On September 30 2020, Lacino Hamilton was released from a prison near Detroit, Michigan after serving 26 years for a crime he did not commit — thanks to a piece of DNA the size of a grain of salt. The DNA technology used to clear Hamilton did not become widespread until the late 1990s, after […]
Most people look forward to finally lying down to sleep at the end of a long day. This can be especially true for college students, as 70.6 percent attain fewer than the medically advised 8 hours per night, according to a study by the National Sleep Foundation. Despite many years of research, the exact function
Stop studying and go to bed: The impact of sleep on learning Read More »
Genetics. Genomic sequencing. DNA. While the technical aspect of genetic testing may appear daunting to most, the personal touch of at-home testing kits has made companies, like 23andMe, millions of dollars. The kits are marketed as a novel, individual adventure and as gifts for birthdays, the holiday season, and Father’s and Mother’s Day. The aspects
At-home ancestry testing: A microcosm of the state of diversity in science Read More »
Cognitive decline, characterized by the loss of memory and higher-level thinking skills, is a natural part of aging, having many causes that scientists are still trying to understand. However, researchers have found that engaging in certain lifestyle choices can increase or decrease later cognitive function. Participating in these activities won’t nullify pre-existing genetic factors, but
Can engaging with music protect against cognitive decline? Read More »
We’ve all seen it. We see it on street corners, subway stations, in shelters. It runs rampant through cities, plaguing communities, friends, and families. Addiction is everywhere, and it clings to its victims, taking over their lives and wiring itself deep into their neural pathways, making itself the sole focus of their attention. Our brains
Imagine a hypothetical contest comparing the intelligence of all organisms with a brain. It can be reasonably guessed that the winner would be the human brain. Yet, what makes our brains superior to other organisms if it’s not the largest or even the most complex? To answer this question, researchers face the daunting task of
From caveman to modern man: The development of the human brain Read More »
In a world plagued by war and pestilence, heart disease remains the leading cause of death across every continent. However, emerging experimental therapies using stem cells may provide the solution to keeping the heart of the world beating. Stem cells are cells that precurse more common cells in the body, such as blood cells and
A synthetic beat: Keeping your heart beating through stem cell research Read More »
Life on Earth today is fantastically diverse, as even within just the animal kingdom more than 1 million species have been discovered. They all have their own role in the ecosystem, defined as their niche. While organisms have always had their own niches in the environment, prior to the geological time period known as the
The living bomb and its aftermath: Radiation of life during the Cambrian explosion Read More »
It might sound like science fiction, but the future of 3D-printed organs is closer than one would imagine. New innovations in printing technology are making leaps in implants or grafts possible. One day, it might even be possible to replace major sections of the heart using cells from a patients’ own body. One day, it
The present and future applications of 3D printing in cardiac surgery Read More »