Zombie Fungus Cannon Sheds Insight into Fungus Reproduction
A team of European researchers builds a zombie fungus cannon to understand how the fungus spreads its spores. Continue reading Zombie Fungus Cannon Sheds Insight into Fungus Reproduction
‘Double-sided tape’ could replace surgical stitches
Sutures are commonly used to close wounds in the skin or other tissues. Similar to sewing fabric, the doctors will use a needle attached to a thread to penetrate the tissue and close the edges of the wound together, facilitating quick healing. Although surgical sutures have been used for thousands of years, they still have some limitations: 1) the needles cause some damage to the … Continue reading ‘Double-sided tape’ could replace surgical stitches
Brain-machine interfaces may be used to study and regulate mood
Brain-machine interfaces translate brain signals into information that can be used to control robotic limbs, and now even predict an individual’s mood state. Researchers envision using BMIs together with electrical stimulation, to regulate abnormal brain signals in patients with treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric disorders. Continue reading Brain-machine interfaces may be used to study and regulate mood
The science behind mother of pearl: what makes Nacre the mother of materials
A new study deems mother of pearl or nacre to be the toughest material. Under pressure, nacre’s structure deforms to withstand force and then retains its original form when released. Unlike plastic, the material also fully recovers its strength once released. Continue reading The science behind mother of pearl: what makes Nacre the mother of materials
November 6 – The many magnitudes of darkness
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 6th Location: Armenise Amphitheater at Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston (link to directions) Speakers: Linda Xu Graphics: Olivia Foster Rhoades The search for dark matter is one of the defining physics challenges of our generation, driving collaborations and progress across many disciplines both experimental and theoretical. The abundance of evidence for its existence and continued elusiveness of any particle interaction is … Continue reading November 6 – The many magnitudes of darkness
The Universe is Expanding Faster than Scientists Thought
A new study shows that the universe is expanding faster than scientists had initially predicted, sparking an effort to determine what unknown force in space is responsible. Read Ben Andreone’s article to learn more! Continue reading The Universe is Expanding Faster than Scientists Thought
October 30 – Masters of Disguise: How cephalopods change their colors
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 30th Location: Armenise Amphitheater at Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston (link to directions) Speakers: Juliana Rhee Graphics: Olivia Foster Rhoades Have you ever wished you had an invisibility cloak? While this may sound like science fiction to us, coleoid cephalopods – octopus, cuttlefish, and squid – can change the color of their skin to disappear into the background in the blink … Continue reading October 30 – Masters of Disguise: How cephalopods change their colors
The Key to Taming Bacteria: Mucus Sugars
Mucus is not just the awful phlegm from your cough, it actually has the ability to tame bacteria infection! Scientists at MIT recently discovered that the glycans on our mucus can actually trigger biochemical responses that protect us from pathogens. Read Wei Li’s article to learn more. Continue reading The Key to Taming Bacteria: Mucus Sugars
Individual Genetic Medicine Helps Treat Genetic Disease
Doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital engineered a unique medicine to treat a young girl’s disease: they reverse engineered a blocker from her DNA to inhibit the gene causing the disease. Continue reading Individual Genetic Medicine Helps Treat Genetic Disease
October 23 – Computers Dream of a Better Future: Artificial Intelligence in Materials Science
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 23rd Location: Armenise Amphitheater at Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston (link to directions) Speakers: Steven Torrisi Graphics: Jovana Andrejevic The problems facing society have technological solutions, but need materials we don’t have yet. Computers are one of our biggest tools in the quest for finding the materials of the future. We have a new and exciting edge against the problems of … Continue reading October 23 – Computers Dream of a Better Future: Artificial Intelligence in Materials Science