In the dead of winter, the Atlantic Ocean can reach a frigid 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Diving into this water would immediately activate the cold receptors beneath your skin, causing you to experience a “cold shock.” This reaction has the potential to be lethal. First, it triggers an involuntary gasp of air, followed by hyperventilation. This […]
Polar plunge: No pain no gain Read More »
Extremophiles are microorganisms that survive — and thrive — in extreme conditions not considered suitable for other forms of life. This umbrella term encompasses bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and fungi with unique adaptations allowing them to inhabit extreme temperature, radiation, salinity, pH, and other physical and geochemical conditions. Extremophiles can be found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents
Alien microbes: The frontier of extraterrestrial research Read More »
What do vampires, werewolves, and mummies all have in common? They are classic monsters, but only one of the three truly exists. Mummification has been used to preserve bodies for thousands of years. But mummies are more than old monsters, and science has shown that mummies offer a plethora of information to the academic community.
The Abominable … Mummy? Read More »
Dressed in cozy pajamas and armed with steaming cups of hot chocolate, millions of families flock to their televisions to watch “The Polar Express,” a film that has arguably become a holiday classic. While “The Polar Express” encourages the audience to believe in Christmas magic and draws upon childhood innocence, it is equally known for
Believe: The polar express and the polarizing uncanny valley phenomenon Read More »
Quantum mechanics is weird. For nigh on a century, the mysteries of quanta and quantum interactions have eluded the brightest minds of several generations. One of the progenitors of the field, Richard Feynman, once famously quipped, “I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.” For nigh on a century, the mysteries of
On the counterintuition of quantum phenomena Read More »
Studies about bipolar disorder have consistently found that patients tend to display either predominantly manic or predominantly depressive characteristics. This means their respective treatment options must be appropriately modified to fit the individual. In response, Dina Popovic from the University of Barcelona and researchers from other European universities developed a pharmacological scale for measuring medications
A formula for stability: The math behind treating bipolar disorder Read More »
The world is constantly in motion. From the smallest particles vibrating in a rock to planetary motion in space, few things remain unchanged. It, then, should be no surprise that Earth’s poles — its rotational axis — also shift. This is actually quite normal; polar motion is categorized in multiple time scales, and the most
Earth unbalanced: Are we changing Earth’s rotation? Read More »
“Ignoring technological change in a financial system based upon technology is like a mouse starving to death because someone moved their cheese.” — Chris Skinner. The word “fintech” — the cutting-edge fusion of finance and technology — has gained more popularity in the last few years than ever before. Artificial intelligence is transforming the field
How artificial intelligence is revitalizing the world of finance Read More »
No stranger to a National Geographic photo shoot or a desktop image, landscapes of the southernmost region of South America have an undeniable beauty. But beneath the surface, a complicated ecosystem is at work. North Patagonian Fjords hold substantial populations of cold-water coral (CWC). The scleractinian, or stony, corals predominantly exist in deep ocean regions
Cooler than you: How cold-water coral adapt to evolving fjord conditions Read More »