Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 17, 2025 November 17, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Science & Technology

COURTESY OF SUA MYONG  With the oldest undergraduate program in the nation, the Biophysics department at Hopkins has curated a closely knit major that allows students to study life’s processes while incorporating perspectives from biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science. 

Meet the Major: Biophysics equips students to investigate life’s elemental processes

By MUHAMMAD ABIDI | February 12, 2022

Studying biomolecular processes at the nanometer scale is not an opportunity every major or even every university offers. With the oldest undergraduate program in the nation, the Thomas C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics at Hopkins has curated a closely knit major that allows students to study life’s processes while incorporating perspectives from biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science. 

WOKANDAPIX/CC-BY-SA 2.0 Mental health varied fourfold across groups of children according to both the type and amount of relational health risks and social health risks they experienced.

Study looks at influences on children's mental health

By ZACHARY BAHAR | February 11, 2022

As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the two-year mark, the mental health crisis induced by it continues to escalate. With 14% of U.S. youth and 19% of adults suffering from mental illness, understanding the factors that influence mental health is a crucial endeavor. These efforts are led in part by Christina Bethell, director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative and professor of population, family and reproductive health at the School of Public Health.

COURTESY OF GEORGE DIMOPOULOS AND MARIA LUISA SIMÕES Dimopoulos (left) and Simões (right) are two members of the team that identified an important gene in malaria transmission.

Hopkins scientists identify vital gene in malaria transmission

By MARGERY CHEN | February 11, 2022

Last month, four Hopkins scientists published their research on a potential way to fight against malaria in Public Library of Science Biology. They discovered that knocking out C-type lectins 4 (CTL4), a gene in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, results in effective resistance to the malaria parasite. 

COURTESY OF JOHN D'CRUZ A flu shot is one way to gain protection from the flu.

Hopkins doctors weigh in on this year's flu season

By MEGHANA RAVI | December 5, 2021

The holiday season also heralds the season of sniffles. The world is facing its second flu season during the global COVID-19 pandemic; while cases of the flu remained low last year, scientists and doctors don’t expect this trend to last.

JARED WONG/CC BY 2.0 Researchers believe that AI technologies will assist in determining the best practices to help people age.

Hopkins receives grant to use AI to promote healthy aging

By CLARA LIM | December 5, 2021

The National Institute on Aging has allocated Hopkins a $20 million grant to promote the growth of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance the care of senior citizens, enabling them to enjoy longer independence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of those who are over the age of 65, 80% have at least one chronic condition, and one third experience limitations in their daily life activities.

ALEXANDRA KOCH/CC BY-SA 2.0 The PACE study aims to develop a public health campaign that supports families, especially in undeserved communities.

Hopkins study examines return to in-person schooling

By ZACHARY BAHAR | November 23, 2021

The Parents And Communities as Experts (PACE) study seeks to understand how caregivers and community members view the return to in-person school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team hopes to use the results to develop a public health campaign to support families. 

COURTESY OF ALEXANDRE BUISSE / CC-BY-SA-3.0 The hackled orb weaver spins a web in midair.

Hopkins lab unravels the secrets of the spider web

By RAHUL JAKATI | November 21, 2021

Hopkins researchers have uncovered the complex mechanisms by which spiders build their webs, revealing a host of intricate steps and dynamic complexes that belie the supposed lack of cognition present in “lower level” organisms.

COURTESY OF TEJA KAKANI The student residence Charles Commons will be renamed for Frederick Scott and Ernie Bates, two Hopkins alumni.

A look at the four individuals giving their names to campus buildings

By MEGHANA RAVI | November 21, 2021

Future undergraduate students at Hopkins will know the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories (UTL) and Charles Commons by other names. In an effort to recognize and elevate historically marginalized and underrepresented people in the institution’s history, Hopkins will rename these campus buildings and the Hopkins Outpatient Center in their honor. 

COURTESY OF MEG CHOW Labyrinth Devices is developing an implant for patients experiencing vestibular dysfunction, which results from injury to the inner ear.

Hopkins lab advances research on vestibular implants to treat loss of balance

By RAHUL JAKATI | November 18, 2021

Labyrinth Devices, a medical device startup based in Baltimore, is the sponsor of an early clinical trial of implants for those suffering from ailments of the vestibular labyrinth in the inner ear, a complex and dynamic system made up of twisting canals and end organs that helps to maintain the body’s sense of balance and vestibulo-ocular reflex.

COURTESY OF KAWSAR TALAAT Talaat's son was vaccinated on Saturday, Nov. 7. Talaat and Mendelson discussed the benefits of expanding the availability of the vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. 

School of Public Health faculty discuss benefits of COVID-19 vaccine approval for children

By ALICE ZHAO | November 17, 2021

The pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children from age 5 to 11 years old was approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Nov. 2 and has since been distributed in hospitals and pharmacies nationwide. The News-Letter interviewed School of Public Health faculty Dr. Kawsar Talaat and Tamar Mendelson to discuss the impact this will have on children's wellbeing.  

COURTESY OF EMMA ANDERSON Women in Sub-Saharan Africa can face several particular health challenges when pregnant.

Bloomberg spotlights maternal mortality research in Sub-Saharan Africa

By ACE VAN ATTA | November 16, 2021

Childbirth is often associated with joy, but for women, pregnancy is often a time of vulnerability. A pregnant woman or newborn dies around the world every eleven seconds. Around 810 preventable deaths occur every day from pregnancy and childbirth, according to World Health Organization data from 2017. In Sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality rates are almost 50 times higher for women compared to in high-income countries. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa had a maternal mortality rate of 302 deaths per 100,000 live births, a stark contrast to the United States’ rate of 35 deaths per 100,000 live births. 

MDF / CC BY-SA 2.0 An adult male Baltimore Oriole. This was one of many bird species included in the bird urbanization study.

Urbanization is impacting the biodiversity of birds

By RAHUL JAKATI | November 13, 2021

Hopkins researchers suggest that increasing natural spaces and tree canopy while reducing impervious surfaces (hard areas that prohibit water dissipation) has significant effects on improving biodiversity, specifically of birds.

COURTESY OF SARAH SZANTON AND DARRELL GASKIN Szanton (left) and Gaskin (right) are two of 10 Hopkins faculty members elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Ten Hopkins faculty members elected to the National Academy of Medicine

By ESTELLE YEUNG | November 6, 2021

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced its election of 100 new members on Oct. 18, 10 of whom are Hopkins faculty members. Election to the NAM is considered one of the most significant awards in health and medicine, as it honors individuals for their professional achievements and commitment to service. This class is the NAM’s most diverse to date.

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