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An ode to herbalism, seeking help outside of disparities

A brief history of herbalism Herbalism began to grow its roots many years ago through African and Indigenous American culture and practices. It seeks to combine the knowledge of plants and plant extracts for healing purposes, whether that is mental, physical, or spiritual healing. Specific herbs are utilized for their ability to treat specific ailments.

Long term ecological research is our crystal ball

How might climate change affect the environment in 50 or 100 years? To even begin to answer this pressing question, we need work that can accurately describe changes in the environment to predict the future. Long term ecological research (abbreviated as LTER), describes studies interested in environmental processes that last for at least one year

COVID-19 Uncertainty: The Effects of Unprecedented Times

How uncertainty has impacted our lives during the pandemic. It has been almost two years since COVID-19 was thrust into the forefront of everyone's mind. Many of us are still waiting for things to go back to normal, or at least for things to feel a little more right. Despite adjusting somewhat to this “new

A botanical and medicinal history of Echinacea, a native plant of the Southeast

In Native American culture, the purple coneflower was used to treat poisonous bites and stings, toothaches, reduce inflammation, sore throat, colds, and so much more. In a way, this botanical miracle was used as a cure-all and was used to treat ailments more than any other medicinal plant. The purple coneflower, also known scientifically as

Sus scrofa: The Notorious Sibling of the Pig Family

When you think of farm animals, what comes to your mind? Cows, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, and so on? Each animal on the farm serves a key role in providing us with food or resources to use. But before we industrialized and invested into the farming industry, these animals were found in the wild.

Natural Philosophers and Seekers of Truths: The Missing “Ph” in “PhD”

The History of the PhD While many students aim to earn their PhDs, few know the philosophical history of the degrees they are pursuing. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil)  began as the degree awarded in recognition of advanced scholarship and acknowledging that recipients had expertise needed to teach at a university level. These

Behind Brown Eyes: Theory of Mind in our Canine Companions

Have you ever looked at your favorite pet and wondered exactly what's going on behind those soulful, amber eyes? For a long time, scientists believed that only humans possessed something called Theory of Mind, that is, the understanding that one is a conscious being, and that others also possess a consciousness of their own. Theory

The Shortage of STEM Education in Rural America

Think back to the moments throughout your life when people asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Did your vision and dream change as you experienced the world? For me, I started out wanting to be a vet because of my deep love for my animals on my small farm, then

Pandemic Preparedness Requires a Macroecological Perspective

Prior to the emergence of COVID-19, there already was a movement to understand infectious disease emergence at the global scale. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, this information has only become more relevant. The macroecology of infectious diseases is an important area of research with great promise for our ability to predict and prepare

Peanut Evolution: From Mini to Jumbo

While I was at my uncle's house this summer, I was looking after my 10-year-old cousin. He was enjoying his peanut butter and jelly sandwich and at a certain point he asked me:  “Where does peanut butter come from?”  “From peanuts.”  “Where do peanuts come from?”  “From a peanut plant.”  While he was satisfied and

Finding Comfort in Uncertainty

Ping! A Google News notification, “This Coffee Drinking Habit May Help Your Brain,” appears. I don't have time to read it now, but I pour myself an extra cup of coffee, feeling justified. The next day, ping! Another Google News notification: “Too much coffee can cause your brain to shrink, increasing your dementia risk by

The Injustice of Texas Senate Bill 8

On September 1st, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott passed Senate Bill 8 (SB8) which bans abortion after the first signs of fetal heartbeat. There are no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape, sexual abuse, or incest. Texas legislators claim that 6 weeks is plenty of time to get an abortion. However, this is not accurate

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