When you think of a cell, you might imagine a balloon-like structure with different organelles inside, each performing a specific function. Some might be breaking down molecules and producing energy while others could be storing information. One of the most important jobs in the cell is to produce proteins — in fact, it takes a […]
How thermodynamics folds proteins Read More »
As the search for living entities in outer space continues, a team of researchers found that some bacteria may have the ability to survive amidst the harsh environment. Outer space is notorious for its inability to support living organisms. Extreme temperatures and low pressures prevent organisms from surviving. Additionally, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
Sticking together for life (quite literally)! Read More »
Common psychedelics such as mushrooms and LSD are often revered for their hallucinogenic properties and the way they alter one’s perceptual experience, but what really is going on behind the scenes to generate this shift in consciousness? What is changing within the brain? Scientists ultimately attribute it to one thing: chaos. Psychedelics generate changes in
On Psychedelics: The chaotic mind Read More »
In the autumn of 1518, Strasbourg, a prominent trading city on the banks of the Rhine River, was alive with the sound of dancing. Musicians played day and night; a new stage was constructed across from the market; and over 400 people — all stricken by the dancing mania plaguing the city — whirled, twirled,
Boogie fever: A look at the dancing mania epidemics of the Middle Ages 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 »
From the air you breathe to the water you drink, almost all substances in the natural world are mixtures of numerous components. Air is 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and the remaining one percent is a variety of other substances, including argon and carbon dioxide. Intermolecular interactions determine the formation of mixtures in the
Microfluidic Mixing: Stirring the Tiny Drink Read More »
The first time I fell in love was in the Sonoran Desert. I had just pulled over to the side of the road and there it was. An Ocotillo cactus, in all its glory, stood proudly before the rugged landscape. Its fluid tentacle-like stems pointed towards the sky, like a sea anemone frozen in turbulent
Masters of survival: Is the desert truly deserted? Read More »
From the deepest ocean trenches to the tap water in our kitchen, nanoplastics have pervaded virtually every last crevice of Earth. The minuscule particles, resulting from the degradation of plastic objects, are less than 100 nanometers (nm) and can be ingested, inhaled, or incorporated by dermal contact. It is estimated that just by eating, drinking,
Dangerously ubiquitous: The negative effect of nanoplastics on human health Read More »
No one can deny the rise of intrigue for crime television over the past decade. Maybe you binge-watched “Criminal Minds” during quarantine, saw episodes of “NCIS” over the years, or perhaps just caught a glimpse of any popular crime show. Regardless, many have a preconception of the forensics involved in these fictional investigations. The process
Fictional forensics: How accurate is forensic science and its portrayal in the media? Read More »