The Power of Big Science: Working at the cutting edge of discovery
by Tomo Lazovich figures by Alexandra Was When you picture a science experiment, you probably imagine someone wearing a white coat, hunched over a lab bench, looking through a microscope, or mixing something in a beaker. While this is not an inaccurate picture in many fields, it misses an important dimension of the modern scientific process: collaboration. In his speech at the banquet for his … Continue reading The Power of Big Science: Working at the cutting edge of discovery
How we talk about science matters: A bioethicist’s view on controversial research and science policy
by Caitlin Nichols cover image by Rebecca Clements Modern advances in stem cell technology and genetic engineering are bringing the stuff of science fiction into reality, presenting remarkable promise for expanding knowledge and treating disease. However, these developments also arouse ethical concerns that must be considered when deciding if and how to implement them. One striking example of this relationship between biological advancement and bioethics … Continue reading How we talk about science matters: A bioethicist’s view on controversial research and science policy
Engineering the Earth to Fight Climate Change
by Katie Dagon Imagine if we had an “undo” button for climate change – we could remove all the greenhouse gases from the air or cool the planet’s temperature in an instant. While this might sound like science fiction, the basic idea is not as far off as you might think. Reducing fossil fuel use is really important, but also really difficult. And even if … Continue reading Engineering the Earth to Fight Climate Change
New Toxic Substances Control Act: An End to the Wild West for Chemical Safety?
by Cory Gerlach figures by Tito Adhikary There are currently more than 85,000 chemicals in the US that make up the products in our daily lives and few, besides medications and pesticides, have been assessed thoroughly for safety. In fact, the federal government has had relatively little oversight over most chemicals in commerce (Figure 1). As a result, nearly all of the chemicals in our cosmetics, … Continue reading New Toxic Substances Control Act: An End to the Wild West for Chemical Safety?
Seaweed May Cut Cows Methane Production
A team of Australian scientists lead by Rocky De Nys (James Cook University) discovered that a certain type of red seaweed, called Asparagopsis taxiformis, can decrease the amount of methane produced by the bacteria found in a cow’s stomach. Lauren Kuntz explains that methane is a very potent but short-lived greenhouse gas. Limiting methane produced by livestock, a major source of the gas, could help … Continue reading Seaweed May Cut Cows Methane Production
Galactic Rotation Curves Revisited: A Surprise For Dark Matter
Historically, galactic rotation curves have suggested that galaxies are surrounded by a vast amount of invisible matter, otherwise known as a dark matter halo. A few weeks ago, a team of astrophysicists published a result that completely contradicts these halo models and could even change the popular understanding of dark matter. The team found that galactic rotation curves can be calculated explicitly from a simple … Continue reading Galactic Rotation Curves Revisited: A Surprise For Dark Matter
Charting the Hidden World of the Brain: A tale of lasers, magnets, and fish
Recent advances in biology and physics have enabled the creation of exquisitely detailed maps of the brain that describe the structure and function of specific brain regions or even individual cells. We will discuss the technologies behind these maps as well as the insights they have revealed about how complex phenomena like behaviors and emotions can emerge from a squishy glob of cells. Continue reading Charting the Hidden World of the Brain: A tale of lasers, magnets, and fish
Episode 9: When is an animal not a human: aka an episode on animal models (Part 1)
Written by Michelle Frank, Alexandra Schnell, Mashaal Sohail, and Amy Gilson Part One (Listen to Part Two here) Rebecca Hi Amy Amy Hi Becky. Or, do you want me to call you Rebecca for this podcast? Rebecca Probably Rebecca. Amy Okay, Hi Rebecca Rebecca Hello Amy! Amy Can you explain who you are and why you’re here? Rebecca I’m a graduate student at Washington University, … Continue reading Episode 9: When is an animal not a human: aka an episode on animal models (Part 1)
It’s a boy! Baby is born with DNA from three “parents”
A now five-month-old boy was the first child to be born via spindle nuclear transfer, a controversial fertilization procedure that incorporates genetic material from three different people. Most of our genes are located in the DNA found in a cell’s nucleus, but a few reside in tiny compartments called mitochondria. While rare, mutations in mitochondrial DNA can result in devastating disorders that often cannot … Continue reading It’s a boy! Baby is born with DNA from three “parents”
New Study Warns of Southwest Megadrought
A new study published in Science aims to assess the effect of climate change on the risk of a serious drought hitting the Southwest United States before the year 2100. Megadroughts are defined as decade-long periods of prolonged drought; megadroughts can occur when the delicate balance between soil moisture and evaporation are upset. The most recent megadrought dates back to the late 16th century and … Continue reading New Study Warns of Southwest Megadrought