The way our bodies work and what makes us sick.
Ticks and Alpha-gal syndrome
by Margaret Dedloff Ticks are arachnids (like spiders!) that need to feed on blood from humans and other animals to…
Exploring the Ethics of Genetic Testing
by Anna Goddard Genetic testing is becoming more and more common as our understanding of diseases grows. These tests offer…
Why Has Tuberculosis Faded from Public Attention?
by Marco Gontijo Tuberculosis (TB) is history’s deadliest infectious disease, responsible for over a billion deaths in the past two…
The Science Behind the Scratch: Why We Itch
by Karly Forker Whether it is in a spot you can’t quite reach, or it comes right as you’re about…
Tracing the roots of cancer through DNA sequencing
by Anicka AbiChedid Imagine you are at your desk, typing on your computer. It’s 11 PM at night, and you’ve…
Heads Up: All About Concussions
by Macy Osborne-Frazier Picture this: You are a young kid playing outside with your friends when you fall and smack…
RABIES: What makes a dog go rabid?
by Jenna Grabowski Whether you grew up with a pet or were told as a kid to stay away from…
What’s the deal with cholesterol?
by Jamie Liu During an annual checkup with your doctor, they may have talked to you about cholesterol, how too…
No sleep is not for the weak!
by Sophie Mendell Pop Quiz: What’s more dangerous, drunk driving or exhausted driving? When exposed to a variety of stimuli,…
Pattern Recognition Receptors: The Body’s Smoke Detector
by Sophie Mendell Fire brings telltale signs – choking clouds of smoke, the smell of char, and intense heat if…
Don’t be Resistant to Medicine: Antibiotic Resistance
by Macy Osborne-Frazier Every year, around 23 million Americans visit the doctor to get treatment for a bacterial infection, so…
Why You Should Read Shampoo Bottle Labels
by Rachel VanKeulen-Miller Do you use deodorant? While I hope that the answer is yes, many studies have found that…
The Placenta: Baby’s First Roommate
By Margaret Dedloff My favorite organ is one that’s often forgotten: the placenta. The placenta is a specialized organ that…
Why can’t you look at the sun during a solar eclipse?
by Gabrielle Bais On April 8th 2024, a total solar eclipse was visible across the continental United States. This is…
Stress and Health: Should We Be Stressed about Stress?
by Hazel Milla Stress is a normal part of our daily lives that can help us focus and address challenges,…
Plants aren’t the only ones who need the sun
by Chelsea Smith Have you ever noticed yourself feeling happier and more energetic in summer months? Well, the increased exposure…
Long COVID: Haunted by the PASC
by Tiffany Ko It’s hard to believe that four years have already passed since the World Health Organization (WHO) announced…
This is your brain on social media
by Maya Bluitt Image source It’s a scenario all too familiar: Imagine you’re writing a paper for a class when…
It Smells Like I’ve Been Here Before: The Link Between Smell and Memory
by Karly Forker Whenever I smell a specific brand of laundry detergent, I am instantly transported back to my college…
The Stress Response
by Hazel Milla Stress is a normal part of our daily lives that can help us succeed or lead to…
100 Years of Wolbachia
By Olivia Conway In the past several decades, researchers and physicians have made tremendous advances towards reducing the death rates…
Runner’s High: The Science Behind The Bliss
by Karly Forker Sweat glistening, muscles burning, and suddenly, a wave of relaxation and happiness washes over you. This phenomenon…
Prions: the infectious agent that comes from within
by Jenna Grabowski When people hear the term “infectious disease,” they typically think of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or…
The Teenage Brain: A Method to the Madness
by Maya Bluitt Just about anybody would agree that your teenage years are both the best and worst times of…
Why are we allergic to cats?
by Chelsea Smith You walk into a friend’s house, sit down, and start to feel a slight itch in your…
Diabetes
by Margaret Dedloff Nearly 38 million people in the United States have diabetes, making it one of the most common…
Innate Immunity – The Unsung Heroes
By Nathaniel Vorhees The human immune system is a fascinating and multifaceted system that is critical to our health and…
The Apocalypse Inside: The Hallmarks of Cancer and Zombies
by Sophie Mendell A groan. A shuffle. A hunger for brains. From young adult novels, to gory games, to prestige…
CRISPR’s First Approval
by Chelsea Smith Does the idea of scientists being able to alter your DNA sound like something from a sci-fi…
The Original Clinical Trial
by Macy Osborne-Frazier Oh no, it looks like you’ve caught the flu this season! You should go to your doctor…
HeLa Cells: The Woman Who Changed Science Forever, But Never Knew
by Chelsea Smith Who is HeLa? Deborah Lacks was shocked when she found out that there were thousands, or more…
Egg-cellent Colors
By Siena Mantooth When I was a child, my mom purchased eggs for us to dye around the Easter holiday.…
Pharmacogenomics
by Raeanne Geffert Your genes (which are found in your DNA) hold information about yourself. Genes are passed down from…
Superfoods or Super-marketing?
by Nicole Gadda Weight loss, cancer cures, acne remedies, sickness antidotes, toxin cleanses – “superfoods” are touted as miracle products…
The Lymphatic System
by Kerstin Baran After a long day of sitting in class, you finally get home and take off your shoes.…
Even Fungi Get Sick
by Autumn Coleman We all know that viruses infect people. We’ve seen them infect pets, other animals, and maybe even…
Did a Fungus Cause the Salem Witch Trials?
by Mariah Jones October is known for fun treats and silly tricks. It’s a time to indulge in your favorite…
Not Just Fun and Games: The Importance of Peekaboo
by Anna Goddard “Peekaboo! I see you!” When was the last time you played Peekaboo with a baby? Did the…
It’s Not Easy Being Wheezy
by Garima Singh Most of us know someone with asthma who brings their inhaler with them everywhere they go, and…
The Human Microbiome: We Are Not Alone
by Emily Green What does it mean to be an individual? Perhaps you enjoy spending your time doing a particular…
The Defenses Have Been Breached: The Foreign Body Reaction
by Siena Mantooth I lived outside as a child, and naturally, I got fairly dirty. My hands and feet would…
Fighting Back Against Cancer With Chemotherapy
by Chelsea Smith Losing your hair while fighting cancer Nearly everyone has had an experience with cancer, as almost 40%…
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic
by Margaret Dedloff Each year, between 10 and 40 million people in the United States get sick with influenza, or…
Go with your Gut!
by Jillian Battista Everyday, we make decisions. Some take time to decide, such as what to order at a restaurant.…
MHC: the Molecular Handshake for Bodily Defense
by Sophie Mendell Imagine you’ve just moved to a new high school with about 500 students. On your first day,…
How Serotonin Connects the Entire Body
by Emma Bouck It can be very difficult to be in a good mood when you have a stomachache. Having…
The Hygiene Hypothesis: Have we become too clean?
By Megan (Frederick) Amason Versión en Español Allergy and autoimmunity on the rise In recent years, doctors have noticed an…
Alkaline diet, yay or nay?
by Mariah Jones Image 1: A visualization of common food items on the pH scale. In a world of having…
