Be Prepared: Little exaggeration in the Pacific Northwest “Big One” Earthquake Article
California has been the focus of most of Hollywood’s disaster films: there are the succinctly named Earthquake (1974) and Volcano (1977), and most recently San Andreas (2015), about America’s most famous fault line. Now a second fault line in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) – the Cascadia subduction zone – is making its way into the public imagination following a much talked about New Yorker article. In … Continue reading Be Prepared: Little exaggeration in the Pacific Northwest “Big One” Earthquake Article
Nature or Nurture: Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?
Women now tend to live longer than their male counterparts in every country in the world, but anatomy alone cannot fully explain why. Looking to solve this riddle, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently studied how the primary causes of death have changed over the past few centuries. They found that men and women had comparable life expectancies during the 19th century and that the … Continue reading Nature or Nurture: Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?
Navigating with an internal compass
Many animals have been known to take advantage of the Earth’s magnetic field, often for migration (sometimes even for more rudimentary functions). Until recently, little was known about how animals are able to sense this magnetic field. Researchers at University of Texas at Austin have discovered an internal structure in the brain of a worm, C. elegans, which allows it to orient itself to … Continue reading Navigating with an internal compass
How does a single-celled organism evolve an eye?
Take a moment to consider the complexity of the human eye. Now, envision a single-celled organism that also contains this extremely complex and sophisticated organ. Far from imaginary, the warnowiid fits this exact description. Warnowiids are dinoflagellates, a type of single-celled organism known for their diversity and complexity. In a recent study, scientists utilized microscopy and several types of DNA analysis to understand the evolutionary … Continue reading How does a single-celled organism evolve an eye?
What’s the skinny on the dangers of skinny jeans?
Skinny jeans have been blamed for many things, from the downfall of American men to #Bendgate, but hardly ever for medical issues. A recently published case study, however, attempts to slap a health warning on the use of skinny jeans. With a title worthy of a Daily Mail article – “Fashion victim: rhabdomyolysis and bilateral peroneal and tibial neuropathies as a result of squatting in … Continue reading What’s the skinny on the dangers of skinny jeans?
Plumotion
The plume-like shape of these Bovine Pulmonary Artery Epithelial (BPAE) cells is characteristic of cell motility. Although cells that make up your tissues and organs are typically stationary throughout adult life, there are many reasons a cell may need to move around. For example, when you get a cut on your skin, skin cells move together during the healing process, closing the wound. Also, white … Continue reading Plumotion
The “skinny” on Celastrol, a potential future anti-obesity drug
by Mary E. Gearing figures by Shannon McArdel 35% of the adult population is obese, a condition which puts one at a high risk for many diseases, namely heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Unfortunately, the treatments available for obesity are limited. Lifestyle modifications, including a healthy diet and exercise, can help reduce weight, but many individuals have trouble adhering to these changes over … Continue reading The “skinny” on Celastrol, a potential future anti-obesity drug
Biomedical research funding gains bipartisan support, but support for other sciences is still lacking
The funding of biomedical research, through the National Institute of Health (NIH), has been receiving bipartisan support as of late. The Senate has put forward a bill that would increase NIH funding by $2 billion, and the House has put forward a bill that would increase funding by $1.1 billion. Both numbers are higher than the President’s request of a $1 billion increase. While these … Continue reading Biomedical research funding gains bipartisan support, but support for other sciences is still lacking
Can Flies Feel Fear?
Can flies feel fear? What does that question even mean? A study finds that fruit flies perform behaviors suggestive of a fearful state in response to threats. The authors go on to establish a new language for discussing and studying emotions in non-humans. Continue reading Can Flies Feel Fear?
Hold the Phone: Technology’s Role in Combating Infectious Disease
by Katherine Wu figures by Kristen Seim We live in an increasingly wired world: with apps for every purpose imaginable, it has become easier and easier to share information and build global communities. In the wake of the recent Ebola pandemic, we have harnessed this technology to combat infectious disease, employing technological tools for diagnosis (as in the case of the parasitic disease loiasis) and … Continue reading Hold the Phone: Technology’s Role in Combating Infectious Disease