We Can Beat Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes
Untreatable no longer! Scientists at the Wistar Institute have discovered a way to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
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Relaxed Queen Bees Have More Offspring
Queen bees produce different proteins when they are stressed, and this new discovery could change how we monitor hive conditions.
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How HPV Tricks Your Immune System
Models suggest HPV tricks the immune system by producing a decoy viral protein to distract from its infectious viral proteins.
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Virtual Dissection: AnimaLEARNing from Home
Can you teach life science without animals? Yes, with VR, simulated bodies, and other cool tech. Here is a list of free and affordable resources to teach anatomy without taking the lives of animals, provided by our friends at AnimaLEARN.
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The Forgotten Mass Extinction
By Jacqueline Mattos (@mattosjacq) Yes, we are in a mass extinction event Recent research has spotted a new major mass extinction, termed the “end-Guadalupian (259.8 Ma),” according to a scientific paper in the journal Historical Biology. Previously, scientists knew of only five mass extinctions in the history of Earth: the end-Ordovician (443.8 Ma), the Late Devonian (372.2 Ma), the end-Permian (251.9 Ma), the end-Triassic (201.4 Ma), and the end-Cretaceous (66 Ma). Our current biodiversity crisis has been called the sixth mass extinction, but with these new findings it will probably…
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How Do Plants Know Which Way to Grow?
How do plants know which way is up and which way is down? No matter which way you put a seed in the soil, it will always send its roots down and its shoots up.
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Will You Still Eat Raw Fish After Watching This Video?
Sushi, sashimi, and poke are delicious. Why? It’s because they’re all made of raw fish! But, have you ever noticed that warning about raw or undercooked seafood at the bottom of restaurant menus? Have you ever wondered why it’s there? It’s there because fish carry a ton of parasites. And if the fish aren’t prepared correctly, then those parasites can make it into your body. This fishy intersection with the wild world of parasites can teach us a lot about how these moochers help keep ecosystems healthy, and why we…
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How Habits Are Formed
Do you have some bad habits that bother you, but you just can’t seem to break? That’s because habits are literally wired into your brain. Every single thought, action, and feeling changes your brain a little bit. For example, this is what loneliness can do to your brain. When repeated enough times, a habit is formed. Some are good, some are bad, but you’re not likely to forget any of them without serious effort. Millions of people, every day, wake up and brush their teeth. Why do we do this?…
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A Day in the Life of a Vascular Biologist
By Noeline Subramaniam (@spicy_scientist) A vascular biologist studies blood vessels. Blood vessels connect all of our organs and tissues in our body to each other; as such, they play a crucial role in helping to maintain homeostasis—in other words, keeping the balance within our body. They have several important functions including transporting nutrients and removing waste, sensing blood flow, playing a role in the immune system, and much more. [tweetthis]Meet a #vascularbiologist! For this #scientist, studying #bloodvessels includes both caffeine and #cells. [/tweetthis] The two major types of blood vessels are…
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Science with Sophie: Scab Science
Scab Science It’s happened to all of us. You’re running or riding your bike, you slip, you fall, and you skin your knee. After a few days, you notice that the cut where you skinned your knee has formed a scab. What happens to our bodies when we get hurt? Why do we get cuts, and why do we get scabs afterward? Learn how white blood cells, proteins, and skin cells work together to help you get better after you get hurt in this episode of Science with Sophie! Do…
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