New Supermassive Dinosaur Species Discovered
From T. Rex times seven: New dinosaur species is discovered in Argentina (original article here) Recent news describes the uncovering in Argentina of a new dinosaur species that is seven times the size of a T. Rex and could have weighed as much as a dozen African elephants! What is impressive about this discovery is the amount of bones found intact that can be used … Continue reading New Supermassive Dinosaur Species Discovered
Genes or Junk: Measuring the Functional Genome
In 2001, scientists published a (mostly) complete sequence of the human genome, the DNA that’s spread over our 23 chromosomes and contains the information that dictates the function of our cells and the development of our bodies [1]. Over a decade later, the public still wonders what all of that information means. And so do scientists. The problem is that it’s far easier to read … Continue reading Genes or Junk: Measuring the Functional Genome
Light-Powered Construction of Valuable Molecules from Simple Chemical Building Blocks
Two groups of researchers have recently reported a new light-powered method in which readily available chemical building blocks are coupled to produce useful complex molecules that cannot be easily found or made. Because these metal-catalyzed reactions require only visible light and mild conditions, they could be incredibly useful new methods for the cheap and environmentally friendly synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other valuable materials. Introduction Everything … Continue reading Light-Powered Construction of Valuable Molecules from Simple Chemical Building Blocks
What can funding for ALS research do? A recent study reports a new therapeutic target
Who would have guessed that pouring ice water on one’s head would lead to $94.3 million in donations (and counting) to fund Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research? Well it did. And it’s a great thing – ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease in which progressive death of motor neurons causes debilitating and eventually fatal paralysis. There are no cures and very few therapies available. However, … Continue reading What can funding for ALS research do? A recent study reports a new therapeutic target
Craters in Siberia – A Cause for Concern?
Large quantities of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane are trapped within and beneath polar permafrost, the layer of frozen ground that has not thawed for millennia. But this ground is now becoming destabilized as warmer temperatures due to a changing climate are causing the permafrost to melt, releasing the trapped greenhouse gases. If the melting is uneven it can cause … Continue reading Craters in Siberia – A Cause for Concern?
Space Faring Plankton: Fact or Fiction?
From Scientists find traces of sea plankton on ISS surface A recent article published by the Russian News Agency ITAR-TASS has made the unlikely claim that plankton, microscopic organisms typically found in the earth’s oceans, have been found on the surface of the International Space Station. These space faring plankton wouldn’t be the first microorganisms to survive (and even thrive) in space. However, it is … Continue reading Space Faring Plankton: Fact or Fiction?
Total recall: using light to create and erase memories
The fundamental nature of memory has eluded philosophers and scientists for over two millennia. As early as 350 B.C., Aristotle conjectured that the mind was like a blank wax tablet, or tabula rasa, imprinted with one’s experiences but only made decipherable by associations between the distinct ideas etched into the tablet [1]. As modern neuroscience emerged in the 20th century, doctors learned more about how … Continue reading Total recall: using light to create and erase memories
NASA’s Physics-Defying Space Engine More Fiction Than Fact?
The history of modern physics contains several examples of crazy and successful new ideas. Unfortunately for scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, their “impossible” space engine may not be one of them. Why? Simply put, it violates Isaac Newton’s third law of motion. NASA’s experiment involved placing a radio antenna inside of a sealed, metal container. Once turned on, radio waves produced by … Continue reading NASA’s Physics-Defying Space Engine More Fiction Than Fact?
Experimenting with robots!
This is a short video of a robot in the Kishony and Springer labs at Harvard Medical School. We often conduct experiments that require watching what happens to microbes in a variety of conditions over time. This custom configured and programmed machine allows us to measure up to 44 plates for days at a time. It can collect over 500,000 data points a day, enabling … Continue reading Experimenting with robots!
Why the West African Ebola Outbreak Is the Deadliest Ever
The current Ebola outbreak in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has received a lot of media attention, with terrifying headlines such as “Deadliest Ever Outbreak of Ebola” appearing in papers across the globe [1]. And this is indeed the largest outbreak recorded to date, with approximately 1,093 people infected and 660 deaths as of July 29, 2014 [7]. But how … Continue reading Why the West African Ebola Outbreak Is the Deadliest Ever