An average of over 120,000 babies with congenital complications are born a year. Congenital complications are believed to result from genetics, maternal choices during pregnancy, environmental factors, and other influences. One environmental factor, air pollution, is associated with low birth weight (a birth weight under 5.5 pounds) and being preterm (born prior to 37 weeks […]
Ruthless environmental dangers during infancy Read More »
On February 4, 2023, Boston hit the coldest temperature recorded since 1886 at minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. While most of us were snug in our blankets with a warm mug of tea in hand, others were not as lucky. Lithobates sylvaticus, commonly known as the wood frog, is a fascinating vertebrate model of freeze tolerance
Biological antifreeze: Wood frogs and organ cryopreservation Read More »
Nobody lies awake at night contemplating the existence of Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse is the world’s most famous rodent. His conceptual existence is unquestionably true, and his physical existence is unquestionably false. He is, after all, fictional. Despite his widespread reach, it is generally assumed that no one lets the existence (or inexistence) of Mickey
What would Micky Mouse do?: Mickey Mouse and the origins of devotion Read More »
Think mushrooms. Other than juicy, beefless patty substitutes sizzling on a grill, your first thoughts may have ventured to vivid, orange blooms sprouting out of rotting tree trunks. Fungi — even the term evokes vague revulsion or apprehension — are synonymous with rot and decay. They are harbingers of death, macabre forest floor scavengers who
The mycelial cycle: Replenishing the world with fungi Read More »
Napping is a prominent part of today’s culture; many partake in after-school naps, midday naps, and power naps before an exam, among other types. People often label those who nap as lazy, but studies show that napping provides both academic and physical benefits. Napping should therefore be regarded as productive, rather than the opposite. Surrounding
Napping — it’s more important than you think! Read More »
The circle of life is an intrinsic part of existence. A flower buds from a seed, blossoms, loses its petals as it begins to frost, and slowly withers away, returning to the earth to be decomposed. From here, an orchestra of events occurs with microscopic creatures breaking down what once was alive and returning it
Human composting: A new future for our dead? Read More »
When we think of pathogens, our minds jump to evil little microorganisms — be it viruses, bacteria, or parasites — that infect and wreak havoc on us from the outside. But we hardly think that such pathogens can originate within our own bodies and that they do not even have to be alive. Deadly prion
Protein prions: The strangest pathogen of them all Read More »
Human understanding of the universe is not extensive. What is known, specifically at the atomic level, would not be possible without the use of neutrinos. Known as “ghost particles,” neutrinos are the most abundant particles in the universe, even more so than electrons. While that might be the case, they are extremely difficult to find
Shots are never fun. Many people experience anxiety right up until the needle pierces their skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fear of needles prevents people from getting life-saving vaccinations each day. However, advancement in vaccine delivery technology is making it possible to receive these vaccinations without a needle. Transdermal