Donna Strickland: Life in the (ultra)fast lane
by Matthew Yeh Ever wondered how laser eye surgery can be so precise, or how scientists can study processes that unravel over a billionth of a billionth of a second? Donna Strickland has got you covered! While a PhD student at the University of Rochester, she developed the technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), thus enabling the creation of ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulses. Beyond LASIK, … Continue reading Donna Strickland: Life in the (ultra)fast lane
Europa’s Glowing Ice Could Shine Light on the Moon’s Subterranean Secrets
Jupiter’s moon Europa might not need the sun’s rays to glow. If so, its color will shed light on the chemistry of the ocean world. Continue reading Europa’s Glowing Ice Could Shine Light on the Moon’s Subterranean Secrets
Stop Multitasking on Your Phone: Media Multitasking May Lead to Attention Lapses and Poor Memory
Why is it that some people seem to have better memories than others? A team of scientist from Stanford reported that frequent attention lapses may be a cause, and people who are heavy media multitaskers are more likely to suffer from this. Continue reading Stop Multitasking on Your Phone: Media Multitasking May Lead to Attention Lapses and Poor Memory
The Secret Life of Gut Neurons
by Aleks Procherafigures by Corena Loeb Imagine working in a factory as part of a logistic team whose job is to coordinate and oversee the flow of incoming materials. It’s a 24/7 job – you don’t know what will be delivered or when, but regardless of the nature of the shipment, you have to deal with it. Additionally, you must be in constant contact with … Continue reading The Secret Life of Gut Neurons
Youyou Tu — An Exceptional Nobel Laureate
Xiaomeng Han is a graduate student in the Harvard Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience. She uses electron microscopy to study neuronal connectivity. Cover image by Angelo Rosa from Pixabay This biography is part of our “Picture a Scientist” initiative. To learn more about the amazing men and women who paved the way for modern scientific discovery, check out our homepage. Continue reading Youyou Tu — An Exceptional Nobel Laureate
Youyou Tu — An Exceptional Nobel Laureate
by Xiaomeng Han Malaria has been a life-threatening infectious disease since ancient times. It is transmitted through the bite of mosquitos, making it widespread in tropical and subtropical areas of our planet. The world saw countless deaths caused by malaria until a Chinese pharmaceutical scientist, Youyou Tu, discovered a very effective drug called Qinghaosu (aka artemisinin) from the plant Qinghao (aka artemisia). Youyou’s work won … Continue reading Youyou Tu — An Exceptional Nobel Laureate
Vampire Bats Socially Distance When They’re Sick
Sick vampire bats socially distance in the wild, according to a new study. Continue reading Vampire Bats Socially Distance When They’re Sick
Phages Can Help Slow the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance
We can fight antibiotic resistance using phages that detach hair-like structures from bacterial cells to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance DNA. Continue reading Phages Can Help Slow the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance
Marie M. Daly — From a Love of Science to a Legacy of Discoveries
by Wei Li Everyone knows that having high cholesterol in your blood is not a good sign — it can lead to high blood pressure and clogged arteries (also known as atherosclerosis), resulting in heart diseases or stroke. However, what we now consider common knowledge, required years of research to discover. An important contributor to what we know about cholesterol and high blood pressure is … Continue reading Marie M. Daly — From a Love of Science to a Legacy of Discoveries
Marie M. Daly — From a Love of Science to a Legacy of Discoveries
Wei Li is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology 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 Gordon Johnson from Pixabay This biography is part of our “Picture a Scientist” initiative. To learn more … Continue reading Marie M. Daly — From a Love of Science to a Legacy of Discoveries