In the video game and HBO hit series “The Last of Us,” an outbreak of mutated parasitic fungi devastates humanity and the modern world — a threat based on a very real organism. Ophiocordyceps, also known as “Cordyceps,” is a genus of fungi that grows on the larvae of insects, infecting the host and controlling […]
Off the coast of mainland Australia, the small, sun-baked island of Tasmania houses nature’s most feral creature. With a piercing shriek, lingering stench, and penetrating eyes, the Tasmanian devil reigns as the largest carnivorous marsupial in wildlife. Its ever-growing teeth sink into bones and feast on the bloody, meaty flesh of its latest catch. As
Catching cancer: Biology’s devil Read More »
The only place that prioritizes its department of defense more than the United States is the human body. We have a comprehensive immune system with two lines of protection: barriers and fighters. Within this second line of defense, antibodies act as soldiers that circle through the bloodstream marking foreign invaders for destruction. Specifically, the immune
Support our troops: The drugs harnessing the immune system to fight disease Read More »
Even after three long years, COVID-19 continues to sweep through the world’s population. Testing positive is detrimental to many, preventing those infected from going to work and providing for their family. With the effects of COVID-19, it is hard to imagine what having extended symptoms would be like. Recently, many have been reporting that they
Long-term loss of smell from COVID-19 Read More »
Barking deer. Silky-haired monkeys. Rabbits covered in stripes. For years, scientists struggled to detect the unique and elusive mammals of the Central Annamite Mountains. This region of dense tropical rainforest on the border of Laos and Vietnam is a biodiversity hotspot, full of organisms found nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, the area is so remote
The tales a leech tells Read More »
Viruses can be catastrophic. Their natural purpose is to infect and replicate, hijacking hosts regardless of the consequences. They can be deadly and are a large source of suffering, even in our modern society. Smallpox, influenza, and COVID-19 are clear examples of viruses that have had widespread, devastating public health effects. Therefore, it seems counterintuitive
Viruses vs. cancer: A bacteriophage approach to gene therapy Read More »
For such a tiny microscopic organism, the algae behind the Gulf of Mexico’s toxic red tides inflicts a mighty force. Characterized by discolored water, dying marine life, and the release of respiratory irritants, red tides have plagued the Gulf since the 1800s and have since increased in intensity and frequency. Karenia brevis, the dominant algae
Harmful or helpful?: Using toxic algae blooms for cystic fibrosis treatment Read More »
The possible inheritance of unfavorable genetics sits in the front of many new and soon-to-be parents’ minds. Though it may seem comforting to know if one’s child carries the risk of developing certain conditions in adulthood, is it in the best interest of the child to grow up with this knowledge? This burden poses an
Anxiety and exploitation: Ethical dilemmas in pediatric genetic screening Read More »
Monkeys can play video games with their minds. Rats can control each others’ brains. Previously injured humans can restore sensation and function in limbs. These impossible-sounding events are all achievable with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which are systems that use electrical devices to collect neural signals from the central nervous system and, using algorithms, translate them
The power of the mind: Using neural signals to restore movement in paralyzed limbs Read More »