A Lesson in Un-BEE-lieveable Insect Intelligence

Bumblebees. What comes to your mind when that word is uttered? To some, it's pure fear of its vicious sting. To others, it's the image of their toddler dressed up for Halloween. But to researchers who study bees, it's awe at the ability of such a small creature to have immense intellectual potential. Bee communities

Cystic Fibrosis and Your Genes

Disease alters lives in permanent and often heartbreaking ways. Most people have a story about how they have been affected by disease, either firsthand, through a family member, or looking from the outside in on another person's life. In a world where tragedy is at the forefront of our personal lives via news stories, gofundme

Building Strength from the “Floor” Up

Better posture. Better sex. Better poop? If these happen to be part of your New Year's resolutions (and if they aren't, they should be), did you realize that working on your pelvic floor can help improve all three of these areas? If your answer is no, or if you're wondering what the heck is my

I'm colorful and multitalented

What do the San Francisco Bay, the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake in Utah have in common? Water, obviously. But inside each of these water bodies resides a special organism called halobacterium. And if you think halobacterium is a type of bacteria, you may be surprised to find that you are wrong. Now,

My machine learns better than me

Have you ever used Siri to check the weather for the week, for your trip to the beach, or to check if that cough you have this morning means you're dying and don't need to go to class? What about those pesky ads on Facebook or Instagram that seem directly related to your interests? What

A CURE for the Growing Demand of STEM Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Many scientists agree that their love for scientific research began with their undergraduate research experiences. To fulfill the need for 1 million more STEM majors by 2020, university STEM programs are faced with the task of providing the multitude of students entering their programs with unique undergraduate research experiences. The demand for these transformative research

Frosty the Microbe

‘Tis the season for stories of wintery magic. From Elsa and Frozone to their mythical grandfather, Jack Frost, there's no cooler gift than the power to let it snow at will, or shock a pond skate-worthy with a single touch. Little do we realize that these chilly abilities aren't limited to the realm of holiday

Science Behind a Paywall

Science Behind a Paywall Science – Aiming to solve the world's problems and share its knowledge with you, all for the low price of $39.95, per journal article that is. Scientific journal articles are essentially like newspapers for scientists, updating the community on the latest findings, methods, and events happening all over the world. Yet

Bioterrorism & Chemical Weapons Part 2: Control and Response Policies

A previous post of mine detailed the history and use of biological and chemical weapons, especially their relevance in modern warfare. Due to their incognito nature, biological weapons such as viruses and chemical weapons such as nerve agents can be discreetly administered to their target population. As technology advances, these agents are able to be

Thermophiles: Hot Microbes on the Biofuel Frontier

If you've ever been lucky enough to visit Yellowstone National Park (or looked at pictures), then you have probably seen the colorful, steaming mats that surround many of the park's famous geysers and geothermal pools. While they may not look it, these mats are actually living creatures. They form a special class of organisms called

As American as Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving: an American holiday uniquely focused on food and family. Not grounded in religion, nor patriotic beliefs, it’s distinctly American in the best way. And yet, on this lovely day, we fail to realize the ancestral fruit of our continent right in the midst of our dinner tables. A fruit which has been unjustly usurped

This is What a Scientist Looks Like: Transgender

When you think of a scientist, who do you imagine? If you've been following my #ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike series, perhaps you picture a #STEMinist. Right on! But have you considered the multifaceted nature of gender? For this installment, I'd like to introduce you to Lynn Conway and Ben Barres, both world-renowned scientists known for speaking out about

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