses conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences that deviate from the so-called neurotypical norm. Rather than pathologizing these differences, the neurodiversity paradigm views them as valuable variations that contribute to the richness of human cognition...click here to read more

February 21, 2024

Chrinnah Torres

   Back in 1949, the foundation of hydrogels induced the significance of a healing process. There were times when it would take a prolonged period to recover under certain conditions. However, now researchers have uncovered a rehabilitation medicine that can enhance muscle and nerve growth in the body. Whereas, this hydrogel injection could build up, meaning it restores the tissues when injured, and gives its desired robustness. When looking into this, it has summed up the needed care for an injury...click here to read more

February 19, 2024

Reggie Dao

As you stroll along the beach and kick sand into the shore, there is always a creature in the corner of your eye that stands out among the scattered seashells and seaweed. That prickly-skinned, sharp-edged animal glistens on the protruding rock, un-moving, and intrigues your curiosity to find out why its shape is the way it is. This familiar, unusual sea creature is known as a starfish, its name coined from their body holding a close resemblance to a star shape. The question of how their body shape formed has always been lingering in the air, and the history of their genetics can explain why their body is different from their sea neighbors...click here to read more

February 14, 2024

Niamh Jones

In the rapidly advancing field of medicine, it is crucial to improve surgical training for the next generation of healthcare professionals. With the emergence of Generation Z into the workforce, a cohort characterized by their reliance on technology, there is a growing need to adapt traditional training methods to ensure the highest quality of patient care. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new avenues for improving surgical training for the first ‘digital’ generation...click here to read more

February 13, 2024

Niamh Jones

In recent years, the global incidence of dental emergencies has been a growing concern, impacting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Dental emergencies can range from severe toothaches to traumatic injuries and broken teeth, often causing significant pain and discomfort to those affected. Therefore, it is imperative to explore comprehensive strategies to reduce the global incidence of dental emergencies and promote oral health and well-being on a broader scale...click here to read more

February 13, 2024

Hana Zubair

In the world of pediatric healthcare, where tiny footsteps echo with the promise of future dreams, every interaction holds the weight of the responsibility bestowed upon the doctor. Let us delve into the perspicacious world of 29-year-old Dr. Arifa Tajwany, a pediatrician with a passion for nurturing the well-being of children, not only becoming a proficient medical practitioner but also a beacon of support for families navigating the often-unpredictable terrain of pediatric healthcare...click here to read more

February 12, 2024

Sofia McGrath

Have you ever wondered why it rains? What about if it is possible to make it rain? There is a science behind rain that you may be vaguely aware of, but there is so much detail and advancement in the field that the average person may not know about it. Recently, science has granted scientists the ability to cause it to rain or enhance its probability through a process referred to as “cloud seeding.”...click here to read more 

February 2, 2024

Lily Sharkey

Daughter, wife, mother, cook, farmer, dancer, fashionista: Henrietta Lacks never could have foreseen how her very own cells would shape the future of worldwide biomedical research. Henrietta was born Loretta Pleasant on August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia, the ninth child of Eliza and Johnny Pleasant; over time, her name evolved to “Henrietta.” From the age of four, Henrietta was raised in Clover, Virginia, by her grandfather, following the death of her mother in childbirth. She was raised alongside her cousin David “Day” Lacks, whom she would later marry in 1941. During World War II, Henrietta and her family moved to Turner Station, Maryland, after her husband found work at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point steel mill...click here to read more

January 22, 2024

Jaimah Nusrat

The sky and cosmos are our limit; at least, that’s what we’ve believed. However, with our ever-growing population, we need to take the time to ask the question: Why limit ourselves to a planet of 71% water and an oxygen-rich atmosphere, when we could live among the stars and explore the galaxies? What keeps us tied to the planet we insistently call home when we have the potential to experience daring adventures and become the next Captain Marvel? With the progress and data we have acquired, it would only hinder our advancements if we failed to consider space life as significant to the future of Earth...click here to read more

January 17, 2024

Sarah Nguyen

Working as a research associate for Imperial College, physicist Dr. Jessica Wade studies the use of polymers as semiconductors, focusing on chiral organic semiconductors. Despite Wade’s impressive work as a physicist, she also advocates for the diversity of women in STEM and has been awarded the 2019 UK Wikimedian of the Year and the British Empire Medal for her contributions and efforts...click here to read more

December 29, 2023

Sylvie Pagovich

Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet in our solar system, located about 2.8 billion miles from the sun. Neptune is named after the Roman god of the sea. The planet was discovered in 1846 by Johan Galle and Heinrich Louis d’Arrest. Urbain Jean-Joseph Le Verrier is also credited with the discovery because of his mathematical involvement. Neptune is the first planet to be predicted before its time using mathematics. Neptune was explored by the NASA mission Voyager Two, along with Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. Voyager Two discovered many things about Neptune, including five of its moons, several ring arcs, the great dark spot, four rings, and its magnetic field...click here to read more

December 27, 2023

Lily Sharkey

Music is made of patterns - combinations of notes of different lengths arranged on a staff, coming together to create melodies. Patterns are vital in music; otherwise, the notes will lack structure and the result will be incoherent and confusing. Generally, notes are intentionally orchestrated to create these patterns, but can this process be reversed? Can scientists create a list of notes and use the music to find patterns in a sequence of DNA? This is where protein music comes in...click here to read more

December 25, 2023

Sylvie Pagovich

Just like fully developed humans, babies also have the five senses- sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Babies begin to experience touch when they are still in the uterus before they’re born. Touch can give babies a warm feeling and a feeling of security. Babies are sensitive to touch and prefer warm and soft touches. The sense of touch for a baby is fully developed at birth but continues to grow and evolve along with the baby. A fetus can even feel the vibrations when its mother’s stomach is rubbed. Touch influences the emotional status of a baby. Affectionate touch can lead to a baby having less negativity and stress...click here to read more

December 20, 2023

Claire Story

Time and space have remained a perplexing question for generations of scientists, particularly how time behaves differently on Earth, in outer space, or the distant universe. According to A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, time is a “personal concept, relative to the observer who measured it” and is not absolute (Hawking 106). People observe time based on the clocks they carry, and not all clocks may agree (Hawking 106). Renowned physicist Albert Einstein proposed the theory of relativity, saying that the laws of science and the speed of light should be equal for every freely moving observer regardless of their current speed (Hawking 44). As described in relativity simultaneity, time passes at different rates for everyone and “depends on our state of motion relative to each other” (Al-Khalili 61). Time moves slower when near a body with a high gravitational pull. For example, because Mars has less gravity than Earth, time passes ever so slightly faster (Hamer)...click here to read more

December 15, 2023

Taelor Mafnas 

Butterflies, beetles, peacocks, and plasmonic paints: one of these are notably different from the rest, but they all share similar properties in their coloration. Rich and rare colors can be found throughout nature, most significantly in butterfly wings, beetle elytra, and peacock feathers. Where do they get these colors, and why aren’t they more common in animals? Well, unlike other organisms, their colors don’t come from pigments but instead from their structure! Nano (super tiny) structures within these organisms manipulate how light reflects or is absorbed, producing the range of colors we see on them...click here to read more

December 13, 2023

Reggie Dao

Our world has been exposed to certain substances shaped in pills, dust, or any shape or form that is either illegal or prescribed, known as a drug. All of this material is bound to place extreme psychological effects on people, which raises a certain question. What kind of receptors are in someone’s DNA to determine how they’ll react? Doctors in the field of pharmacogenomics are actively seeking ways to treat their patients, and need to know the cerebral effects that come with these drugs. Thanks to Watson and Crick’s discovery of the DNA structure, figuring out how one’s DNA detects drug reactions is made easier in the lab...click here to read more

December 4, 2023

Bobo Lin

How many jelly beans can fill a room? How many piano tuners are there in Chicago? How long would it take you to count to one million? These seemingly impossible questions are called Fermi questions, or back-of-the-envelope questions. Fermi questions are estimation problems answered with reasonable quantitative estimates and smaller sub-questions. The purpose is not to answer the question correctly (because it doesn’t have a correct answer!) but rather to practice thinking logically and encourage communication...click here to read more

November 29, 2023

Lily Sharkey

December 5, 2022, was the first time in history that nuclear fusion reached ignition- that is, nuclear fusion produced more energy than was put into it. On July 30, 2022, California scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) reached ignition for the second time. If it can be successfully and continuously repeated, nuclear fusion can be the next clean and cheap energy source. However, nuclear fusion is still in its preliminary phase, and much more experimentation is required before it can become the next green power source. Thus, it is unclear if nuclear fusion will have an impact on current climate issues by the time it will be available commercially...click here to read more

November 27, 2023

Stephanien Khoury

By definition, psychology is the study of the mind, but most people fail to realize how our minds relate to science. While commonly perceived as a social science due to its exploration of emotions and human interactions, psychology is intricately linked to the natural life sciences. Each psychological principle that has been verified by the American Psychology Association relies upon the scientific method to test its theories. The scientific method is the universal procedure used to test hypotheses...click here to read more

November 22, 2023

Lily Sharkey

Every person has more than 20,000 genes that code for their very existence. Genes are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) wound up into tight structures called chromosomes. All chromosomes are found in the nucleus, the core structure of each cell. Every person has two replicas of each gene, one inherited from each parent. A mutation, which is a variant or alteration in the DNA, can drastically change what the DNA codes for. The variant can be benign, meaning they don’t pose a serious threat to one’s health, or pathogenic, which causes genetic and health issues...click here to read more

November 20, 2023

Dave Achonu

The HTT gene, also known as the Huntington gene, has been of intense scientific and medical research interest for decades. This gene is primarily associated with Huntington's disease (HD), a debilitating and devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The history of the HTT gene is a story of scientific exploration, breakthroughs, and the pursuit of a cure...click here to read more

November 17, 2023

Jaydaniah Quitugua

Dinosaurs are an extinct species that have been studied for many years through their fossils. The first recorded study occurred around the 1600s but wasn’t officially published until 1677. Since dinosaurs were extinct before the existence of human beings, there’s a lot unknown. Studies and theories are still being conducted. An example of the studies is fossilized dinosaur feathers. It has shown that dinosaur feathers have a very similar protein composition to those of modern birds...click here to read more

November 8, 2023

Caroline Cronin

In the 1960s and 1970s, during the days of Apollo 11, 12, and 17, the first samples of lunar soil were collected from different parts of the moon. After being stored for some 50 years at NASA’s archives in the Johnson Space Center, never exposed to air or water, they were taken out. Scientists at NASA made amazing discoveries that will continue to foster research and help mankind survive longer on the moon in the future. They successfully grew plants in lunar soil...click here to read more

November 6, 2023

Eliza Karel Gruta

From the moment we wake up, we make up lies. You might tell yourself, “It’s okay, five more minutes won’t make me late,” even though you know that you’ll be spending more than five minutes in bed. “I was late because of the traffic,” even though you know you just woke up late. Lying is normal - so normal that we don’t even question how it happens. In this article, we will tackle the hows and whys of this very ordinary phenomenon. This is Lies-ology 101...click here to read more

October 18, 2023

Lily Sharkey

Discovered in 1869, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is an organic chemical that is the basis of life. Found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (and even some virus cells), DNA codes for the genetic information that is responsible for the expression of inherited traits. Traits such as hair color, freckles, nose shape, and height are coded for by DNA. DNA is structured as a double-helix polymer, or in other words, two strands of DNA wound around each other. Each strand of DNA is composed of monomer nucleotides (compounds of nitrogenous bases joined with a sugar and a phosphate), which are held together by covalent bonds. The two strands of DNA are connected by hydrogen bonds. During the DNA replication process, the two strands “unzip” into individual strands, with each strand serving as a template for new nitrogenous bases to bond to. The result is two new molecules, each containing one strand of the original DNA. This means that whatever trait is coded for on the original DNA will be perpetually replicated, allowing diseases like cancer to persist and spread throughout the body..click here to read more

October 12, 2023

Sofia McGrath

Science is involved in numerous aspects of our day-to-day lives. Even seemingly simple processes that may be overlooked can have intriguing scientific explanations backing them, including paint varnish.  What is paint varnish and what does it have to do with science? Varnish is a relatively transparent liquid coating composed of either synthetic or natural solutions. It primarily serves as a protective layer on a painting, enhancing the final product's overall aesthetic through the intensification of its pigments. Science plays a significant and fascinating role in how varnish affects a painting, the properties of varnish, and how it changes over time...click here to read more

September 27, 2023

Stephanie Khoury

Eunice Newton Foote (1819-1888) was a women's rights activist and scientist. In her childhood, she never took an interest in science. It was only when she was introduced to the subject in her adolescence while studying at the Troy Female Seminary School that she began to develop a strong passion for it. While exploring her new-found passion, she began to experiment. Her most notable experiment included her using thermometers to compare the temperatures of air and carbon dioxide...click here to read more

September 26, 2023

Anya Puangsawas

Given the title of “Australian of the Year” five times in a row, Dr. Fiona Wood is a distinguished plastic and reconstructive surgeon in her field of expertise– treating burns and other types of skin damage. She is principally recognized by the public eye and the world of science for her development of “Spray-on Skin”, a revolutionary and innovative treatment that shortened the time needed to cultivate enough cells to cover serious burns from the prior three-week duration to only five days...click here to read more

September 18, 2023

Joshua Morgan

How did our universe, something so massive and complex, come to be? What was the trigger that created the cosmos? Questions regarding the origins of our universe are so direct yet at the same time very complicated. The subject has been controversial and puzzling for ages, where many individuals have speculated and hypothesized. As of the 1960s, however, the cosmology community has come to accept only one theory: the Big Bang theory...click here to read more

September 15, 2023

Aye Chan Mon 

The universe comprises billions of trillions of stars. Stars may seem to harmonize in the night sky, but in truth, they vary vastly in mass, luminosity, diameter, color, temperature, and lifetime. Just as every organism has a circle of life, the stars in space do, too. But how exactly? All stars’ are born from cold and dense gas clouds termed nebulae. Hydrogen gas is the primary constituent of a nebula. Nebulae remain in a fixed stable position for millions of years...click here to read more

Wednesday, September 13

Lucia Xiao

In the developing field of neuromarketing, researchers analyze consumer behavior and marketing strategies, enabling a more direct understanding of the correlations between physiological processes, consumer behavior, and decision-making. This essay outlines major scientific advances in the field of neuromarketing, particularly concentrating on its potential applications and contributions to our understanding of human behavior...click here to read more

September 6, 2023

Tsz Kiu Amanda Leung

We live in a world of protons, neutrons, and electrons. However, if we examine the universe as a whole, all light and atoms, “normal matter,” only make up about 5% of the cosmos. If so, what exactly is the remaining 95%, and how do we find it? A concept first proposed in the 1930s by Fritz Zwicky, dark matter was only confirmed by Vera C. Rubin and her colleagues in the 1960s, making it a very recent discovery. Our universe is mainly dark matter and dark energy, where dark matter makes up about 27% and dark energy roughly 68%. One view of dark matter is that it is non-baryonic - that is, it is not made up of protons and neutrons, but other particles, such as leptons, quarks, or axons. Scientists generally agree that dark matter is a new, invisible type of particle that our sensory equipment cannot pick up...click here to read more

September 4, 2023

Janessa Angela Alerre

Charles Darwin, born on February 12, 1809, living in Shrewsbury, England, grew up intrigued by the world around him. During his childhood, he spent his time reading nature books and collecting plants and insects from the fields and woodlands surrounding his home. He happened to come from a family of scientists. For instance, his grandfather, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, was a renowned botanist, and his father, Dr. R.W Darwin, was a medical doctor...click here to read more

August 23, 2023

Soulava Gabr

Drug abuse is a significant and ongoing issue affecting approximately two million Iranians daily, with heroin being the most widely abused substance in the country. The prevalence of opium, a precursor to heroin, has contributed to the rise of addiction rates, particularly among the working-age population between fifteen and sixty-four years old. The abuse of prescription medications has also played a role in escalating opioid misuse, leading to more potent narcotic consumption like heroin, which poses severe threats to physical and mental health...click here to read more

August 21, 2023

Benjamin Woo

Our universe may not be the only one out there in the unending night sky. Many have proposed that other universes could exist and that our universe is simply one of many outside of the observable realm. However, is this idea actually true? Can such a proposal be substantiated? This article will explore the multiverse theory and some different interpretations of the seemingly absurd concept...click here to read more

August 15, 2023

Jasmine Nguyen

The initial thought that comes to mind when discussing dopamine is the feeling of pleasure that it gives the body. However, it is much more complicated than that. Dopamine is one of many neurotransmitters, chemicals that sends electrical signals throughout the brain’s and body’s neurons and target cells. These neurotic messages control emotions, behaviors, and the function of muscles and organs. Dopamine is especially vital to the functions of our bodies’ motor control, memory, attention, motivation, mood, and more. Although dopamine plays a crucial role in many bodily actions, this article will specifically focus on its relationship with individuals’ reward centers...click here to read more

July 12, 2023

Letícia Alves da Silva

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned between the moon and the sun, causing a precise alignment of the shadow of Earth with the lunar surface, darkening it. Depending on the type of eclipse, it can occur twice a year or every two or three years. It is noteworthy that such a phenomenon only happens during the full moon phase. In general, there are three types of lunar eclipses...click here to read more

July 5, 2023

Audrey Tran

The human body consists of 200 different types of cells. All cells, ranging from blood cells to nerve cells, originated from the stem cell. Stem cells are cells that have yet to differentiate into a specific function, much like a body’s raw materials. These cells do not have particular tissue characteristics; however, they can later differentiate into numerous specialized cells and tissues. Unlike most body cells that divide for a limited amount of time, stem cells can divide indefinitely. Due to the versatile nature of stem cells, they hold the remarkable potential to be clinically applied in therapies and organ transplantation...click here to read more

July 3, 2023

Suhani Desai 

Over the last few months, Canada has begun to experience one of the harshest wildfire seasons to date. Canada, which holds 9% of the world’s forests, typically experiences a wildfire season during this time of the year which usually extends from early May to October. This year, as Canada was hit with its most devastating fires, the fumes of the fires - which have reached almost every corner of Canada - have begun to spread south over the Canadian border into the United States. The hazy skies and large amounts of smoke have set new record highs of air pollution triggering shocking air quality warnings across Canada and the US...click here to read more

June 18, 2023

Brendan Kaminski

Russia plays an instrumental role in the global food supply, producing large quantities of corn and wheat. 1 In 2018, Russia’s wheat exports peaked at 26.4 percent of its total exports, making it the largest global wheat exporter.2  These exports significantly contribute to European grain supply, as over 70 percent of Finnish and Turkish grain imports are from Russia.3 However, in July and August of 2022, Russian wheat exports decreased by 22 percent.4 Scholars contend that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the primary source of this decline, overlooking the issue of climate change. Since several European countries depend on Russian agribusiness, this deficit is not simply a domestic issue but impacts the entire European continent. It is therefore vital that the environmental undertones of this topic are addressed...click here to read more

June 7, 2023

Avni Kyal

After studying the planets and how they all formed, scientists opted to study one of the larger, quite literally existential, questions of the universe: do planets other than Earth have conditions that could potentially sustain life? Scientists ventured towards researching the developmental and generational changes in the composition of radiation, matter, and life throughout the universe...click here to read more

May 24, 2023

Noa Essner

Over the course of human history, especially in the primitive years, mankind’s need to adapt to their surroundings has been a vital component of their survival. This adaptation has entailed learning to hunt for food, finding some form of shelter, and most especially, making fires. The exploration of this topic began in the Qesem Cave in Israel, where scientists suggest, based on ancient wood samples, that Neanderthals first started learning to make fires. Subsequent to this discovery, scientists have and continue to rely on analyzing the remains of bones and charcoal to trace the continued usage of fire. This has led scientists to conclude that as humans have evolved, ensuring their survival has not been the only use of fire. Science indicates that fire has played a critical role in actual human development from the early homosapien, a near-distant ancestor of apes, to the more complex species of humans that we are today....click here to read more

May 22, 2023 

Krisha Gupta 

From Dobereiner’s triads to Newland’s octaves, a plethora of scientists has tried arranging the chemical elements feasibly and reasonably. Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev first created the conceptual layout for the modern periodic table in 1869. At least, that is how the world perceives it...click here to read more

May 18, 2023

Keren Teichner 

In recent years, anxiety medication has been more widely used due to anxiety becoming a more rampant symptom of day-to-day life. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), one out of every thirteen people suffer from anxiety, making it the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. Many people use anxiety medication to help combat their anxiety and live with the stresses of life; however, many people do not know what these medications are. What types are there? Are they safe? Who uses them? This article will speak about several different types of anxiety medication...click here to read more

May 10, 2023

Noa Essner

For over a century, receiving the Nobel Prize has been a standing signifier of great progress and achievement in one of seven disciplines: chemistry, physics, economics, physiology, peace, literature, or medicine. Of nearly a thousand winners since the prize originated in 1901, only 59 of those winners have come from an Asian ethnicity. Yet, among those winners, one remarkable female scientist has truly broken down barriers and made her mark on the STEM community by becoming the first female Asian scientist to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in either physiology or medicine. This individual is Tu Youyou, a Chinese chemist whose development of the drug artemisinin is providing people worldwide with a life-saving treatment..click here to read more

May 3, 2023

Sylvie Pagovich 

Volcanoes are defined as an opening in the crust of a planet or moon. These openings allow molten rock, heated gases, and other substances to erupt. Volcanoes can be found in many places, not just on Earth. As layers of rock and ash accumulate from numerous eruptions, volcanoes frequently take the form of a hill or mountain, but they can also be found either on land or in the ocean. In general, volcanoes can either be active, dormant, or extinct...click here to read more

April 26, 2023

Carter Hoskins, Dave Achonu, Jacob Moran

Have you ever wondered what drives the Joker, the iconic villain from DC Comics, to his maniacal behavior? In the video game “Arkham Knight,” the Joker suffers from a mutated version of a rare and fatal neurological disorder known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. If you haven’t heard of this disease, don’t fret; it doesn’t take a caped crusader to understand this disorder...click here to read more

April 19, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

Jennifer Doudna is an American biochemist born in 1964 who co-discovered CRISPR, an invaluable tool for saving lives through genetic modification. Doudna was originally born in Washington, D.C., but she grew up in Hawaii where her love of science stemmed from exploring rainforests on her native island, Hilo. Her father, who taught at the University of Hawaii, lent her the very book that would spark her insatiable curiosity for genetics: The Double Helix, by James Watson. A few years later, she studied biochemistry at California’s Pomona College, then went to Harvard University for graduate school, where alongside Jack Szostak she researched ribonucleic acids (RNA) as well as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acids)...click here to read more

April 12, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

May-Britt Moser is a Norwegian psychologist born in 1963 who is known for her groundbreaking work in studying brain cells. She grew up fascinated by plastic brains and received a strong education in science that fostered an eventual career studying psychology...click here to read more

April 5, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

May 12, 1910 marks the day one of science’s greatest heroes was born. Dorothy Hodgkin was a chemist whose contributions to the field greatly impacted scientific research. Her love of chemistry began at the young age of ten years old. She was born in Cairo, Egypt, and had an interest in science, particularly botany and archaeology. She then went to school in London. There, she was one of two girls granted the opportunity to study science alongside a class filled with boys...click here to read more

March 22, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

Sally Ride was the first woman to have traveled to outer space. Born on May 26, 1951, Ride’s childhood included playing volleyball and tennis. She grew up and attended high school in Los Angeles, and then she studied at Stanford University to earn her degree in Physics. In 1977, NASA wanted women astronauts and started an astronaut program that encouraged women to apply. Ride applied, and was one of six women to be accepted for the program...click here to read more

March 15, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

Marie Curie was a French scientist who worked alongside her husband, Pierre Curie. Together, they both won two Nobel Prizes and discovered radioactivity. Maria Sklodowska was her birth name, and she was the youngest of five in her family. She was born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. As both her parents were teachers, Marie was able to read and write very early on. She was known to be an excellent student with a remarkable memory. During the time Marie grew up, Poland was controlled by Russia, and reading or writing in Polish came to be forbidden, restricting Curie from the opportunity to learn and grow. Due to the Russian invasion, Marie’s father lost his job. By the time Marie was ten, her sister had passed away from Typhus. Two years after that, her mother died from tuberculosis. Marie graduated from high school and went to University. However, University was not encouraged for women during that time...click here to read more

March 8, 2023

Ashlyn Tsang, Maya Puterman, Noa Essner

Rosalind Franklin is best known for her contributions made towards the uncovering of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and its molecular structure. DNA is the portion of a cell that stores genetic information. It is responsible for the development of an organism. Other contributions made by Franklin include observing and discovering new insights into the structure of viruses, which helped in creating the foundation in the field of structural virology. Franklin was born on July 25, 1920. As a child, she enjoyed reading novels, drawing, and photography. While attending St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Franklin excelled at science and Latin. Although it was not encouraged at the time for girls to be interested in these subjects, especially science, Franklin had the mind and attitude for it....click here to read more

January 29, 2023

Dave Achonu 

The second wave of the opioid crisis has been running rampant in the United States since 2010. This public health crisis has been characterized by a stark increase in the number of heroin overdoses. Heroin, a semi-synthetic opioid, has successfully eroded the quality of life of millions of Americans. However, heroin is not the only opioid currently plaguing the United States. Fentanyl, a more cost-effective and synthetic opioid has recently risen to fame amongst drug users and infamy amongst public health leaders. Illicit fentanyl usage has proliferated immensely as of late, increasing twenty-fold between 2010 and 2015. This fatal drug has stolen the lives of millions, leaving a permanent stain on this nation...click here to read more

December 19, 2022

Noa Essner

Beneath the Scotia Sea Floor in the Antarctic Ocean, scientists unintentionally discovered remnants of DNA from microorganisms. This DNA, known scientifically as sedimentary ancient DNA, due to its being found among the accumulation near the sea floor, is estimated to be roughly one million years old. Though the DNA found in Antarctica was discovered back in 2019 as part of a research project prompted by the International Ocean Discovery Program, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that scientists concluded that this strange DNA is much older than the 650,000-year-old sedaDNA (“Sedimentary Ancient DNA”) found in the frozen Antarctic, making it one of the world’s oldest found DNA samples to date...click here to read more

May 1, 2022

Leo Eigen

Fire has always been present in nature. Scientists consider it to be one of the most important elements of “forest ecology” – the complex biological relationships that build the basis for forest life. But with the intense rise of destructive wildfires across the West Coast of the United States which threaten homes, communities, and, above all, human life, firefighting agencies have adopted a “zero-tolerance” approach whereby all fire is considered bad...click here to read more 

April 18, 2022

Noa Essner

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, is renowned for its historic progress in space exploration and reaching new frontiers of discovery beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Having maintained this reputation for over sixty years, it may come as a surprise that an agency concerned with space endeavors is now directing its focus somewhere else...click here to read more