Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is an aspiring science journalist and writer who currently works in academic publishing. She holds a master’s degree in neuroscience and enjoys reporting on the latest research discoveries and writing about them in a digestible and enjoyable format.
Why People Are Drawn to Fictional Villains
Why do we sometimes love the fictional villain more than the hero? Much like the villains themselves, the answer is complex and, well, interesting. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira From our early childhood days, we’re taught to love the hero and hate the villain. Through fairy tales and Disney movies, the world is divided into good and evil, and everyone is rooting for the good guy. But recently we have seen a surprising rise in popularity of villains on the big screen ...
Cats Are Calmed by Cat-Specific Music
Cats in a new study showed lower stress responses while listening to a certain type of music, which could help vet visits be less stressful. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira If you had to paint a picture of a cat’s worst nightmare, it might include dogs, water, or a trip to the vet. In fact, if you were to ask a cat owner about their worst nightmare, it might be trying to get their furry friend to the vet. Good news for ...
Sunlight Solution To Water Shortages
Water shortages could drop now that new technology combined with sunlight can make ocean water safe to drink in minutes. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Water covers about 71 percent of the earth, but most of it is undrinkable. Rather than feeling refreshed, the excess salt from seawater can leave a person in a state of dehydration. At the end of the day, clean water is needed to sustain life. Clean water can be obtained in two ways. The first is by ...
The Case of Malignant Cancer in a Dinosaur
Did cancer kill the dinosaurs? A deformed dinosaur bone has given a glimpse of life as a 77-million-year-old cancer “survivor.” By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Doctors are trained to diagnose diseases all the time. So why did it take almost 77 million years to diagnose this one case of cancer? It all started when Dr. David Evans, on a visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in 2017, first noticed some similarities between the bone deformities of a 76 to 77-million-year-old Centrosaurus apertus ...
The Science of Attractiveness
Does a person’s attractiveness go up when their availability goes down? Scientists decide to find out by taking a look at an old dating strategy. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Humans are social animals and first impressions matter. Obviously, bringing the right attitude to a first date can determine whether or not there is a second date. Recently, scientists at the University of Rochester and the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya decided to take a new look at an old dating game: playing hard ...
Listen to Your Gut on Air Pollution
Air pollution exposure alters the bacteria in the gut microbiome and could have more health effects than we realized, according to a new study. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Bacteria are microorganisms that have existed even before humans roamed the earth. As humans evolved, bacteria grew alongside us. While we associate bacteria with terrible diseases like tuberculosis and meningitis, there are “good bacteria” that live inside of us. Bacteria and humans live in a symbiotic relationship—we provide them with a place to ...
Poor Mental Health Linked to Hotter Days
In the midst of a global warming crisis, a new study finds that hot days above 80 degrees are taking a toll on people’s mental health and psychological well-being. By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira When the saying “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” was first coined, U.S. President Harry Truman meant his staff should leave if they could not handle the pressures of their jobs. This became a phrase used for people who take on a difficult ...