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.
YIWC, YIWC 2022

An Overview of AI-Created Art – Philosophical, Legal, and Ethical Implications

Matthew Vo, 12th Grade The past decade has experienced dramatic growth of interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs, with particular attention focused on “creative AI”, capable of producing visual artwork, writing, or music at a level of quality rivaling that of works created by human artists and authors. However, such developments have also raised pressing legal and ethical concerns, as well as philosophical questions on … Continue reading An Overview of AI-Created Art – Philosophical, Legal, and Ethical Implications

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YIWC, YIWC 2022

Xenotransplantation: A Potential Solution to the Organ Shortage

Jennifer Zhong, 12th Grade In the United States, over 100,000 patients are on the national organ transplant waiting list in hopes to receive the necessary transplant to save their lives [10]. However, with the growing demand for organ transplants, only one-third of those on the waitlist will receive a transplant, and it is estimated that 40% will die before an organ donor is available [2, … Continue reading Xenotransplantation: A Potential Solution to the Organ Shortage

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YIWC, YIWC 2022

Space Tourism: An Out of This World Experience

Charlene Chen, 11th Grade Space tourism, though often perceived as a distant and elusive dream, has already become a reality in recent years. Starting in 2001, California businessperson Dennis Tito spent 20 million USD to board a Russian Soyuz rocket heading to the International Space Station, officially earning the title of the first “space tourist” (1). More recently in 2021, several non-astronaut civilians flew into … Continue reading Space Tourism: An Out of This World Experience

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Uncategorized, YIWC, YIWC 2022

The Environmental and Economic Impacts of Biofuels

Sanjiv Singh, 11th Grade While gas prices rise to historic levels, Americans have been considering other sources of fuel such as biofuel (1). From ethanol to other forms of biofuel, the economic and environmental impacts could be enormous. As gas prices skyrocket due to many factors and one being the war between Russia and Ukraine, many citizens have been unable to gain gasoline, leaving them … Continue reading The Environmental and Economic Impacts of Biofuels

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YIWC, YIWC 2022

The Potential Benefits of Xenotransplantation

Vivian Chen, Grade 10 Healthy organs are vital for every human’s best quality of life. Sometimes, however, organs may become diseased or damaged. When this occurs, the victim may be in need of an organ transplant. Organ transplantation is a process in which an organ is removed from a donor and transplanted into a recipient. Although this is a valid and often successful treatment, it … Continue reading The Potential Benefits of Xenotransplantation

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YIWC, YIWC 2022

The Accessibility and Functionality of AI Art As a Medium of Self-Expression for Both Artists and Non-Artists

Shreejita Satpathy, Grade 12 A common experience throughout generations on social media is the time spent mindlessly scrolling through timelines and feeds, consuming content in bite-sized chunks. Many utilize social media applications such as Instagram to consume content in a variety of different methods, one of which includes art. A frequent situation is as follows: a person, while scrolling through Instagram, sees an artist’s posts. … Continue reading The Accessibility and Functionality of AI Art As a Medium of Self-Expression for Both Artists and Non-Artists

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YIWC, YIWC 2022

Flying Too Close to the Sun: Space Tourism is Not a Worthy Use of Scientific and Technological Resources

Reed Paltrow, Grade 12 The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite in 1957, the starting pistol that began the Space Race. Sputnik was the launch heard ‘round the world, an unprecedented milestone that sparked a frenzy of competition between the United States and the USSR for dominance over the final frontier. Twelve years and $30 billion later, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first … Continue reading Flying Too Close to the Sun: Space Tourism is Not a Worthy Use of Scientific and Technological Resources

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Biofuel Production: Environmental Considerations

Jessica Curran, Grade 11 As gas prices reach disconcerting heights and the energy crisis becomes more severe, the discussion surrounding alternative sources of energy only gains popularity. With the realization that fossil fuels are no longer economically viable and are environmentally harmful, attention is turned toward a more sustainable energy source — biofuels. Biofuels, most commonly ethanol and biodiesel, are produced from organic matter such … Continue reading Biofuel Production: Environmental Considerations

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2022-23, Brain, Cognition, General Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Year

Microdosing Psychedelics

Shahzadi Adeena ’25 In recent years, there has been a growing interest in microdosing psychedelic drugs as a potential tool for enhancing cognitive abilities and improving overall wellbeing. Vince Polito and Richard J. Stevenson of Macquarie University investigated the effects of microdosing psychedelics on psychological variables such as mood, attention, wellbeing, mindfulness, mystical experiences, personality, absorption, creativity, and sense of agency. The researchers hypothesized that … Continue reading Microdosing Psychedelics

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2022-23, Brain, General Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Year

Return of Consciousness After Traumatic Brain Injury

Shahzadi Adeena ’25 Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of consciousness, particularly following traumatic brain injury (TBI), is nuanced and challenging. Thalamic function plays a critical role in facilitating consciousness; injury to thalamus-frontal circuitry can impair consciousness. Sima Mofakham and Charles Millek of Stony Brook University hypothesized that thalamocortical projections to the frontoparietal network facilitate the complex dynamics needed for consciousness, and that injury to these connections … Continue reading Return of Consciousness After Traumatic Brain Injury

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2022-23, Ecology, Environment, Evolution, Natural World, Year

21 Million Year Old Fossil Reveals Hominid Environment and Diet

Julia Chivu ’23 The Motroto site in Uganda has recently provided new insights on the evolution of the locomotor versatility, diet, and environment of early hominids. The site is estimated to be twenty-one million years old. Associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, Dr. James Rossi, is part of a large research team that has recently examined the fossil remains of … Continue reading 21 Million Year Old Fossil Reveals Hominid Environment and Diet

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2022-23, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Year

Differentiating Between Speech and Song Across Cultures

Julia Chivu ’23 Given that speech and song are produced by the same vocal tract, there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not speech and song can be distinguished by their acoustical features across different societies. It can be difficult to determine where speech ends and songs begin within a culture. This concept is especially challenging to research since there is no reliable … Continue reading Differentiating Between Speech and Song Across Cultures

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