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The Future of Genomics Research is Here

Let's pretend we're back in the fourth grade. We shuffle into the science classroom toting our keychain laden backpacks, and then suddenly we're filled with excitement! We've spotted the boxy TV monitor and VCR player, and as of July 2016, this dates me as “old.” Yes! It's Video Day which means no quizzes or worksheets,

The Science of Blacking Out

In today's society, the words college and drinking have almost become synonymous. College drinking is incredibly prevalent, with four out of five college students admitting to drinking. Obviously there are many risks associated with drinking alcohol, but one of the more common ones among college students is called “blacking out.” One study at Duke University

The forgotten organ

In the womb, a fetus's digestive system is squeaky clean. After birth, a baby is exposed to microbes which quickly colonize its gut. After only one year of age, a baby has already attained a complex community of intestinal flora comparable to that of a full-grown adult. A long-standing relationship Research in recent years has

Think Before You Speak: Language & the Brain

I have recurring nightmares where I can't speak. The dream situation changes – I'm in an argument and can't defend myself or I'm up on a stage and suddenly can't say my lines – but when I open my mouth nothing comes out. The terror of this dream comes from how important language is to

Life with and without Social Media: a Nick Batora Story

“Your life exists outside of television and likes, and Instagram.  Engage the world.” Jon Stewart snapped these words out in a recent interview that he did with David Axelrod.  His point is one that resonated with me. Not only because he's Jon Stewart and I believe most Americans miss him dearly as of late with

Test tube babies: freaky fiction or possible future?

Imagine a future where procreation happens in a laboratory, and not in the bedroom. Scientists derive embryos from a simple skin sample. Children are screened prenatally for any number of traits that their parents deem desirable. Things as simple as eye color and hair color could be discovered before parents even decide on a name.

The Sweet, Sweet Taste of Ripening

Anyone who knows me knows my love for blueberries.  Besides being a nutrient-packed super fruit, blueberries are also a major agricultural commodity for Georgia. Our state recently beat out Michigan to become number 1 in blueberry production in the nation. Because of this, I decided to take a part time job helping an ongoing study

Drug Bugs Could Replace Sniffer Dogs in the Detection of Illegal Drugs

While waiting in line at TSA a few weeks ago, I was sniffed by a drug dog and his handler (well, the handler didn't sniff me, but you know what I mean). Resisting the urge to get on the floor and roll around with the absolutely adorable black lab, I stood patiently in line as

Big Things Come in Small Packages

Some of the most powerful things are quite small: a microscopic virus can defeat an elephant; Giant Redwoods grow from tiny seeds; a computer chip the size of your fingernail can send us to Jupiter and back; and just one minuscule sperm cell can fertilize an egg and start new life. In most animals, sperm

The Squeeze on Octopus Tentacles

The long-awaited sequel to Pixar's Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, features a new major character named Hank, an octopus who helps Dory in her journey home. Hank's creation took longer than any other character because octopus tentacle movement and behavior is so difficult to mimic. Animators needed two years to animate just one scene with Hank!

Adaptation through agile software development

The real world is brutal. You've heard it all before. This globalized world is becoming more competitive than ever; it's getting harder and harder to succeed out there, especially when it comes to software development. Who can compete with the likes of Apple, Google, and Microsoft in developing ideas and software? It seems as if

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