Free Falling: the science of weightlessness
by Lisa Heppler figures by Jovana Andrejevic Weightlessness is something many of us have dreamed about since we were kids. We have seen footage of astronauts floating around the International Space Station playing Ping-Pong with balls of water and Pac-Man with strings of M&Ms. For a moment, as we watch these astronauts thriving in an environment completely alien to us, we are able to imagine ourselves … Continue reading Free Falling: the science of weightlessness
A Tall Order: Using Machine Learning to Predict Height from Genetic Variation
A machine learning algorithm trained using 500,000 genetic profiles can predict the height of an individual within about one inch based solely on their genes. Such an algorithm shows great promise for accurate risk assessment of complex diseases and identifying targets for therapy. However, further validation is required to evaluate how the tool will extend to more genetically diverse populations, and standardized methods for assessing genetic variation are necessary. Continue reading A Tall Order: Using Machine Learning to Predict Height from Genetic Variation
Hey, Can You Put That Out? My Planet is Dying
You’ve probably heard that cigarettes are bad for you, and it has always been a safe bet to assume that they’re bad for the environment too. A comprehensive analysis of the entire tobacco supply chain by researchers at the Imperial College of London shows just how devastating the industry continues to be for global environmental health. Check out Trevor Haynes’ article to learn more. Continue reading Hey, Can You Put That Out? My Planet is Dying
Signs of Life: Searching for Plants on Other Planets
If you travel into deep space and look back at Earth through a sophisticated telescope, you could measure what’s called the vegetation red edge (VRE). The vegetation red edge is a mixture of red and infrared light that is reflected by plants on Earth’s surface. Because of clouds, ice masses, and large oceans, the vegetation red edge on Earth is actually fairly small and difficult … Continue reading Signs of Life: Searching for Plants on Other Planets
Science Diplomacy: Collaboration in a rapidly changing world
by Trevor Haynes figures by Daniel Utter “Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.” – Louis Pasteur Today’s world is extremely interconnected. Most of us take this fact for granted, but its implications cannot be overstated. The rate at which information, resources, and people are able to move from one part of the world to another … Continue reading Science Diplomacy: Collaboration in a rapidly changing world
My Favorite Things
The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is an area of the brain located in the prefrontal cortex, which, as its name suggests, is the front part of the brain. The OFC is my favorite area of the brain, partially because it was the first region I studied, but mostly because of its complex role in motivated behaviors. The OFC is comprised of five subregions: medial, ventral, ventrolateral, … Continue reading My Favorite Things
The Chemistry Nobel: Evolving proteins into better medicines and biofuels
It’s that time of year – Nobel Prize season! This year, the Chemistry Nobel prize was awarded to three scientists: one half to Frances Arnold “for the directed evolution of enzymes,” and the other half to George Smith and Sir Gregory Winter “for the phage display of peptides and antibodies.” What exactly are these award-winning technologies and how have they impacted society? ‘Directed evolution of … Continue reading The Chemistry Nobel: Evolving proteins into better medicines and biofuels
October 17 – A Star Trek: A Voyage to Discover Sources of Cosmic Signals in Our Universe
Time: 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, October 17th Location: Armenise Amphitheater at Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston (link to directions) Speakers: Nicholas Deporzio, Nicolo Foppiani, and Zoe Zhu Gazing at the sky on a clear night, you might see the bright band of stars – that is the Milky Way, the galaxy we live in. Have you ever wondered about what the center of a galaxy really looks … Continue reading October 17 – A Star Trek: A Voyage to Discover Sources of Cosmic Signals in Our Universe
October 10 – Altered State of Mind: How psychedelics modify the brain, behavior, and perception
Time: 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, October 10th Location: Armenise Amphitheater at Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston (link to directions) Speakers: Jess Kanwal, Matthew Smith, and Kyobi Skutt-Kakaria For at least 7,000 years, humans around the world have chosen to ingest plants and fungi containing psychedelic compounds. In the modern era, scientists are learning more about how psychedelics alter the function of our brains. In this lecture, we … Continue reading October 10 – Altered State of Mind: How psychedelics modify the brain, behavior, and perception
Breaking Gad
The Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) is an area of the brain that is part of the Basal Ganglia system. It is divided into two subregions: the core and the shell. As you can imagine, the core region is nested within the shell. The NAc is primarily composed of neurons that contain GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. These neurons make up ~95% of NAc neurons and contain … Continue reading Breaking Gad