Lightning is not uncommon, nor is it particularly subtle. In fact, with approximately 9 million strikes per day, it is one of the loudest, brightest, and most common natural phenomena known to the terrestrial sciences. Most people know lightning as loud arcs of light that sometimes occur during severe storms. Indeed, this is the most […]
Aerial electricity: Lightning and other poorly-understood phenomena Read More »
The traditional approach of administering certain medications through direct injection can be particularly effective for drug delivery, but may be uncomfortable for children and those with needle phobias. While oral medications are available for some drugs, large-molecule drugs that treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or cancer can only be administered through an
Sticky solutions: Octopus-inspired suction patches revolutionize drug delivery Read More »
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, have persisted in the environment for decades, earning the name “forever chemicals.” These man-made chemicals, found in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and grease-resistant packaging, have been manufactured since the 1940s, and have since impaired waters globally. PFAS contain carbon and fluorine bonds, one of the strongest bonds in
Not so forever chemicals: A new treatment for PFAS removal Read More »
Flesh-eating bacteria sounds like an epidemic straight out of a horror movie: oblivious beachgoers infected by an aggressive germ with no hope for a cure! As far-fetched as it sounds, this prospective movie pitch is a growing reality for many residents of the East Coast of the United States. While usually confined to tropical waters
Flesh-eating bacteria cases on the rise? Read More »
Natural disasters not only wreak havoc on communities, but also on the nation’s blood supply. Floating cars, broken buildings, and contaminated water are just a few of the intense secondary effects that natural disasters leave in their paths. Grieving families, hospital visits, and shattered homes leave communities in an overall state of loss and immense
Nature’s fury, humanity’s struggles Read More »
Within just the top two inches of sediment covering the shorelines and seafloor of Narragansett Bay, over 1,000 tons of microplastics reside. As a relatively new factor in the sedimentary system, plastics have reached the majority of ecosystems on the planet, from the highest mountain peaks to the deepest parts of the oceans. Microplastics vary
Catch basin for microplastics: The sedimentary storage of plastics in Narragansett Bay Read More »
Ernst Haeckel, a German contemporary of Charles Darwin, made significant contributions to the field of evolutionary biology. He is responsible for the exploration of primarily marine organisms, and in some cases, identification of entirely new species. More recognizable of his legacy, though, is his artwork. Some of his most iconic images depict a species called
Radiolaria: A living specimen of the science behind Ernst Haeckel’s evolutionary artwork Read More »
The spread of the black rat (Rattus rattus) across the globe has been inextricably linked to the spread of human civilization from as early as 2000 BCE. They’ve easily survived worldwide expansion due to their skills in cohabiting with humans and taking advantage of our gathered food and resources. From raiding pantries to spreading devastating
Rats! How terrestrial invasion can have unexpected impacts on tropical reef food chains Read More »
On the harsh, icy cliffs of the Tibetan Plateau, an ancient moss carpets the ground. Covered by snow for eight months of the year, Takakia is a highly specialized moss and one of the fastest-evolving plants ever documented. Surviving four mass extinctions, this 390-million-year-old moss species saw the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the