DNA is the genetic information in each of our cells that encodes specific genes and characteristics. Although this source of genetic information seems like something that should be stable and unchanging, it can be influenced by the randomness of physics phenomena, and these resulting genetic changes can drive evolution. Spontaneous genetic mutations, potentially explained by […]
The quantum probability of genetic mutations Read More »
The time is 4:59 pm. It’s nearly the end of the business day and still no emails. You’ve been waiting to hear back from that company you interviewed with two weeks ago for a position you were certain you would be offered. 5:00 pm hits and an email arrives, but to your surprise, it’s a
Harmonizing Your Thoughts: Cognitive Dissonance and How to Relieve It Read More »
Suppose Earth’s clock is reset to its very beginning. This would take us back over 4.5 billion years, passing the first human around 7 million years ago and the first microscopic organism 3.5 billion years ago. Then, we let the clock rerun. Would life evolve as it did for humanity, or is our existence a
One data point: Bayesian inference and the likelihood of life Read More »
Perhaps the most well-known theory of dreaming is Sigmund Freud’s; he believed that dreams were a look into our subconscious and served as a valuable tool to better understand the human psyche. Despite the domination of Freud’s ideas in most psychology courses, researchers remain divided on what exactly causes dreams — particularly whether or not
Making Mayhem into Dreams Read More »
One of the most fundamental laws of thermodynamics states that entropy is always increasing. But what exactly is entropy? Simply put, entropy is a measure of randomness or loss of energy available to do work. Simply put, entropy is a measure of randomness or loss of energy available to do work. One of the first
A deadly rally in Charlottesville, a slew of mass shootings, a divisive general election, and an insurrection based on unfounded claims of voter fraud. The United States is more openly divided than it has been since the Civil War, and the extremist right wing of the country has become emboldened over the years. During the
Opinion: A profile of the alt-right and modern American conservatism Read More »
In February 2015, the internet was afire with debate about a dress. #TheDress, as it became known, was a picture of a dress that people either saw as black and blue or gold and white. A matter of chromatic perspective, and certainly a problem with no right answer, #TheDress was the subject of heated debate
A brief history of memes: The forgotten past of an internet phenomenon Read More »
To most, irrational numbers seem — well — irrational. We may be familiar with pi (π), Euler’s Number (e), and the square root of two, but a lesser known irrational number may hold many secrets to the universe: the Golden Ratio. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Mona Lisa to vegetables, this number can
The Golden Ratio: Myth or magic of mathematics? Read More »
Content Warning: This article discusses but condemns racism, ableism, and eugenics. Before seeing a single patient, every doctor learns the ultimate maxim of healthcare: primum non nocere — first, do no harm. The principle of nonmaleficence is essential to medicine, and this ethical tenet grants the field a strong level of trust among the public.
Scientific research’s unsavory past Read More »