Erich Jarvis: What birds can teach us about ourselves
by Hannah Smith Have you ever wondered why you can teach a parakeet to talk, but you can’t teach a dog or a cat? Dr. Erich Jarvis has spent his scientific career studying the brain pathways required for this behavior, called vocal learning, and trying to decipher how this trait evolved only in a handful of animals. But before he was well known around the … Continue reading Erich Jarvis: What birds can teach us about ourselves
What Does A Theoretical Physicist Do?
How do you introduce yourself, scientifically? My name is David Kolchmeyer and I am a theoretical physicist. I’m interested in quantum gravity, which is a theory of gravity that obeys the rules of quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the fundamental framework upon which much of my field is built. I’m most interested in the properties of black holes, which are a good system for studying quantum gravity. … Continue reading What Does A Theoretical Physicist Do?
Are Pandemics the Cost of Human Recklessness Towards Nature?
by Piyush Nandafigures by Corena Loeb In an area devastated by deforestation, an 18-month-old toddler from the nearest settlement, Meliandou in Guinea, was seen playing around a fallen tree swarming with bats. The child then contracted a mysterious illness, which spread to many who came in contact. After it had already killed 30 people, the illness was identified as Ebola. Comprehensive studies have since connected … Continue reading Are Pandemics the Cost of Human Recklessness Towards Nature?
Herman Branson: a pivotal figure in protein biology
Koby Ljunggren is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Biophysics Program at Harvard University. Abby Knecht is a second year graduate student in the Molecules Cells and Organisms program at Harvard University where she is studying self versus non-self recognition in bacteria. Cover image by Image by stokpic from Pixabay. This biography is part of our “Picture a Scientist” initiative. To learn more about the amazing … Continue reading Herman Branson: a pivotal figure in protein biology
Herman Branson: a pivotal figure in protein biology
by Koby Ljunggren Proteins are much more complex than the number on a nutrient label. They serve as the building blocks for every process that keeps your cells alive. To do this, proteins must be able to mold into many different shapes to carry out their intended function. In every fundamental biology classroom around the globe, students are taught about two major 3D shapes in … Continue reading Herman Branson: a pivotal figure in protein biology
Brown Tree Snakes Found to Lasso Their Way Up Large Trees
Brown tree snakes have been found to climb large trees by shaping their bodies into a lasso pattern. Continue reading Brown Tree Snakes Found to Lasso Their Way Up Large Trees
Episode 19: Scientists at Home: COVID & International Students
In this episode of our Scientists at Home series, Christian Struck (Graduate Student in German Literature, with a Secondary in Critical Media Practice at Harvard University) discusses the impact of COVID-19 on international students in the US, such as the travel bans and the visa regulations. Read more about Christian’s work here: german.fas.harvard.edu/people/christian-struckRecording date: November 11, 2020Featuring: Wei Li, Christian Struck Continue reading Episode 19: Scientists at Home: COVID & International Students
Scientists Store Data in DNA of Living Bacteria
Using electrical inputs and CRISPR biology, researchers have programmed bacteria to encode binary data. Continue reading Scientists Store Data in DNA of Living Bacteria
When Correlation Does Not Imply Causation: Why your gut microbes may not (yet) be a silver bullet to all your problems
by Dawn Chenfigures by Daniel Utter Did you know that the divorce rate in Maine strongly correlates with the per capita consumption of margarine? Wow, maybe abstaining from margarine prevents divorce! I can definitely imagine a pop-media article with this eye-catching title. Before throwing out all margarine to save your marriage, an intelligent reader like you would probably think to yourself: “what absurdity, it’s probably … Continue reading When Correlation Does Not Imply Causation: Why your gut microbes may not (yet) be a silver bullet to all your problems
Arthritis Drugs May Help Combat COVID-19
What do arthritis and COVID-19 have in common? A name that’s all too familiar? An immune system gone haywire? Possibly more? Continue reading Arthritis Drugs May Help Combat COVID-19