Check out our Fall 2015 issue on Invaders & Defenders! Articles are posted individually as blog posts (links below). We also have a full issue in ISSUU (below) and PDF format (on our Archives page). Print issues are also available around Harvard’s campus! Table of Contents: NEWS BRIEFS AND GENERAL ARTICLES A New Horizon inContinue reading “Fall 2015: Invaders & Defenders”
Category Archives: Fall 2015
To the Rescue: Insects in Sustainable Agriculture
by Ada Bielawski In 1798, Thomas Malthus published his Essay on the Principle of Population and described the limits of human population growth: the population will continue to grow exponentially while the Earth’s resources are able to sustain the increasing food production needed to feed this population. He concluded that, as the population approaches 8Continue reading “To the Rescue: Insects in Sustainable Agriculture”
Earth’s Missiles, Ready to Go?
by Eesha Khare In 1991, an unusual phenomenon was observed following the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. After nearly 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide were launched into the stratosphere1—the second largest eruption of this century—the global temperatures dropped temporarily by 1°F. Amid the large-scale destruction, it seemed the Earth was fightingContinue reading “Earth’s Missiles, Ready to Go?”
Fetal Microchimerism
by Grace Chen In Greek mythology, a chimera was a grotesque monster formed of a conglomeration of different animal parts…. With the head of a goat, body of a lion, and tail of a snake, the chimera was a fearsome but reassuringly fictional concept. Today, however, scientists know that real-life chimeras do indeed exist. TheContinue reading “Fetal Microchimerism”
Artificial Superintelligence: The Coming Revolution
by William Bryk The science fiction writer Arthur Clarke famously wrote, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Yet, humanity may be on the verge of something much greater, a technology so revolutionary that it would be indistinguishable not merely from magic, but from an omnipresent force, a deity here on Earth. It’s knownContinue reading “Artificial Superintelligence: The Coming Revolution”
“Invaders from Earth!”: Exploring the Possibilities of Extraterrestrial Colonization
by J. Rodrigo Leal We’ve all seen films or heard stories about the “Invaders from Mars”: aliens coming from other galaxies to colonize Earth and take advantage of its bountiful natural resources. But what if the story happened the other way around? Organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and private companies likeContinue reading ““Invaders from Earth!”: Exploring the Possibilities of Extraterrestrial Colonization”
Parasitic Cancer: Paradox and Perspective
by Audrey Effenberger Cancer. It’s a big subject, with a dizzying array of forms and manifestations that can affect all parts of the body. As populations around the world age, cancer’s prevalence will continue to grow, and it will become more and more important to understand and treat it. One lesser known variation is knownContinue reading “Parasitic Cancer: Paradox and Perspective”
Laws of Nature Defending Our Information: Quantum Cryptography
by Felipe Flores Secure communications and data encryption have been very important topics in the popular eye for the past few years, especially after Edward Snowden made public that the NSA attempts to intervene most communications. I, for instance, never thought my information would be that vulnerable and accessible to potential hackers, sponsored by aContinue reading “Laws of Nature Defending Our Information: Quantum Cryptography”
Genetically Engineered Viruses Combat Invasive Cancer
by Caroline Wechsler 58-year-old Georgia resident Nancy Justice was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a tumor of the brain, back in 2012. Though her doctors immediately combated the cancer with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the tumor relapsed in late 2014, stronger than ever. According to her doctors, Justice had only seven months to live because the tumorContinue reading “Genetically Engineered Viruses Combat Invasive Cancer”
Genetically Modified Crops as Invaders and Allies
by Sophie Westbrook It’s not hard to tell frightening stories about genetically modified crops. These days, there is even a formula to follow: the soulless company creates dangerous variants, silences the protests of right-thinking environmentalists, and sends biodiversity and public health down the drain. This scenario’s proponents tend to be horrified by transgenic organisms. Unfortunately,Continue reading “Genetically Modified Crops as Invaders and Allies”
Microchimerism – The More, The Merrier
by Una Choi Microchimerism, or the presence of genetically distinct populations within a single organism, throws a wrench in the biological concept of sex. Although we traditionally learn that biological females possess two X sex chromosomes and males possess X and Y sex chromosomes, microchimerism is responsible for the presence of cells with Y chromosomesContinue reading “Microchimerism – The More, The Merrier”
Fight or Flight: When Stress Becomes Our Own Worst Enemy
by Anjali Chandra We have all heard of the amazing fight-or flight response: the man lifting a 3,000 pound stock Camaro, the woman fending herself against a bear with just a backpack, and the man outrunning a flaming sphere. Adrenaline surging, our body prepares to defend itself against a perceived threat. Our brain engages ourContinue reading “Fight or Flight: When Stress Becomes Our Own Worst Enemy”
Laws of Nature Defending Our Information: Quantum Cryptography
by Felipe Flores Secure communications and data encryption have been very important topics in the popular eye for the past few years, especially after Edward Snowden made public that the NSA attempts to intervene most communications. I, for instance, never thought my information would be that vulnerable and accessible to potential hackers, sponsored by aContinue reading “Laws of Nature Defending Our Information: Quantum Cryptography”
“Invaders from Earth!”: Exploring the Possibilities of Extraterrestrial Colonization
by J. Rodrigo Leal We’ve all seen films or heard stories about the “Invaders from Mars”: aliens coming from other galaxies to colonize Earth and take advantage of its bountiful natural resources. But what if the story happened the other way around? Organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and private companies likeContinue reading ““Invaders from Earth!”: Exploring the Possibilities of Extraterrestrial Colonization”
Earth’s Missiles, Ready to Go?
by Eesha Khare In 1991, an unusual phenomenon was observed following the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. After nearly 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide were launched into the stratosphere1—the second largest eruption of this century—the global temperatures dropped temporarily by 1°F. Amid the large-scale destruction, it seemed the Earth was fightingContinue reading “Earth’s Missiles, Ready to Go?”
Genetically Modified Crops as Invaders and Allies
by Sophie Westbrook It’s not hard to tell frightening stories about genetically modified crops. These days, there is even a formula to follow: the soulless company creates dangerous variants, silences the protests of right-thinking environmentalists, and sends biodiversity and public health down the drain. This scenario’s proponents tend to be horrified by transgenic organisms. Unfortunately,Continue reading “Genetically Modified Crops as Invaders and Allies”
To the Rescue: Insects in Sustainable Agriculture
by Ada Bielawski In 1798, Thomas Malthus published his Essay on the Principle of Population and described the limits of human population growth: the population will continue to grow exponentially while the Earth’s resources are able to sustain the increasing food production needed to feed this population. He concluded that, as the population approaches 8Continue reading “To the Rescue: Insects in Sustainable Agriculture”
Genetically Engineered Viruses Combat Invasive Cancer
by Caroline Wechsler 58-year-old Georgia resident Nancy Justice was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a tumor of the brain, back in 2012. Though her doctors immediately combated the cancer with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the tumor relapsed in late 2014, stronger than ever. According to her doctors, Justice had only seven months to live because the tumorContinue reading “Genetically Engineered Viruses Combat Invasive Cancer”
Parasitic Cancer: Paradox and Perspective
by Audrey Effenberger Cancer. It’s a big subject, with a dizzying array of forms and manifestations that can affect all parts of the body. As populations around the world age, cancer’s prevalence will continue to grow, and it will become more and more important to understand and treat it. One lesser known variation is knownContinue reading “Parasitic Cancer: Paradox and Perspective”
Microchimerism – The More, The Merrier
by Una Choi Microchimerism, or the presence of genetically distinct populations within a single organism, throws a wrench in the biological concept of sex. Although we traditionally learn that biological females possess two X sex chromosomes and males possess X and Y sex chromosomes, microchimerism is responsible for the presence of cells with Y chromosomesContinue reading “Microchimerism – The More, The Merrier”
Fetal Microchimerism
by Grace Chen In Greek mythology, a chimera was a grotesque monster formed of a conglomeration of different animal parts…. With the head of a goat, body of a lion, and tail of a snake, the chimera was a fearsome but reassuringly fictional concept. Today, however, scientists know that real-life chimeras do indeed exist. TheContinue reading “Fetal Microchimerism”
Kinesics: What Are You Really Saying?
by Priya Amin What do shoulder shrugs or crossed arms really communicate? Kinesics, or the systemic study of body behavioral communication,1 is a relatively new subsection in the study of language. More specifically, kinesics describes the importance of body motion behavior in social communication—it is the study of communication through “silent” language. Facial expressions, posture,Continue reading “Kinesics: What Are You Really Saying?”
The Simple Science of a Grandiose Mind
by Kristina Madjoska If asked the question: what is the similarity between Adolf Hitler and the modern selfie taker, would you be able to respond? Certainly, only one of them is responsible for an aggressive regime that claimed the lives of millions. While they may seem worlds apart, these two personalities do share something inContinue reading “The Simple Science of a Grandiose Mind”
Invading the Human Heart
by Hanson Tam Pathogenic viruses and bacteria routinely invade the human body. But so do curative treatments ranging from drugs to surgery. In a society in which invasion connotes violence and injury, many people avoid acknowledging the intrusive nature of medicine. Awareness is important; it encourages the development of less invasive yet equally effective procedures.Continue reading “Invading the Human Heart”
You vs. Your Grocery
by Jeongmin Lee NO CHOLESTEROL! ZERO TRANS FAT! ALL NATURAL! Hundreds of labels bombard consumers in the grocery store, vying for their wallets and claiming to offer health benefits. It would take only a quick glimpse to notice recurring slogans, many of which use terminology unfamiliar to the general public. The “Gluten-free!” sign may indicateContinue reading “You vs. Your Grocery”
Bio-Inspired Slippery Surface Technology Repels Fouling Agents
by Serena Blacklow A start-up launched late in 2014 from our own Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering is working to commercialize ‘SLIPS’ technology. SLIPS Technologies’ mission is to customize super-repellent surfaces for whatever application under demand. Slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) can be formulated to repel water, bacteria, and oil, among other “fouling agents”.Continue reading “Bio-Inspired Slippery Surface Technology Repels Fouling Agents”
Tuberculosis Declines in the US but Remains a Global Health Threat
by Jacqueline Epstein By the beginning of the 19th century, tuberculosis (TB) had killed one in seven people who ever lived.1 The disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread through the air from one person to another. While not every single person infected by the bacterium contracts the disease, peopleContinue reading “Tuberculosis Declines in the US but Remains a Global Health Threat”
Treatment as Prevention: Updates on Efforts to Combat the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
by Elliot Eton The target is 2030. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has ambitiously set 2030 as the year by which we should achieve the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has claimed the lives of 39 million people globally since the first cases were reported in 1981.1 This past year, toContinue reading “Treatment as Prevention: Updates on Efforts to Combat the HIV/AIDS Pandemic”
Citizen Science and Sudden Oak Death
by Sophia Emmons-Bell Driving down California’s Highway 101, hugging the coast and cutting through the state’s most famous nature reserves, you will pass by hundreds of diseased tanoaks, bay laurels, and California black oaks. These trees, sick with Sudden Oak Death (SOD), are bruised with red and black splotches and bleed sap from cankers onContinue reading “Citizen Science and Sudden Oak Death”
Skin Regeneration in Wound Repair
by Madeline Bradley Unlike some lower invertebrates, like fish and amphibians, which can regenerate all the skin layers and appendages (epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, etc.) perfectly, human skin often forms thin scar tissue lacking in appendages.1 The deformed appearance alone can take a serious toll on the quality of life for burn patientsContinue reading “Skin Regeneration in Wound Repair”
G(ut)enetics: The Genetic Influence of Our Internal Symbionts
by Austin Valido The human body is crowded. From the surface of our skin to the depths of our intestines, we are inundated with microscopic bacterium that aid with everything from defense to digestion. Large-scale scientific endeavors, headlined by the Human Microbiome project, have catalogued millions of species of bacteria and are just beginning toContinue reading “G(ut)enetics: The Genetic Influence of Our Internal Symbionts”
The Virus that Came In From the Cold
by Alissa Zhang Are you a fan of post-apocalyptic movies? Have you watched The Day After Tomorrow? I Am Legend? Or Contagion? Sometimes, real life is almost as strange as fiction, as recently global warming has led to the discovery of a giant virus frozen for the past 30,000 years in the Siberian permafrost. WhileContinue reading “The Virus that Came In From the Cold”
Invasion of the Brain Eaters
by Julia Canick Meet 12-year-old Kali Hardig. Until recently, Kali was an average girl, and certainly no medical marvel. But that all changed in July 2013, when she became the third documented survivor in North America of Naegleria fowleri.1 Naegleria fowleri aren’t your typical invaders of the central nervous system. They can cross the blood-brainContinue reading “Invasion of the Brain Eaters”
A New Horizon in Astronomy
by Alex Zapien While we comfortably spend our days doing work, going outside, and even watching Netflix, history is currently being made; the astronomical frontier of human exploration is being augmented to the point that it is literally out of this world. One of the major reasons for this is the New Horizons spacecraft. NewContinue reading “A New Horizon in Astronomy”
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