Barrier-breaking physics alum reflects on her journey

“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” According to Jami Valentin Miller, this quote — attributed to Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics — encapsulates the elitist mindset of many physicists. In 2006, Miller became the first Black woman to receive her PhD in physics at Hopkins. The fact that it took so long for Hopkins to grant a PhD in physics to a Black woman, she said, reflects the elitism that permeates the field.

How high school scientists in Baltimore have adapted to the pandemic

The Baltimore BioCrew is a team of high school students who are tackling real-life problems in genetics and biology through research, lab work and creativity. Every year, the team competes in the high school division of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. 

APL scientists help operate Perseverance rover

A little over six months after it was launched from Earth, the Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero Crater on Mars in February and began its mission to find evidence of ancient life.

Researchers use new test to understand environmental phages

In the field of microbial ecology, a positive virus test isn’t always a bad thing. Of course, the viruses in most ecological studies aren’t the kind infecting humans or making headlines every night. Rather, scientists like Eric Sakowski are interested in the distribution and impact of bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria. 

Why did the Texas power grids fail?

Recently, Texas faced its coldest weather in more than 70 years and concurrently experienced state-wide utilities failure. When temperatures in Texas dropped lower than temperatures in Alaska, more than 4.5 million homes and businesses lost their power and at least 70 people lost their lives.

Vice President of Impossible Foods discusses the importance of heme in plant-based meats

Rachel Fraser, vice president of downstream process development at Impossible Foods, gave a talk titled “There Will Be Blood: Heme as a Flavor Ingredient for Plant-Based Meat” for the Department of Cell Biology on March 4. The talk was hosted by Shigeki Watanabe, associate professor of cell biology at the School of Medicine. 

Hopkins freshman awarded Anders Tjellström Scholarship

Cochlear Americas awarded freshman Zandy Wong the Anders Tjellström Scholarship based on her academic achievement, leadership and community involvement. This scholarship awards students $2,000 a year to help cover school-related expenses.

Suggestions to be a smart consumer of science news

Among all the changes to our lifestyle recently, one of the more subtle ones is that many of us are reading the science portion of the news a lot more. PhDs in biology, virology and immunology have amassed thousands of followers on Twitter. Scientists have made headlines over tweets, interviews and press conferences — an ability previously reserved by singers, actors, politicians and other influencers. 

Sounds affect cortical wiring early in life, study finds

Sound has more power in shaping the intricate connections in the brain than we may realize. 

The Neuroscience major offers insights into the machinery of the mind

“How can science address questions about life?” This is the principal question that lies at the foundation of the study of neuroscience, as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Neuroscience Jason Trageser emphasized in an interview with The News-Letter.

How did climate change cause the Texas snowstorm?

2021 has brought some surprises, and one of those surprises is the terrible snowstorm in Texas. Although there have been such conditions in the past, this storm hit hard, leading me to think about climate change’s role in the extremity of the storm. Did climate change make the snowfall worse?

Hopkins senior uses TikTok to mentor STEM students

TikTok has rapidly increased in popularity since 2019 — especially during COVID-19 lockdowns. Just like many other people, Ben Straus, a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, saw the app as a place to watch and make funny videos.

Hopkins launches a vaccine tracker for people with disabilities

In a collaborative effort between the Hopkins Disability Health Research Center and the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities (CDHPD), the COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Dashboard was recently launched to help people with disabilities and underlying conditions determine whether they are eligible for vaccination in their home state. 

Public health researchers use Reddit to understand attitudes towards drug use

Apple and Facebook step on each other’s toes in debate about data

For two consecutive days in December, the New York Times printed Facebook’s full-page newspaper ads censuring Apple’s privacy changes in iOS 14. The second headline titled “Apple vs. the free internet” criticized Apple’s software update which limited an application’s ability to run personalized ads. 

The plan to reopen schools is a balancing act

Sammy and Louie Proctor are two middle school brothers attending Roland Park Elementary Middle School. While they do not miss the commute or the homework load of in-person learning, they both agree that online learning does have its own unappealing aspects. 

Hopkins pharmacologist calls for diversifying clinical trials

As the pandemic looms on, social justice advocates are urging more pharmaceutical companies to consider race and ethnicity when developing and testing drugs. One of these advocates is Namandje Bumpus, director of the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at the School of Medicine. 

Stigma is rife in the treatment of mental illness in the Black community

The Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) invited Dr. Alexis Hammond, associate medical director at the Center for Addiction and Pregnancy/Addiction Treatment Services, to highlight inequities in healthcare and destigmatize mental illness among the Black community. The BFSA hosted the event on Feb. 18 as part of the organization’s celebration of Black History Month. 

Each post on the JHM Fundamentals Instagram is a gateway to scientific discoveries

Social media accounts, such as Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) Fundamentals, have introduced a novel approach to drawing larger audiences into the realm of scientific research. Such accounts highlight the images produced in the research process rather than the data collected.