Episode 9: When is an animal not a human: aka an episode on animal models (Part 2)
Written by Michelle Frank, Alexandra Schnell, Mashaal Sohail, and Amy Gilson Part Two (Listen to Part One here) Amy– Episode intro Hello, and welcome to Sit’N Listen: a production of Science in the News. We’re a graduate-student run organization at Harvard University that catalyzes discussion between scientists and other experts and enthusiasts. I’m Amy Gilson, a producer of Sit’N Listen and also a graduate student. … Continue reading Episode 9: When is an animal not a human: aka an episode on animal models (Part 2)
A Sight For Sore Eyes
Have you ever experienced itchy, watery eyes as a result of seasonal allergies? The objects in this picture are to blame. This microscope image shows conjunctival tissue from an eye in the presence of a single mast cell. Mast cells are important regulators of the immune system. Upon invasion of the eye with foreign objects, such as allergens, the mast cell is recruited to … Continue reading A Sight For Sore Eyes
Transfusing old blood into young mice aged their systems
A team at UC Berkeley investigated the effects of transfusing blood from young mice into old mice and vice versa. They found that young blood only slightly improves some functions (e.g. brain cell development) in old mice, but old blood significantly decreases those functions in young mice. This points to something present in old blood that actually ages our systems, but that something is still unknown. Continue reading Transfusing old blood into young mice aged their systems
Charging your cell phone through your shirt
Modern society is built on portable electronics, and with these power-hungry pieces of technology comes the need for convenient charging. To mitigate the need to find power outlets, a team at the University of Central Florida, lead by Jayan Thomas, created a ribbon which both harvests solar energy and stores it within a single unit. Remarkably, the technology is able to be woven with other … Continue reading Charging your cell phone through your shirt
Don’t worry, the expansion of the universe is still accelerating
In the early 1900s, Edwin Hubble observed that distant galaxies are moving away from us. This surprising observation led Hubble to hypothesize that the universe is expanding; more recently, scientists have observed that not only is the universe expanding, but that the expansion is accelerating! The evidence for acceleration emerged from observations of a particular kind of supernovae (Type Ia supernovae) that have a uniform … Continue reading Don’t worry, the expansion of the universe is still accelerating
Holding the Fort Down
And how! Depicted here are intricate collagen fibers, the structural glue and the most abundant protein in the mammalian body. Collagen proteins occupy the extracellular space in connective tissues, and form fibers that provide the physical scaffold for holding and strengthening several tissues in the body including bones, ligaments, tendons, skin, and the cornea. With several different classes of this protein defined to date, type … Continue reading Holding the Fort Down
From Ebola to Zika: Combating myths and controlling mosquitoes
Infectious disease outbreaks are not a new phenomenon and remain a major public health concern. Since the turn of the 21st century, we have dealt with several infectious disease epidemics, including the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic, and most recently the emergence of Zika virus in the Americas. We will discuss the representation of these outbreaks in popular culture, explain the social and scientific challenges associated with … Continue reading From Ebola to Zika: Combating myths and controlling mosquitoes
Genetic Evidence Exonerates HIV’s “Patient Zero”
Gaeten Dugas, the man who received the title “Patient Zero” for supposedly bringing HIV/AIDS into the United States, has been cleared. Dugas was a Canadian flight attendant who contracted and died of AIDS soon after the disease first appeared in the US. The book And the Band Played On paints a sinister picture of his role in the early AIDS epidemic, leading many to suspect … Continue reading Genetic Evidence Exonerates HIV’s “Patient Zero”
Small World, Big Data: From online dating to the emergency room
In the modern age, data is used to make decisions in almost every aspect of life, from online dating to product placement and advertising. But what is big data? How did it come to be? How will applications of big data help shape technology we use every day? Hear the answers to these questions and more as we explore the origins of data, examples of … Continue reading Small World, Big Data: From online dating to the emergency room
Understanding Suicide Risk: How language, emotion, and pain influence self-harm
Suicide is a troubling, yet surprisingly common phenomenon, claiming the lives of over 42,000 Americans annually. This lecture will explore the intersecting topics of language, pain, and emotion regulation, and address how research in these fields can provide insight into suicide risk and prevention. Continue reading Understanding Suicide Risk: How language, emotion, and pain influence self-harm