The science behind high insulin prices
You probably know or love someone who suffers from diabetes mellitus. In fact, recent CDC reports estimate that nearly 10% of Americans have diabetes, and as many as a third […]
Author Archives: athenssciencecafe
Social jetlag: No plane required
When my alarm wakes me up at 7:30am on Monday, the first thought that pops into my head is “Oh dear lord, why?” After a beautiful weekend of sleeping in, […]
Shining some light on the science of vampires
This Halloween, as you see kids dressed up as zombies or witches, threatening neighbors into giving them candy it’s easy to forget that these terrifying creatures once had a less […]
Saving the world’s seeds, ex situ
The imposing structure of the Svalbard seed bank is familiar to many. This “doomsday” vault (ahem, already breached by climate change) is humanity’s last resort for preserving the seeds of […]
Last but not yeast, the beer necessities
Fermentation is the process in which sugar is consumed by microbes and converted into another chemical. In the case of brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the fungus responsible for nearly all […]
Photosynthesis & waffles: how plant sap gets on our breakfast plates
Maple syrup is a staple in Western breakfast culture. True maple syrup – as opposed to the thick corn syrup imitation that sits in many American diners – comes from […]
Fossilized Ebola is Hiding in Your Pet Hamster’s DNA!
Ebolavirus is one of the most infamous disease causing pathogens of the modern era. The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the largest outbreak of ebolavirus to date, with […]
Awake While Dreaming?
You are in a meadow, walking. You reach the edge of a steep cliff, but you don’t stop…… wait, are you OK? Yes! You seem to be gliding effortlessly through […]
The Solar Power of the Sunflower
This article is part of our brand new Athens Science Observer interview series. We are conducting interviews with established scientists in order to get first person accounts of exciting research […]
Scouting for the Next Top Model (Organism)
Here’s a valid question: if it’s a human condition or disease we’re interested in, why do we study flies, plants or bacteria? It’s a question that researchers often have to […]
