The Rich Are Getting Richer

by Megan Tan   Wealth inequality is a disturbing concern in today’s economy, since a small percent of the population owns so much of the wealth. Several explanations and solutions have been proposed to see if there is a way to evenly distribute the wealth. However, all of these have faults that do not fully solve the problem at hand. Professor Yonatan Berman, from The … Continue reading The Rich Are Getting Richer

Improved Batteries in the Human Body

by Michael D’Agati   The field of bioelectronics, which produces implantable devices for sensing and therapeutics, has recently become a popular field. There is high promise in the collaboration between biology and electronics, but in order for these new innovations to work, a power source, such as implantable batteries, must be present to supply the energy needed. Currently, implantable batteries require bulky metal cases to keep … Continue reading Improved Batteries in the Human Body

October Feature: Neuroscience Axis

This past week, one of our Cabinet Members, Benjamin Kerner, sat down with the President and Vice President of Neuroscience Axis, Joseph Arena and Katherine Maiorisi, in order to shine light on their endeavors and mission at Stony Brook. Neuroscience Axis works to facilitate the interactions between undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty in the field of Neuroscience. B: What is your role in the … Continue reading October Feature: Neuroscience Axis

Sodium Ion Batteries in Cold Climates

by Michael D’Agati Most aspects of electrical design and electrical engineering, such as circuits, wouldn’t be possible without batteries. Good batteries have a large capacity, high power density (quick charge/discharge cycles), and low cost energy storage. A few different types of rechargeable batteries have been developed, but at low temperatures, like -15°C, they charge slowly. This results in a severe voltage drop that can trigger problems … Continue reading Sodium Ion Batteries in Cold Climates

Storing More Energy with Carbon

by Michael D’Agati   The improvements in energy storage have been slow and costly, despite all the advancements in technology over the past decades. For this reason, there has been a lot of focus from research groups worldwide on different sources and methods of energy storage. One type of energy storage device that may be promising for the future is the supercapacitor. Supercapacitors have the ability … Continue reading Storing More Energy with Carbon

Language Stimulation Correlated with Childhood Depression

by Patrick Yang   According to the Federal Center for Mental Health Services, depression affects one in thirty-three children and one in eight adolescents aged 12-18. As of 2014, approximately 2.8 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode. This childhood depression is often correlated with social, emotional, and academic impediments that can transition into adulthood.  Although early intervention is … Continue reading Language Stimulation Correlated with Childhood Depression

Mitigation in Sea Level Rise Due to Increased Snowfall

by Patrick Yang Many global climate models project that anthropogenic global warming will lead to increased snowfall in Antarctica due to increased moisture in the atmosphere. However, the actual trend in Antarctica shows a discrepancy. Surface mass balance (SMB), the difference between the amount of snow accumulated and sublimated, has not shown any significant increase, despite the rise in global temperature. This discrepancy may be … Continue reading Mitigation in Sea Level Rise Due to Increased Snowfall

Saline Spray Treats HHT-Induced Nose Bleeds

by Patrick Yang   Epistaxis, or bleeding from the nose, is only an intermittent nuisance for the majority of the population. However, for those with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a disorder that results in the improper development of blood vessels, epistaxis can plague them up to two times a day. HHT affects roughly 1 in 5,000 people in the U.S., and the frequency of epistaxis is … Continue reading Saline Spray Treats HHT-Induced Nose Bleeds

Antibody-Based Immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

by Jalwa Afroz The antibody aducanumab reduces amyloid-β plaques, helping to prevent the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic type of dementia that affects a person’s memory and behavior. Ultimately, cognitive decline and behavioral disturbances lead to a person’s inability to perform daily activity. Through pathophysiological evidence, researchers have shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque buildup in the brain causes neurotoxicity. … Continue reading Antibody-Based Immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Tackling Contraction of Infections from Healthcare Facilities

by Rideeta Raquib   Healthcare-acquired infections or HAI are illnesses acquired from healthcare environments, such as hospitals or rehabilitation clinics. It is a serious issue which affects thousands of people every year and multiplies healthcare costs significantly. Klebsiella Pneumoniae, a harmful HAI agent has been attributed to causing illnesses through colonizing and transmitting infection. One of the strains of Klebsiella Pneumoniae, known as ST258, is … Continue reading Tackling Contraction of Infections from Healthcare Facilities

A Baby’s Association of Food and Environment

    by Rideeta Raquib The dilemma of what to eat for dinner is a peculiar evolutionary trait that has enabled human beings to survive for centuries. Culture and our social surroundings are aspects that influence our species when it comes to our preference in food. A recent study from Dr. Zoe Liberman and her team at the University of Chicago has revealed that infants have … Continue reading A Baby’s Association of Food and Environment

Reduction of Antioxidants Could Kill Pancreatic Cancer Cells

by Rideeta Raquib Antioxidants are natural chemicals found in food and tissue that may have beneficial health effects. Although it is a common ideology that antioxidants aid in fighting cancer, pancreatic cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) begs to differ. In healthy cells, oxidizing and anti-oxidizing agents are maintained at a certain level of balance. The team at CSHL, led by Professor David Tuveson, … Continue reading Reduction of Antioxidants Could Kill Pancreatic Cancer Cells