By Karis Tutuska ’18 A goodnight’s sleep is crucial not only for cognitive function, but for long-term physical health as well, which is why so much effort has gone into studying the mechanisms of sleep. While scientists have long known the key brain circuits that control NREM sleep (non rapid eye movement, associated with light sleep) and REM sleep (rapid eye movement, associated with deep sleep … Continue reading The Brain Circuit that Wakes You Up
By Karis Tutuska ’18 Cancer is a scary word, but what is even more frightening is the concept of a contagious cancer. Sarcophilus harrisii, commonly known as Tasmanian devils, are large carnivorous marsupials, savage screechers, and voracious eaters. These organisms are plagued by deadly, fast-acting facial tumors that grow until they prevent the animal from eating and force starvation until death. What is unusual about these … Continue reading New Strain of Infectious Cancer Found in Sarcophilus Harrisii
By Karis Tutuska ’18 It is widely accepted that loneliness can damage mental health. However, a recent study supported by the National Institutes of Health suggested that isolation affects physical health as well. Researchers studied 141 adults aged 50-68 and found that the feeling of loneliness a phenomenon known as “conserved transcriptional response to adversity”(CTRA). CTRA has two major physiological consequences: it inhibits genetic expression … Continue reading New Study Suggests Loneliness Destroys Physical Health
By Shannon Bohman ’19 An new innovative test may help determine whether a fingerprint comes from a man or a woman. Certain amino acids are twice as prevalent in women than in men, meaning that testing for amino acid concentration found in fingerprints can determine the gender of the person they belong to. For more than a century, fingerprints have been analyzed as if they … Continue reading Determining the Sex of a Fingerprint
By Shannon Bohman ’19 Stony Brook University recently incorporated breakthrough microbiome technology into nutrient based compositions. The university incorporated these compositions into two patent applications filed to Ortek Therapeutics, Inc. Ortek had been seeking partners to develop and commercialize these compositions into over-the-counter and commercialized products. These nutrient based products, in particular, will efficiently prevent body odor and staph infections. Stony Brook’s Dr. Israel Kleinberg, … Continue reading Microbiome Technology Developed at Stony Brook
By Richard Liang ’18 After extensive use of their multi-drug regimens, many HIV patients begin suffering from kidney impairment and decreased bone density. These pathologies have been recently associated with the chemical tenofovir in the medication regimens. As a response to this, the FDA approved Genvoya, a pill that minimizes tenofovir’s negative side effects. This novel pill combines dosages of active ingredients from standard medications, … Continue reading A Single-Pill HIV Treatment
By Richard Liang ’18 Unlike in model organisms such as yeast and human beings, the microbiological means of cell reproduction in Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, has remained relatively unknown until very recently. Understanding this proliferation has provided researchers with unique and vital insight on the progression of the malaria, a fast-reproducing, medication-resistant, deadly disease. Researchers at the University of Nottingham have identified that … Continue reading The Secret Behind the Rampant Spread of Malaria
By Shannon Bohman ’19 Scientists have recently concluded that deforestation is threatening more than half of the tree species found in the Amazon. Researchers compared data on tree diameters, leaves, branches, flowers, and fruits to maps of projected deforestation. The analysis was the first quantified estimate of how many Amazonian species were at risk. The data was run through a computer model under two … Continue reading Deforestation and Tree Extinction in the Amazon
By Meghan Bialt-DeCelie Image acquired from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_New_Zealand Figure 3: Windmills need reliable large-scale flow batteries to effectively store energy for later use. The flow battery is a development in large-scale, renewable battery technology. It is often found attached to solar panels and windmills to collect the energy produced. However, it is unable to cost-effectively store large amounts of energy. Dr. Qing Wang, of the University … Continue reading Optimization of a Lithium Flow Battery to Increase Energy Storage
By Meghan Bialt-DeCelie Image acquired from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/creative_stock/5227842611 Figure 2: weak points like junctions and bends in circuits could use the self-healing, conductive gel to keep circuits from wearing. As technology advances, people in today’s society strive for slimmer, curved, and more flexible gadgets. Typical conductive materials for circuits are not exactly suitable for the latest tech to meet these futuristic features. To address this problem, … Continue reading Self-Healing Gel Makes the Future of Technology More Flexible
By Meghan Bialt-DeCelie Image acquired from: http://www.the-scientist.com/images/January2013/microbe_infograph_full.jpg Figure 1: The community of microorganisms that live around and in the tissues of plants can affect the plant’s growth and development. When thinking of ways to improve plant growth, one may think of relations between genetics, climate and available nutrition. However, Dr. Ulrich Mueller of the University of Texas and Dr. Joel Sachs of University of California … Continue reading Root Microbiomes Influence Plant Growth and DevelopmentRoot Microbiomes Influence Plant Growth and Development
By Cerise Carey Is artificial intelligence as big of a threat to your job as it may seem? Researchers with the McKinsey Global Institute suggest not. Their research indicates that less than five percent of jobs and forty-five percent of general work activities could be automated. Jobs that could benefit from some activities becoming automated include physicians, financial managers, and senior executives. However, there are … Continue reading Your Robot Coworker Won’t Be Stealing Your Job After All
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