Author: Young Investigators Review

The Young Investigators Review is Stony Brook University's undergraduate-oriented, all-inclusive science journal. Founded in 2008, our mission is to provide the student community with a way to learn more about the research currently being done on-campus by their faculty and fellow peers. We feature articles that span all fields, from Physics to Neuroscience, as well as original student research reports straight from the campus laboratories. Our journal offers aspiring talented future researchers and physicians a way to hone their science writing skills and spread word of their experiences to inspire incoming students to think about devoting their futures to the various fields of science.
Sociology

Emergence of Masculinities Headed to Stony Brook

By Hillary Steinberg At the close of spring semester of 2013, Stony Brook University put out a press release detailing a new Center for Men and Masculinities, headed by resident sociology professor Dr. Michael Kimmel. Masculinities studies is a facet of gender studies, and was described by him as “international and interdisciplinary.” The center will be an offshoot of the sociology department, but the subject … Continue reading Emergence of Masculinities Headed to Stony Brook

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Neuroscience, Psychiatry

Scientists Pinpointed the Part of the Brain that Generates the “Ghostly Presence”

By Marianna Catege Even as the world becomes more and more science-based, ghost stories are still told and believed by some. Today, researchers are finally using science to tackle the unexplained phenomenon of the feeling of a ghostly presence. Dr. Giulio Rognini, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), explains that this vivid sensation is common in people who experience extreme weather conditions, such … Continue reading Scientists Pinpointed the Part of the Brain that Generates the “Ghostly Presence”

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Molecular Biology

The Intracellular Mechanics of Marijuana

By Eman Kazi At the Stony Brook Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Professor Dale Deutsch and his research team recently identified a group of Fatty Acid binding proteins (FABPs), which serve as intracellular transporters for two of the main active substances in marijuana, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This project also asserted that CBD may help reduce seizures and serve as a treatment … Continue reading The Intracellular Mechanics of Marijuana

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Drug Discovery, Synthetic Biology

A Pill that Mimics the Immune System

By Anirudh Chandrashekar The role of Y-shaped antibodies to fight viruses, bacteria and different forms of cancers is a heavily researched field.  For many years, researchers have sought to develop and optimize antibodies and other protein-based therapies to supplement and  revitalize the host’s defense system. At the same time, these antibodies have multiple drawbacks; antibodies are generally extremely bulky and need to be administered intravenously. To … Continue reading A Pill that Mimics the Immune System

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2015-16, Psychology

Gender Identity in Transgender Children

By Amanda Ng Through the last century or so, an emphasis on social equality has brought the plights of many minority groups to light.  In the past, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community have suffered from severe emotional distress because of the discrimination they face, and many still worry about gaining and keeping the acceptance of their peers and families.  Though they … Continue reading Gender Identity in Transgender Children

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Engineering, Synthetic Biology

Engineering Escherichia coli cells to express Melittin in response to the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

By Gurkamal Kaur, Janki Patel, Tenging Lama, Helen Liu, Gregory Poterewicz

Abstract

The growth of antibiotic resistance is quickly becoming a global public health concern. Infections caused by pathogenic bacteria are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to the misuse, overuse and abuse of antibiotics. In addition, infections caused by some harmful strains of bacteria, particularly gram-negative bacteria, cannot easily be treated with antibiotics or other common forms of treatment. To combat this issue, E. coli were engineered to recognize the pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and produce the antimicrobial peptide melittin in response.  In order to do so, nonpathogenic E. coli were transformed with plasmids that control the production of melittin and the reception of communication signals from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Continue reading “Engineering Escherichia coli cells to express Melittin in response to the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa”

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Technology

Researchers Create Antireflective Surface to Improve Solar Cells

By Ashwin Kelkar The advent of the solar panel has allowed us to harness the energy of the sun, similar to plants. However, unlike plants, solar panels run into a predicament; though we can utilize some of the sun’s rays, most waves end up being reflected off the surface of solar panels. This massive amount of reflected sunlight demonstrates how inefficient solar panels are, even … Continue reading Researchers Create Antireflective Surface to Improve Solar Cells

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Evolution

Groundbreaking Fossil Transforms Current Evolution Views

By Surya Chalil Gondwanatheria is an extinct group of mammals that has only been known through a few isolated teeth and fragmented jaw pieces. As a result, their clade largely remained a mystery and their placement among the evolutionary tree was uncertain and debatable. However, Stony Brook University paleontologist, David Krause, Ph.D., led the research team that discovered an almost complete cranium of a new … Continue reading Groundbreaking Fossil Transforms Current Evolution Views

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Technology

Pioneering X-Ray Techniques Used to Design More Efficient Batteries

By Ashwin Kelkar Have you ever wondered why your iPhone battery only lasts 3 hours instead of the projected 8? It can be frustrating to many people around the world, but it can be even worse when that battery is powering a pacemaker, a tool that allows people’s hearts to continue pumping blood. Imagine what would happen if a battery like this suddenly dies and … Continue reading Pioneering X-Ray Techniques Used to Design More Efficient Batteries

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Disease, Psychiatry

Infectious Diseases may Cause Major Depressive Disorder

By: Marianna Catege Depression may actually be infectious, according to Dr. Turhan Canli, the Associate Professor of Psychology and Radiology at Stony Brook University. His claim puts Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a new light, one that suggests it can be caused by parasitc bacterial or viral infections. In this highly prevalent disease, with roughly 7 percent of the U.S. population developing MDD, symptoms can … Continue reading Infectious Diseases may Cause Major Depressive Disorder

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Brain, Molecular Biology

Understanding the Fear Circuits in The Brain

By: Ashwin Kelkar Fear and fear memory have long been a subject of study by both scientists and philosophers. Our understanding of fear and how it may exert control to the point of phobia is imperative to eventually finding the underlying cause of fear itself. Researchers around the world have tapped into the brain to try to elucidate this enigma. In a groundbreaking study conducted … Continue reading Understanding the Fear Circuits in The Brain

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Medicine and Physiology, Technology

Cerebral Blood Flow Imaging Technique Can be Applied to Disease Diagnosis

By  Marianna Catege Dr. Yingtian Pan, Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook, and his team, have discovered a new imaging technique that allows for a clearer picture of the direction, speed, and quantity of cerebral blood flow. This discovery expands upon and provides an ultrahigh-resolution picture for Stony Brook Medical scientists’ newly developed method for measuring how cocaine interrupts blood flow … Continue reading Cerebral Blood Flow Imaging Technique Can be Applied to Disease Diagnosis

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