Science & Technology

Dialogues in research: Professor Kalina Hristova

By TRISHA PARAYIL
September 12, 2019

Perhaps one would not consider a biological cell membrane a material that can be engineered. But for Kalina Hristova, it is.  Hristova is a professor of materials science and engineering. Broadly, materials scientists research interactions between ...

COURTESY OF KALINA HRISTOVA The BMMB Lab studies the thermodynamics of biological membranes.
 Public Domain The new psychedelic center will be the first of its kind in the U.S.

New psychedelic research center to open at Hopkins Bayview campus

By ALLISON CHEN and LAURA WADSTEN | September 12, 2019

Hopkins Medicine is launching a new center to study psychedelics, the first institution of its kind in the U.S. and one of only a few around the world investigating these types of compounds. The new Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, announced on Sept. 4, will support research focusing on the effects of psychedelic drugs on the brain and mental disorders. 

Graduate student awarded FINESST grant from NASA

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | September 16, 2019

On Aug. 6, Hopkins graduate student Regupathi Angappan was awarded the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant — a big grant fitting a big project like his. Angappan’s research uses the incredibly weak and “noisy” magnetic field of Mercury to help reveal the planet’s interior structure. 

Public Domain Angappan’s interests are broadly focused on the interior of planets.

New student organization reaches for the stars

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | September 12, 2019

One of the newest student groups on the Hopkins campus, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is a club meant to promote student interest in space and provide networking opportunities, project experience and career exploration in any discipline of the field.

Courtesy of Tommi Tenkanen Tenkanen’s calculations propose that dark matter existed before the Big Bang.

Proposal sheds light on the origins of dark matter

By CINDY JIANG and TRISHA PARAYIL | September 12, 2019

To understand the workings of the ‘body’ of the universe, it is necessary to understand its skeleton: dark matter. Enter Tommi Tenkanen, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who recently proposed a mathematical calculation to support the claim that dark matter predates the Big Bang.

Take preventative measures to avoid the flu this season

By SHIRLEY MARINO | September 12, 2019

With flu season almost upon us, one of the best forms of defense is to learn how to recognize and prevent the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of the flu typically include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. 

CC0 PUBLIC DOMAIN There are flu clinics for students at the Peabody and Homewood campuses.

Trump's new Space Command launches

By LAURA WADSTEN | September 5, 2019

This year there has been renewed public interest in the topic of space exploration and development. On Aug. 29, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the launch of the U.S. Space Command. 

Public domain Trump announced the launch of the U.S. Space Command in August.

Social Science Spotlight: Professor Veena Das

By TRISHA PARAYIL | September 12, 2019

It is difficult to neatly pigeonhole Veena Das’ research endeavors. A Kreiger-Eisenhower Professor of Anthropology, Das is a scholar of Indian anthropology, the anthropology of violence and social suffering and ways of producing knowledge.

Courtesy of Veena Das Professor Veena Das is a professor and scholar of Indian anthropology.

BME student team creates device to make at-home dialysis safer

By CINDY JIANG | May 2, 2019

Of the 660,000 Americans receiving treatment for kidney failure, 468,000 are undergoing dialysis. Now a team of engineers at Hopkins have developed a device that reduces the risk of infection in at-home dialysis. Their work will make it even more efficient for patients to perform dialysis at their own convenience. 

BME team’s novel product will make at-home dialysis safer for patients with kidney failure.
Senior Woodrow Wilson fellows shared their original research projects with attendees.

Senior Woodrow Wilson Fellows present their original research

By LAURA WADSTEN | May 2, 2019

Senior Woodrow Wilson Fellows presented their independent research projects to the Hopkins community on Thursday, April 25. The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Program provides undergraduates with financial support and faculty mentoring on research over the course of three or four years. Students apply to the program as incoming students or rising sophomores by submitting a project proposal and they work on their projects during the entirety of their Hopkins careers.

Research shows children also judge on facial features

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | May 2, 2019

If a child you just met is not particularly nice to you, it may not be your fault. A recent psychological study from the American Psychological Association has provided evidence that young children tend to make snap character judgments based on physical features, showing that a judgmental nature may be more inherent in humans than previously believed. 

When shown images of faces, children passed character judgements.

Hopkins holds sustainability hackathon

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | May 2, 2019

GreenHacks hosted the first sustainability hackathon at Hopkins on April 20. The hackathon was held at FastForward U, a collaborative space dedicated to empowering student entrepreneurs across disciplines. 

TriBeta poster session features student research

By TRISHA PARAYIL | May 2, 2019

Effective communication is one of the hallmarks of scientific research. In light of this, the Rho Psi chapter of the Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) National Biological Honor Society hosted a poster session on Friday. Students majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Hopkins had the opportunity to present their research to their peers.

Mickey Sloat presents her research at TriBeta poster session.