Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: A lesson in communication from bacteria
by Molly Sargen figures by Molly Sargen and Aparna Nathan Despite the apprehension one may feel about working in groups, it’s hard to deny that groups are able to do some things individuals cannot. Hundreds of studies have found that working in groups has many benefits, including increased creativity and productivity. Many other studies have aimed to determine optimal conditions for group work. Importantly, most … Continue reading Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: A lesson in communication from bacteria
Bilingualism: Start early, and earn all your benefits!
by Ji Wook Kim figures by Abagail Burrus While 92% of primary and secondary students in Europe learn a foreign language, only 20% of primary and secondary school students in the U.S. study a foreign language. In an ever more international era, these numbers are shocking. There is a debate whether foreign language education is beneficial, but many would agree that bilingualism helps individuals communicate … Continue reading Bilingualism: Start early, and earn all your benefits!
The Antarctic Ice Sheet Could Melt Faster Than Predicted
A research team from the University of South Australia has new evidence to suggest that the Antarctic ice sheet could be melting faster than previously thought – which means sea levels will rise more quickly. Continue reading The Antarctic Ice Sheet Could Melt Faster Than Predicted
Searching in the Darkness, Scientists Shed Light on Oceans Beyond Earth
by Izzy Baker figures by Sean Wilson In the quiet darkness of night, a ship gently rocks back and forth on calm waters. An exhausted first mate peers out over the expansive seascape, seeing the ocean twinkle as it reflects the stars shining down from up above. The vastness of our oceans, she ponders, can only be outmatched by the very cosmos that they reflect; … Continue reading Searching in the Darkness, Scientists Shed Light on Oceans Beyond Earth
New migraine medication passes clinical trial
A new migraine medication called ubrogepant recently passed a large scale phase 3 clinical trial. This medication may be able to help treat patients that cannot tolerate or do not respond to the most common types of migraine medication. Continue reading New migraine medication passes clinical trial
Learning to Remember: Memory-Trace Cells
Electrical recordings from human subjects have revealed the existence of memory-trace cells, which change their response depending on which previous experience is supposed to be recalled, providing a major insight into how the brain remembers specific events. Continue reading Learning to Remember: Memory-Trace Cells
Gene therapy that helps prevent heart disease in mice now in trial for dogs
Genes delivered by a virus successfully mitigated the effects of age-related diseases, such as heart and kidney disease, in a recent mouse study. Following this success, a similar gene therapy treatment is in trial to prevent a certain form of heart disease in dogs. Continue reading Gene therapy that helps prevent heart disease in mice now in trial for dogs
Virtual Clinical Trials: Testing new drugs from afar
by Isabella Grabski figures by Jovana Andrejevic Clinical trials are critical to study the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, but they are no small endeavor. The cost of a clinical trial can range anywhere from $7 million to over $50 million, and they can take up to a decade to fully complete. Not only can this represent a substantial strain on a pharmaceutical company, it also … Continue reading Virtual Clinical Trials: Testing new drugs from afar
Racial Minorities Face a Dearth of Stem Cell Donors
by Jordan Wilkerson figures by Nicholas Lue Desimond Viray is a Californian in his early ‘30s. He works in IT support for Jelly Belly Candy Company and lives with his wife and four children. Ten years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Each year, nearly 9000 new cases of CML arise in the U.S. While Viray — … Continue reading Racial Minorities Face a Dearth of Stem Cell Donors
Glioma cancer cells are listening in on brain activity
Cancers have long been known to adapt to their particular environment. Multiple new studies show brain cancers tapping into brain activity with neuron-like connections and how this can inform treatment Continue reading Glioma cancer cells are listening in on brain activity