Biology

Spleen or scuba tank? How we hold our breath for longer underwater

Biology / /

The Bajau people of Southeast Asia spend 60 percent of their workday underwater. Commonly known as the Sea Nomads, the Bajau population has survived for over 1,000 years collecting and hunting food through underwater diving. Their extraordinary breath-holding capabilities seem almost humanly impossible. When the brain experiences hypoxia — the deficiency of oxygen in bodily […]

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Breaking records at record pace: How biomechanics have influenced the Olympics

Biology, Physics / /

The world record for the 100 meter dash is 9.58 seconds. A record set by Usain Bolt after beating his own preceding record at the previous Olympic Games. With such impressive records already, it has become onerous to imagine how Olympic records can continue to get broken, yet every round of Olympic events brings a

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The battle between hot and cold: How TRP channels are involved in temperature transduction in human skin

Biology / /

It’s a great wonder how organisms remain at a constant temperature, despite many outside influences like freezing winds or heat waves. Maintaining proper body temperature is key for most organisms. The temperature-controlling systems in mammals are extremely complex and well-designed, ensuring that they maintain homeostasis. For these animals, the environmental temperature can be sensed by

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Olive oil compounds as a potential therapy for Neurodegeneration

Biology / /

The Mediterranean diet has long been touted for its ability to decrease one’s risk of suffering from health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Although various studies support these claims, it isn’t always clear how the Mediterranean diet confers these benefits. While olive oil isn’t the only component

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Ice, ice maybe: Impacts of declining sea ice on Arctic predator-prey dynamics

Biology, Environment / /

If current climate trends persist, the Arctic Ocean is predicted to become seasonally ice-free by the 2030s. Sea ice follows a cyclic pattern, partially melting in the summer and re-forming with the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter. However, rising global temperatures have increased the melting rate and decreased the formation rate. During future summers,

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Scientists on substances: Can researchers be open about drug use?

Biology, Psychology / /

Drugs are highly stigmatized in society. Furthermore, there exists a particular stigma regarding drug use for those in the scientific community. Many companies, hospitals, and research facilities include drug testing in their hiring process. In fact, according to the American Addiction Centers, healthcare and hospital-related jobs were the second most common positions to require drug

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