Our Newest Planet: Is it real, and what can it tell us about our solar system?
by Chamith Fonseka figures by Anna Maurer The solar system may soon go back to having nine planets, but don’t rejoice yet, Pluto fans. Ten years ago, Pluto was downgraded to the status of a dwarf planet after a team of astronomers led by Michael Brown of Caltech, Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory, and David Rabinowitz of Yale discovered Eris, an object that was … Continue reading Our Newest Planet: Is it real, and what can it tell us about our solar system?
Bacteria Resistant to Last-Line Antibiotic Found in US
In May, researchers identified for the first time a bacterial infection in the US that was resistant to the last-resort antibiotic colistin. Colistin was the last remaining antibiotic effective against all bacteria in the country – a weapon of last resort. This particular infection was sensitive to other antibiotics and was cured, but the presence of colistin resistant bacteria in the US (it was known … Continue reading Bacteria Resistant to Last-Line Antibiotic Found in US
Nature’s Living Magnets: An unexpected tool to treat disease
by Saman Hussain figures by Daniel Utter All living organisms have developed ways to move to places that are beneficial for them. Even tiny organisms like bacteria need to move towards food sources. Finding food becomes much easier if information from the environment is used to help in the search. For example, if you are looking for free pizza in your workplace, relying on randomly … Continue reading Nature’s Living Magnets: An unexpected tool to treat disease
Sit’N Listen! Episode 7: Mosquitoes and Maladies
Written by: Fernanda Ferreira, Elizabeth Jaensch, and Tianli Xiao We’re back with a new episode of Sit’N Listen, this time all about the world’s most deadly animal: MOSQUITOES. Tune in to learn about the history (and future!) of some of the infamous diseases mosquitoes spread, as well as new tools scientists are using in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. Special thanks to Amy Gilson for … Continue reading Sit’N Listen! Episode 7: Mosquitoes and Maladies
Snapshots in ocean reef evolution and what to expect going forward
by Anna Waldeck figures by Kaitlyn Choi Picture an ocean reef. If you’re like me, then the first image that comes to mind is filled with colorful corals, clapping scallops, and exotic fishes swimming in clear, sunny waters; something like the beginning of Disney’s Finding Nemo. If you’ve been following the news recently, maybe you’ve thought of the ghostly pictures of bleached corals on the … Continue reading Snapshots in ocean reef evolution and what to expect going forward
Our Genes are Not Our Destiny: “Smart Genes” have Tiny Effect on Schooling
Headlines touting a recently discovered link between particular snippets of DNA and academic success skew a complicated (and fascinating) story that’s hidden in our genes. As described in Nature, a team of researchers from all over the world studied the genomes of hundreds of thousands of people and found a correlation between “educational attainment” and specific genetic variations. This technique, called a genome-wide association study, … Continue reading Our Genes are Not Our Destiny: “Smart Genes” have Tiny Effect on Schooling
NASA’s Kepler Discovers over 1000 New Planets
Recently, the Kepler mission announced the discovery of 1,284 new planets. The announcement represents the most planets ever discovered at a single time, and more than doubles the total number of planets discovered by the Kepler telescope. Launched into space by NASA in 2009, Kepler’s goal is to determine how many Earth-sized planets reside in or near habitable zones, and estimate how many of such planets might exist … Continue reading NASA’s Kepler Discovers over 1000 New Planets
Microorganisms team up to recycle carbon dioxide into biofuel
by Michael R. Gerhardt As carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere increase, average global temperatures climb. 2015 was the hottest year on record, with 2014 a close second. These warm temperatures bring with them drastic effects on our climate. (For more information on climate change, check out our special edition on climate change from 2014). These giant, Earth-sized problems could be mitigated by some … Continue reading Microorganisms team up to recycle carbon dioxide into biofuel
Diversity in Chemical Synthesis Leads to New Antibiotics
Over 300 new macrolide compounds were synthesized by a team of scientists in the Myers lab at Harvard. Macrolides are a class of organic compounds with antibiotic properties that are used to treat a wide variety of infections, from pneumonia to chlamydia. Over time however, bacteria develop resistances to currently prescribed antibiotics, so scientists must continue to create new compounds to treat infections. The compounds … Continue reading Diversity in Chemical Synthesis Leads to New Antibiotics
The Study of Instinct: unraveling how the brain generates behavior
Presented by Nick Jikomes All animals, including humans, display a variety of innate motivational drives built in to the architecture of their brains. These include the drive to eat, sleep, find mates and defend against threats. Cutting-edge neuroscientific tools are now available that make it possible for scientists to map and interrogate the specific brain circuits that control these behaviors. Modern neuroscience now stands poised … Continue reading The Study of Instinct: unraveling how the brain generates behavior