Can you hear me now? Good!

“Tweedly tweedly TWEEE“ “Badum dum dum” “That was good everyone, but can we do one more take?..” Working at a recording studio for a year was the dream job for a fledgling audiophile such as myself. One tidbit that stuck with me was the absolute genius, yet simplicity, in how the songs we recorded could

Rethinking Anorexia: Making the Biopsychosocial Connection

With only 50% of patients recovering fully in the long-term, anorexia is the deadliest psychiatric disorder. Typically associated with poor body-image and unhealthy eating habits, anorexia has captivated and bewildered the minds of laymen and scientists alike. While not every person suffering from anorexia is underweight,  there is still a general misunderstanding of what is

This is your brain on languages

Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world with no need for a translator and then realized you would have to actually learn a new language? Have you tried to learn, only to give up after the intro course? Has the little green owl on your Duolingo app stopped giving you reminders because “they don't

The Wonders of Human Milk!

It's a girl (or boy)! Your bundle of joy is finally here. Stepping into parenthood, life is magical.  But it is not all sunshine and roses either with the constant cleaning, frequent feedings and sleepless nights. The baby falling sick on top of it, is your worst fear. No wonder you find yourself paranoid, sterilizing

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 of Americans are pre-diabetic and undiagnosed. So, there is a reason the cost of healthcare—and in particular, insulin, the lifesaving drug used to treat diabetes—has

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, enough to fill my heart's content, readjusting to my weekday schedule is a constant challenge. I feel tired, irritable, and my thoughts are as murky

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 sugary purpose: in the absence of modern science, our ancestors needed a supernatural technique to explain the plagues and diseases that reason couldn't. One 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 alcoholic beverages, sugar is eaten and converted to alcohol, phenols, and esters. Other fungi and bacteria have been in use for centuries, but their use

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 cool breeze, feeling fantastic. You realize that you are FLYING! But, what do you want to do next? Talk to God or dine with

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 answer: whether it be for grant funding or to their in-laws over Thanksgiving dinner. Certainly, no one wants to hear—or vote for— tax dollars aimlessly

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