Month: May 2013

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The Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents

Photosynthesis vs. Chemosynthesis All living things need an energy source to power the chemical reactions that sustain life. Without such an energy source there could be no life. Most organisms on this planet get their energy, directly or indirectly, from the sun. Plants, algae, and some marine bacteria carry out photosynthesis, using the sun’s energy to produce sugars necessary for their survival. These organisms are … Continue reading The Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents

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The Bittersweet Truth of Sweet and Bitter Taste Receptors

In Disney’s Pixar acclaimed success Ratatouille, Chef Gusteau states: “Good food is like music you can taste, color you can smell, there is excellence all around you; You only need be aware to stop and savour it!” Chef Gusteau’s extended metaphor clearly refers to the infinite combinations of flavors that delight our palate and make food intake a pleasurable experience. Flavor per se is the … Continue reading The Bittersweet Truth of Sweet and Bitter Taste Receptors

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Seminars

Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents

Presented by Heather Olins Since their discovery in 1977, scientists and non-scientists alike have been captivated by hydrothermal vent ecosystems. The geological setting and the biological processes that occur in these locations make them unlike any ecosystem on Earth. In this talk we will start out with some background about what these vents are and how they form. We will discuss the “alien” nature of … Continue reading Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents

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A Tale of Two Worlds

The Kepler Space Telescope has found thousands of planets and planet candidates. Perhaps one of the most exciting discoveries is that smaller, rocky planets are more common than we thought. Our current understanding of what makes a planet habitable for life includes a planetary surface (something you can stand on) and the potential for liquid water. If a planet is too massive, it is likely … Continue reading A Tale of Two Worlds

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House of Cards: Is something wrong with the state of science?

Science produces knowledge about our world, while also forming the basis for technologies, medicines and applications that are instrumental to tackling the many problems facing our society. Because of its enormous impact, it is critical that science be built on firm foundations. One of the most crucial differences distinguishing science from pseudoscience (such as many forms of alternative medicine) or non-scientific forms of evidence (such … Continue reading House of Cards: Is something wrong with the state of science?

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Why would scientists create a hybrid flu?

From “Scientists create hybrid flu that can go airborne”, news article in Nature by Ed Yong, 2 May 2013 (original article here) Creating a “hybrid flu” may seem outlandish or irresponsible without additional information. Researchers in China engineered viruses with mixed genetic pieces to mimic a dramatic type of evolution that occurs in nature if a single animal is simultaneously infected with two viruses at … Continue reading Why would scientists create a hybrid flu?

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Seminars

Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior

Presented by Clare Malone Is there a biological reason why some people become violent offenders? This is an area of biology with many legal, ethical, and societal implications. Tonight we will focus on what the biology can, and cannot, tell us about the causes of violent behavior. We will talk about the studies that have been done, their results, and their limitations. Along the way … Continue reading Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior

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Seminars

Allergies and the Modern World

Presented by Dan Dwyer Most of the time our immune system protects us from the outside world. Occasionally, it tries to protect us from things like pollen and peanuts instead, a process that we call allergy. The allergic response involves several specialized types of white blood cells acting together. For some this is a minor inconvenience, while for others it can lead to a life … Continue reading Allergies and the Modern World

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Could a hidden allergy be causing your migraines?

Do you get headaches often? Do they interfere with your life? Repeated headaches and migraines have a significant effect on quality-of-life and productivity at the personal level. Collectively migraines and other associated symptoms cost the US economy over ten billion dollars per year [1], with an estimated 10% to 15% of the population, mostly women, suffering from repeated migraines [2]. If you’ve ever tried to … Continue reading Could a hidden allergy be causing your migraines?

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