Kindly thought of as the big, fluffy sibling of the well-respected honeybee, bumblebees spend most of their time minding their own business as they go about seasonal pollination. But recent findings show that these gentle giants may not be as lackadaisical as their reputation implies — they appear to be playing a very interactive role […]
Buzzworthy behavior: Bumblebee nibbling promotes pollen production Read More »
Love holds many definitions. In the Google Dictionary, it’s described as “an intense feeling of deep affection,” and similar, often more complex definitions can be found in philosophy, poetry, art, literature, and film. It means different things to different people and refers to not only romantic attachments but also familial, platonic, or sexual connections. While
Love, actually: The neurochemistry of falling in love Read More »
The study of preexisting designs is a common practice for guidance in problem solving. Innovators can turn to structures around them for inspiration, and what’s a more complex and functioning system than nature? In terms of hydrophobic properties, or water-repellant behavior, scientists strive to mimic the lotus effect. This effect is named after the leaves
Materials that mimic the lotus effect: Lotus leaves inspire self-cleaning surfaces Read More »
As more time is spent inside, creating an environment of comfort and productivity indoors has become a significant hurdle. The extra stressors of lifestyle changes and online work are some of the new barriers for staying motivated. Optimizing workspaces within the home has become especially important, as even small changes can reduce the stress and
Keep your friends close, and your plants closer: How flora can help mitigate stress Read More »
As the amount of data in the biological field expands exponentially as a result of more efficient biological processes, such as Next Gen Sequencing, machine learning has become a tool to leverage this data for contributions to the drug development and medicinal fields. One of the most widely utilized machine learning models is the Hidden
Hidden Markov Models for biochemical applications Read More »
In a rapidly changing world, some may take comfort in the constants; however, it has become apparent that even our DNA may be on the move. Recent studies have shown that the human genome contains roughly 100,000 pieces of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), making up about 8 percent of our genome. ERVs are pieces of DNA
Viruses buried in your DNA Read More »
You may have heard of some eye-catching statistics like “every seven years, every cell in your body has been replaced” or “every day, 50 billion cells in the human body die,” and these are true. Cells within the body are constantly multiplying as you grow, as part of maintaining homeostasis. However, what you might not
How cells orchestrate their death Read More »
A common saying is that humans are made up of 60 percent water, but it is less commonly known that for every cell in your body there are up to 10 bacteria present as well. While they are generally thought to be harmful, mutualistic bacteria are essential for proper intestinal function. The group of microorganisms
The magic of the microbiome Read More »
Crisp apples, plump tomatoes, juicy berries, and citrusy oranges are endless luxuries in the middle of Boston’s cold, dead winter. Despite slush and ice covering grass and sidewalks, grocery shelves are fertile with everyone’s favorite produce. However, the fresh fruits and vegetables that fill the aisles involve a lengthy journey and intense science to get
Fruit that lasts forever! How gene editing may answer the problem of postharvest waste Read More »