Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents
Presented by Heather Olins Since their discovery in 1977, scientists and non-scientists alike have been captivated by hydrothermal vent ecosystems. The geological setting and the biological processes that occur in these locations make them unlike any ecosystem on Earth. In this talk we will start out with some background about what these vents are and how they form. We will discuss the “alien” nature of … Continue reading Alien Worlds of Hydrothermal Vents
A Tale of Two Worlds
The Kepler Space Telescope has found thousands of planets and planet candidates. Perhaps one of the most exciting discoveries is that smaller, rocky planets are more common than we thought. Our current understanding of what makes a planet habitable for life includes a planetary surface (something you can stand on) and the potential for liquid water. If a planet is too massive, it is likely … Continue reading A Tale of Two Worlds
House of Cards: Is something wrong with the state of science?
Science produces knowledge about our world, while also forming the basis for technologies, medicines and applications that are instrumental to tackling the many problems facing our society. Because of its enormous impact, it is critical that science be built on firm foundations. One of the most crucial differences distinguishing science from pseudoscience (such as many forms of alternative medicine) or non-scientific forms of evidence (such … Continue reading House of Cards: Is something wrong with the state of science?
Why would scientists create a hybrid flu?
From “Scientists create hybrid flu that can go airborne”, news article in Nature by Ed Yong, 2 May 2013 (original article here) Creating a “hybrid flu” may seem outlandish or irresponsible without additional information. Researchers in China engineered viruses with mixed genetic pieces to mimic a dramatic type of evolution that occurs in nature if a single animal is simultaneously infected with two viruses at … Continue reading Why would scientists create a hybrid flu?
Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior
Presented by Clare Malone Is there a biological reason why some people become violent offenders? This is an area of biology with many legal, ethical, and societal implications. Tonight we will focus on what the biology can, and cannot, tell us about the causes of violent behavior. We will talk about the studies that have been done, their results, and their limitations. Along the way … Continue reading Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior
Allergies and the Modern World
Presented by Dan Dwyer Most of the time our immune system protects us from the outside world. Occasionally, it tries to protect us from things like pollen and peanuts instead, a process that we call allergy. The allergic response involves several specialized types of white blood cells acting together. For some this is a minor inconvenience, while for others it can lead to a life … Continue reading Allergies and the Modern World
Could a hidden allergy be causing your migraines?
Do you get headaches often? Do they interfere with your life? Repeated headaches and migraines have a significant effect on quality-of-life and productivity at the personal level. Collectively migraines and other associated symptoms cost the US economy over ten billion dollars per year [1], with an estimated 10% to 15% of the population, mostly women, suffering from repeated migraines [2]. If you’ve ever tried to … Continue reading Could a hidden allergy be causing your migraines?
Sudden Death– A Tale of Cell Suicide
Presented by Marshall Thomas Every day, a program of cell death called apoptosis destroys millions of cells in our bodies. Though it sounds morbid and scary, apoptosis is critical for keeping us healthy by removing old and damaged cells. This staves off cancer and infections. I’m interested in apoptosis because of its obvious applications to human health and disease, but also because the cell death … Continue reading Sudden Death– A Tale of Cell Suicide
Mindfulness meditation: A mental workout to benefit the brain
Meditation has ancient, religious roots, but it has also become a secular practice, implemented to promote wellbeing and to treat depression and anxiety. Skeptics might be wary of this jump from spiritual origins to medical treatment, but mounting evidence suggests that meditation can have tangible effects on the brain. In a practice called mindfulness meditation, people concentrate on the present moment: on breathing, physical sensations, … Continue reading Mindfulness meditation: A mental workout to benefit the brain
Racing CARs against Cancer
You may have recently heard about cases of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) being cured in a few adults and children using a new type of cell therapy [1]. In these studies, scientists took a patient’s own immune cells, altered their genetic material so that these cells would attack the leukemia, then put the modified immune cells back into the patient. The immune cells used in … Continue reading Racing CARs against Cancer