June 2018

Right To Try, A Legislative Placebo

On May 30th President Trump signed the “Right to Try Act” into law. This legislation lets terminally ill patients try experimental medications that have completed Phase 1 clinical trial testing but have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On the surface, this legislation seems like a victory for patients without

Georgia: The Former Peach State?

As I was making plans for my spring garden this year, I decided to include fruit trees and began researching various species of native Georgia fruit trees. I came across an article projecting that certain species of banana trees will soon be able to flourish right here, in our own Georgia backyards. Bananas are not

New Hopes for a Cancer Diagnosis

“You have cancer.” The dreaded three words that no patient wants to hear when they go into the clinic. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating on an emotional and psychological level, and most importantly, it prematurely reminds us of our mortality. According to 2017 Cancer Statistics, over 1.7 million Americans will be diagnosed with some

Hidden World: How Perception Influences Science

If you use social media, then you probably remember the uproar surrounding the optical illusion known as “The Dress.” Some people saw blue and black, others, white and gold. The vehement arguments over the color of the dress are a perfect example of how our perception can influence what we think of as reality. Unfortunately,

Barley & Me

Malted grain or more commonly, malt, is one of four ingredients (water, malt, hops, yeast) used in the production of every beer ever produced. I have said that water is arguably the most important ingredient in beer production because of the nuanced flavors it provides. However, malt is the backbone and it bestows the foundational

Thinking About How We Think

Intelligence — we've all heard this word, but what exactly does it mean? Intelligence can be broadly defined as the ability to learn, reason, and problem solve. While many will point to environmental factors having a major influence (and they do), there is a genetic and hereditary component to intelligence as well. As a considerable

Ready, Set, Grow! Confessions of a pre-med student performing undergraduate research

As a campus tour guide, I get to interact with high schoolers considering spending four years (and lots of money) at the University of Georgia. When I ask if any prospective students are  interested in conducting undergraduate science research, more often than not, I'm met with confused looks rather than eagerly raised hands. Four years

When water becomes dangerous: pollution in the Smokies and beyond

During the summer, I love to visit the Smoky Mountains to enjoy the fresh mountain air and to get away from the pressures of life. However, on a recent trip, I ran into a surprising fact on a small placard: the Smokies have the highest deposits of sulfur and nitrogen of any monitored national park.

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