What can we learn from a genetic test?
by Sydney Sherman figures by Aparna Nathan More likely than not, you or someone you know has taken a genetic test. Whether they are curious about their ethnic roots and family tree or want to determine their risk for developing a certain disease, consumers have access to genetic testing as a simple “spit-and-send” process. We use the technology and rely on the results, but how … Continue reading What can we learn from a genetic test?
The Dawn of the 5G Era: Is new technology the solution to internet inequity?
by Aparna Nathan We live in a wireless world. From the moment you wake up to an alarm on your Google Home to flipping through an eBook before falling asleep, mobile networks free us from the tethers of landlines and cables. And the technology has evolved rapidly. Each decade, a new generation of cellular technology emerges and offers faster speeds, broader coverage, and better security, … Continue reading The Dawn of the 5G Era: Is new technology the solution to internet inequity?
People With Young-Onset Parkinson’s May Have Been Born With It
New research from Cedars-Sinai suggests that patients with young-onset Parkinson’s may have been born with the beginnings of the disorder. Continue reading People With Young-Onset Parkinson’s May Have Been Born With It
Playing favorites: a new study investigates parental preferences in American Coot
A bird known for “brood parasitism”, laying its eggs in other birds’ nests, also has a strong preference for more brightly colored offspring. A new study shows that the two behaviors are unrelated. Continue reading Playing favorites: a new study investigates parental preferences in American Coot
Seeing Climate Change in any Random Day Across the Globe
The Earth has warmed so much since the 1950s that scientists can detect climate change from literally any day of global weather since 2012.
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Is diabetes communicable?
CIFAR Fellows’s paper questions whether diabetes, heart attacks and strokes are actually non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Microbiota (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that spread flu, HIV/AIDS, may also carry NCDs. People with NCDs have damaged microbiota, causing disease when transmitted into healthy animals. Spouses and cohabitants’ shared lifestyles and environments also lead to gut bacteria transfer.
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Fairness in Machine Learning
by Isabella Grabski figures by Nicholas Lue It’s no secret that bias is present everywhere in our society, from our educational institutions to the criminal justice system. The manifestation of this bias can be as seemingly trivial as the timing of a judge’s lunch break or, more often, as fraught as race or economic class. We tend to attribute such discrimination to our own internalized … Continue reading Fairness in Machine Learning
Creating Carbon Cages
Materials scientists have predicted and synthesized a new type of crystal made from the elements carbon and boron forming a diamond-strong, electrically conductive cage around other guest atoms. Continue reading Creating Carbon Cages
Digging for DNA: Ancient genomes can illuminate the past and reframe the present
by Aparna Nathan figures by Abagail Burrus Superheroes aren’t the only ones with riveting origin stories. As humans, where did we come from? How did we populate six continents? For hundreds of years, archaeology has tried to provide the answers by digging up artifacts and piecing together their histories. However, shovels and brushes are now joining forces with test tubes and lab coats. Within the … Continue reading Digging for DNA: Ancient genomes can illuminate the past and reframe the present
Ultrasound speaker implant that can open a door to your brain
Scientists have developed a biodegradable ultrasound speaker that can be placed inside the brain. When activated, it makes the blood-brain barrier permeable, potentially allowing certain drugs such as brain cancer chemotherapy and antidepressants to reaching their destination more easily. Continue reading Ultrasound speaker implant that can open a door to your brain