Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 5, 2025 May 5, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Science & Technology

COURTESY OF NOVID The NOVID app uses ultrasound to accurately trace position without compromising anonymity. 

NOVID app makes contact tracing mobile

By MEDHA KALLEM | August 19, 2020

NOVID, an organization that branches off of the social enterprise Expii, was founded by Carnegie Mellon University mathematics professor Po-Shen Loh, who had made a moral commitment to apply his expertise to national emergencies. On March 14, he was called upon to help the nation during the pandemic. Using his expertise in network theory, Loh developed the NOVID app, a novel tool to help limit the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Loh announced the approval of the app on iOS and Android this May.  

PUBLIC DOMAIN Like several other institutions, the EPS department has decided not to require the GRE. 

Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences votes against GRE

By AMANDA MALDONADO | August 5, 2020

Number two pencils. Calculator. Water bottle. Watch. This is the supply mantra running through the minds of thousands of students as they prepare to take standardized exams that can determine their next step in life. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is one of many standardized exams used to consider applicants for graduate schools. Despite the decades-old reign of the GRE, its use in evaluating graduate school applicants has undergone scrutiny by many institutions, including the University’s own Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPS) department until it decided to waived its GRE requirement on June 15th.

CC0 / PIXABAY Decreased air quality in predominately Black and Latinx communities increases susceptibility to COVID-19.

We must prioritize environmental racism

By TANVI NARVEKAR | August 5, 2020

When discussing racism, it is important to note how people of color have continuously been put in situations that compromise their health and wellness. Environmental racism is the discrimination or lack of concern toward people of color, particularly those in the Black, Latinx and Native American communities. Environmental justice is the movement that works toward diminishing those differences. 

Guiding documents suggest policies as states slowly re-open

By AMRITA BALRAM | April 30, 2020

As the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is steadily declining in some states, restrictions are slowly being lifted. President Donald Trump recently released a three phase approach called “Opening up America Again” for state governors to follow at their own discretion. 

CC BY 4.0  Labrique and other experts have increased their social media presence to combat misinformation.

Social media has been a blessing and a curse during the pandemic

By JUNYAO LI | April 30, 2020

Along with the continued increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is the multiplying amount of information and coverage about the virus, a lot of which is through the form of social media. Some experts have used social media to propagate medical findings on COVID-19. On the forefront of this is Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He has made appearances through various social media platforms.

PUBLIC DOMAIN  Golden spent time at a memory care unit in Washington in order to provide an accurate account of Alzheimer’s disease.

Author explores Alzheimer's disease at webinar

By WILLIAM BLAIR | April 27, 2020

Award-winning author Marita Golden discussed her advocacy for Alzheimer’s disease at a virtual webinar on April 23. The Writing Program’s Distinguished Visiting, Golden has been a novelist and non-fiction writer for over 40 years and is actively involved in advocacy for black rights.

PUBLIC DOMAIN  Woody’s research confirms the hypothesis that star clusters which originate from dwarf galaxies have been “eaten” by the Milky Way galaxy. 

Three Hopkins students win Goldwater Scholarship

By LAKSHAY SOOD | April 27, 2020

“To be honest, I didn’t even know I received the Goldwater Scholarship,” Mickey Sloat said in an interview with The News-Letter. “My friend, who was a previous winner, texted me about it, and when I went online and looked I was totally shocked.”  Sloat, a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, joins juniors Annie Liang and Turner Woody in being named this year’s Goldwater Scholarship winners.

PUBLIC DOMAIN Hopkins is calling on clinical researchers of all backgrounds to help with COVID-19-related studies. 

Hopkins recruits clinical researchers to assist with COVID-19 projects

By YANNI GU | April 25, 2020

A survey was sent out recently to the Hopkins clinical research community to call for help with coronavirus (COVID-19) clinical research projects.  Dr. Daniel Ford, who is behind the survey distribution, is the director of the Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) and a member of the COVID-19 Hopkins Clinical Research Coordinating Committee.

COURTESY OF ERICA SCHOENBERGER   Schoenberger research investigates how powerful capitalists influence the public’s commitment to environmental protection. 

Professor Schoenberger awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

By YANNI GU | April 22, 2020

Why do humans fail to act in their own interest when it comes to the environment, despite knowing what ought to be done? This is the guiding question that Erica Schoenberger, a professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, will explore as a Guggenheim Fellow. 

CC BY 2.0 Director of the Hopkins Pediatric Sleep Center Dr. Laura Sterni expressed her concern that digital learning will disrupt student sleep.  

How online learning can affect student health

By AMRITA BALRAM | April 20, 2020

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly spread across the country, schools have shut their doors and classes have moved online in order to slow the spread. The transition to online learning has impacted not only teachers, who have had to amend their courses, but also students who have had to adjust to a new learning environment. 

WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / CC BY SA-2.0 Pangolins are believed to be the intermediary host of COVID-19 between bats and humans.

What is the role of animals in communicable illnesses?

By NATALIE WU | April 20, 2020

As nations across the world grapple with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, conservationists and environmental organizations are calling on policymakers and the public to address the root cause of the pandemic and other outbreaks: the wildlife trade and habitat destruction. Evidence increasingly suggests that increased contact between humans and wild animals is contributing to the emergence of novel communicable illnesses. 

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