I was always dimly aware of elephant poaching for ivory, but it didn't alarm me until I spent a year working as a tropical ecology research assistant in central Africa. I was in Gabon, a heavily forested small country in the heart of the Congo basin on Africa's west coast. Gabon is home to roughly
Welcome to Star Wars week here at the Athens Science Observer. To help celebrate May the 4th – Star Wars Day – we wanted to take a look at the real life science of that galaxy far far away. “Midi-chlorians.†For many Star Wars fans, this word alone can set off rage-induced rants. The Prequel
Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 has been heralded as one of the most monumental medical discoveries of all time. Amazingly, this discovery was entirely accidental. After returning from a long vacation, Fleming noticed that a culture of Staphylococcus aureus was contaminated with mold. After observing the culture under a microscope, he found that
I don't know where I would be without my abuela. As my mother's mother, she is so much more than just a convenient and free babysitter. Sure, abuela took care of me when mom had to work, but she also sang with me on our walks home after school. She's the one I call when
“Zika virus could be bigger global health threat than Ebola, say health experts†– The Guardian “Zika Virus a Global Health Emergency, W.H.O. Says†– The New York Times “Zika virus raises more questions than answers for pregnant women†– Los Angeles Times Mosquito season is about to swing into full force here in the
In October 1997, the Sci-Fi drama Gattaca was released on the big screen in the United States. The film takes place in a dystopian future where genetically-engineered humans are superior to unaltered ones. Its protagonist, Ethan Hawk, is born as an “invalid†(someone without genetic engineering) and has to assume the identity of a “validâ€
Are we a product of our environment or bound to a predetermined fate dictated by our genes? To answer the age old nature versus nurture dilemma, both. It is widely known that the environment can alter our DNA sequence through genetic mutations as a consequence of external factors such as toxins and carcinogens. However, our
Ah, spring! The days are getting longer, temperatures are rising, and the world seems to be waking up from a dreary winter. One lovely morning, you walk into the sunshine and stop in your tracks. Every car, railing, and horizontal surface is coated in a thick layer of yellow dust: pollen. If this sight brings
“For more than 50 years, we have been a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable our guests to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share.†-SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment When you think of SeaWorld, what comes to mind?
For most of human history, being able to live long enough to reproduce was somewhat of a hassle. We had natural predators, diseases we could not treat, and hygiene that could have used some more work. The ones who would survive this war against nature would be able to pass down traits that allowed them
For thousands of years, red wine has been the drink of choice for Egyptian royals and “basic†girls alike. However, there is more to wine than its ability to “class up†a dinner party. Romans and Greeks recognized the medical benefits of grapes and grape products for treating health issues from skin and eye diseases
The human species- we are mysterious and intelligent social creatures that have survived using cooperation and teamwork for millennia. We know what we like and dislike as well as being able to choose in life who we want to associate ourselves with. Mix that up with the concept of attraction and things can become a
