Professor recognized for work on photochemistry

David Yarkony, D. Mead Johnson professor of Chemistry and chair of the department, received the American Chemical Society (ACS) Award in theoretical chemistry for 2020 last month, and will be honored in San Francisco this year. 

Hopkins student wins esteemed Churchill Scholarship

Vinay Ayyappan, a senior studying Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Hopkins, has been awarded the Churchill Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge. 

Coronavirus outbreak leads to widespread panic in China

During the first week of January when I was spending my winter break in China, I received a link from my uncle on WeChat. I opened it, and it was about a new viral pneumonia spreading in Wuhan, China. 

The Taj Mahal’s beauty is blurred by pollution

Over winter break, I went to India. I mainly stayed in Mumbai for around three weeks. My family and I wanted to visit the Taj Mahal, but the concerns regarding the dangerous pollution there deterred our plans. However, the pollution problem is still bad in Mumbai. The air is hazy from sunrise to sunset, and the evening sun is darkened by smog.

Technology can create personalized health care

Algorithms are steadily finding their way into health care. The influence of personal technologies and the implementation of computing systems to support a patient-oriented approach to their health was the topic of Maia Jacobs’ talk on Feb. 4 titled “One Size Doesn’t Fit Anyone: Tailoring Digital Tools for Personal Health Journeys.” 

Sift through noise with Archeological Studies

Popularized by the adventurous Indiana Jones, archaeology is a field that contributes critical information to the discovery of lost histories of the past. Discovery is often a word that connotes the future. Yet, in terms of archaeology, it applies to unraveling the mysteries of previous societies and prehistoric trends. 

Specialist on neglected tropical diseases gives lecture on rise of antiscience

On Jan. 30, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, presented the talk “Vaccines in an Age of Conflict, Global Instability, Climate Change and Antiscience.”

Workers’ compensation affects medical spending

When an employee suffers an on-the-job injury, their employer gives them full coverage for medical expenditures associated with that injury. To what extent, Marika Cabral wondered, does that coverage influence behaviors like medical spending, program costs and welfare? 

Seminar outlines zero-net carbon emission plan

On Jan. 28, the Department of Health and Engineering at Hopkins hosted Karl Hausker, who is a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute’s Climate Program. His talk, titled “Getting to Net-Zero: Climate Challenges and Solutions,” was part of the M. Gordon Wolman Seminar Series. 

Archive illustrations portray scientific progress

Although many have visited the Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall, not quite as many have paid attention to what’s on the stained glass windows. 

The legacy of slavery persists in modern medicine

On Jan. 23, Sasha White, Professor of Sociology and the History of Medicine, delivered a talk at the historic Union Baptist Church on Druid Hill Avenue. 

Wrap up: the latest in technology...

Prof. describes factors of a good life in the context of health care

On Jan. 24, Margaret Chisolm, a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Hopkins, presented a talk about Wendell Berry’s story Fidelity.

Finals Health Series: Feed your brain micronutrients and a rainbow of vegetables

Whether you’re munching on hot Cheetos or downing a Monster at 1 a.m., it is easy to neglect your diet during finals season. Often we get so caught up in our workload that we skip meals, and when we finally have the time to eat, we reach for comfort foods and skip the salad. Yet as finals approach, students should be mindful of eating balanced meals. 

Finals Health Series: High water intake is linked to better exam scores

With finals approaching, many Hopkins students dedicate themselves to studying and forget about other vital activities that not only help their health but can also improve their test performance. One such activity is water consumption.

Europe is leading the fight against climate change while the U.S. falls behind

These past couple of months have been eventful in terms of climate change. While it is always possible to take more action, any progress is a step in the right direction. A month ago, Italy became the first country to require education on climate change. The education will first be taught through civics courses but will expand to be included in all subjects.

Finals Health Series: Sleep clears waste in the brain and recharges cells

It’s 2 a.m. and you’re starting to do that thing where you fall asleep in 10 second intervals before waking up and rereading the same paragraph of your textbook, then falling asleep again somewhere in the middle of it. Your task list sits next to you, a laundry list of assignments and reminders that haven’t been checked off yet. Five more minutes, you think, I just need to finish this chapter. 

Finals Health Series: Exercise can boost academic performance

Finals season drives many students to change their daily routines. Sleep schedules are adjusted, time set aside to socialize decreases and exercise routines are minimized or eliminated altogether. In general, these activities are not prioritized by students during this demanding time. However, it has been proven that exercise has benefits for both mental health and academic performance. 

It’s okay not to be productive over intersession

Dear freshmen, First and foremost, let me personally congratulate you for surviving your first semester of classes. You made it to December. Winter is coming. The weather outside is frightful, and while finals aren’t that delightful, just remember that we are exactly 20 days from Christmas.