The outsides of oysters appear rugged and dreary, but embedded inside lie beautiful, iridescent pearls. Their beauty has made them a sought-after object of vanity and aesthetics in the jewelry industry. However, this gem might be good for more than just earrings and necklaces; scientists are currently investigating its complex formation and how the organization […]
Are Pearls the Key to the Next Supermaterial? Read More »
Due to advances in both chemistry and technology, modern drug development is increasingly utilizing synthetic chemical compounds as the basis for our lifesaving and innovative drugs. However, many of the pharmaceuticals we have today are still derived from naturally occurring compounds or organisms, and recently, there has been a renewed interest in looking to nature
Relationships are on display everywhere. They’re on your Instagram feed, in campaign ads for your favorite brand, and even in the Curry Student Center (bleh!). Existing in a world evidently oozing with love can be lonely at times, but whether you have a significant other or not, you, too, are in quite an intimate long-term
Lovebugs and toxic relationships Read More »
A patient desperately needs a new heart. They might wait several months for a donor organ, which may not be available before their condition worsens. Even if one is received, the body might still reject the transplant and work against the foreign cells introduced. Living with a transplanted organ means taking numerous drugs to prevent
Keep it FRESH: Printing the organs of the future Read More »
For all of its dramatics, heartbreak is a chaotic, overwhelming experience. From having a frustrating tangle of emotions lodged inside to even feeling physical pain, people often feel like their heartbreak controls them more than they can handle. Science shows that it just might. Florence Williams, a prominent science writer, went through a sudden divorce
Mourning love: the overlap of heartbreak and grief Read More »
Glass is an integral part of modern buildings, appreciated for its uniquely transparent nature that provides a literal window to the outside world. Made mostly of sand, sodium carbonate, and limestone, glass resists intense weather patterns and precipitation and is recyclable and relatively inexpensive to produce. However, glass has several weaknesses — it is thermally
Seeing through trees: Transparent wood as a next-generation glass Read More »
Everyone enjoys the summer days when the sun shines and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Some choose to soak in the sun, many use sunscreen, and others, well, burn. Clothing, sun-avoiding behaviors, and sunblock are methods that offer sun protection, yet many individuals fail to implement any. Various scientific studies reveal data on
A heated debate: Clearing up the confusion on sunscreen and SPF Read More »
“Just relax your arm,” the nursing student from Northeastern University said calmly as she administered the vaccine into my arm. A million thoughts rushed through my mind as I sat in the chair. What if I have an allergic reaction? How sick will I become? Luckily, no major symptoms arose after the initial injection, and
What is an mRNA vaccine? A COVID-19 review Read More »
Amidst the “save the bees” movement, honey bees tend to dominate the spotlight, and it is easy to understand why. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is utilized in agriculture around the world. Farmers in the United States rely on the fuzzy, charismatic insect to pollinate nearly 100 different crops, and, of course, for the
Four thousand forgotten pollinators: The overlooked plight of wild bees Read More »