Science & Technology

New human ancestor discovered in the Philippines

By JESSICA KASAMOTO
April 25, 2019

Researchers recently discovered the remains of a species of human that existed over 50,000 years ago in the Philippines, showing scientists that the Southeast Asian region played a larger role in human evolution than previously thought. 

   CC BY 4.0 Researchers uncovered remains believed to be the intermediate between apes and humans.

World's first 3D-printed heart shows promise for organ regeneration

By ELAINE CHIAO | April 20, 2019

In recent years, the rapidly evolving world of 3D printing has given rise to numerous products that serve functional or aesthetic purposes. In an ambitious effort, scientists even successfully engineered simple human tissues using 3D printing. However, the latest breakthrough in the field is the creation of a product whose intricacy and complexity exceeds many’s expectations — a complete heart.

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Antibiotic resistance is now a widespread issue in developing nations.

Drug-resistant infections threaten urban health

By ALLISON CHEN | April 18, 2019

In Kibera, an impoverished area in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, widespread and uncontrolled antibiotic use is contributing to a significant increase in drug-resistant infections. Far from being an isolated example, Kibera is just one of a growing list of poor urban locations in developing countries where antibiotic resistance has become a deadly issue through a similar combination of factors. Dr. Guy Palmer, a professor at Washington State University who studies global health and infectious diseases, discussed this in an interview with the New York Times. 

Solving the mysterious cause of the E. coli outbreak

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | April 20, 2019

On April 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 72 people in five different states were ill as the result of a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) with no confirmed cause. Now the outbreak has spread to at least 109 individuals, and the CDC reports that the source is most likely ground beef. 

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Investigators found that ground beef was the cause of the mysterious wave of E. coli outbreak.
  PUBLIC DOMAIN An increasing number of ER visits has been attributed to marijuana use.

Why is marijuana landing people in the hospital?

By KANAK GUPTA | April 20, 2019

We’ve all heard that you can’t overdose on cannabis. This raises the question as to why, according to a recent study, a hospital in Colorado saw 9,973 cannabis-related emergency room (ER) visits between 2012 to 2016. 

New Zealand takes a stand on gun control

By TRISHA PARAYIL and LAURA WADSTEN | April 18, 2019

Ever since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. last year, gun control has been at the center of political debate. Though millions have marched for their lives, countless town halls have been held, and thousands more lives have been lost to gun violence in the U.S. since Feb. 14, 2018, minimal steps have been taken to address this issue. 

  PUBLIC DOMAIN The melting of ice shelves may not have an effect on global sea levels. 

Can sustainable investment fight climate change?

By AKEIRA JENNINGS | April 19, 2019

The Johns Hopkins Advanced Academic Programs and the National Academy of Sciences will host a Climate Change Symposium on May 3 called Changing by Degrees: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Climate Change. In light of this, students and faculty are identifying different methods of achieving sustainability.

  Photo Credit CC BY 3.0 / Event Horizon Telescope  The Event Horizon Telescope captured the image of the black hole.  ggg

Scientists develop a way to visualize black holes

By CINDY JIANG | April 18, 2019

Lately there has been a buzz in the field of astronomy. On April 10, a network of telescopes all across the globe was used to produce the first image of a supermassive black hole and its shadow located in the Messier 87 galaxy. 

PUBLIC DOMAIN Mutations FAAH-OUT and FAAH can make someone unable to feel pain.

Two gene mutations can mute sensation of pain

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | April 11, 2019

From happily munching on chili peppers and feeling little to no pain during childbirth to accidentally ironing over her arms and being unaware of painful joint degeneration, Jo Cameron has lived a life of little pain, fear or anxiety. 

WOW hosts its second Women in STEM event

By JAEMIE BENNETT | April 11, 2019

On Saturday, April 6, Women of Whiting (WOW) hosted their second annual Women in STEM Symposium, bringing undergraduates, graduates, and professionals together for a day to help empower women in STEM careers.

COURTESY OF JAEMIE BENNETT Panelists talked about how to find jobs after a PhD not in academia.
COURTESY OF KEVIN LEWIS Kevin Lewis’s lab works at the cross section of geophysics and geology.

Hopkins professor uses virtual reality goggles to study Mars

By TRISHA PARAYIL | September 13, 2019

Kevin Lewis’ most recent project was to use gravity to “weigh a mountain” on Mars. In introductory physics classes, gravity is taught to be a constant equal to 9.8 meters per second. In reality, it varies from place to place depending on what is beneath you. If you stand on an iron ore, the pull of gravity will be a bit stronger. This quality makes gravity a useful geological tool to interrogate the subsurface of a planet. If gravity measurements do not match previously established expectations, then scientists can discern the density of the rocks underneath the surface.

Playing team sports could lower risk for depression

By SAMI SANIEI | April 4, 2019

A new study from the Washington University in St. Louis revealed that involvement in sports is associated with changes in young children’s brains. The study was published last February in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. 

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Playing team sports as a kid was shown to reduce depressive symptoms.
  PUBLIC DOMAIN Using light, scientists could reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms in rats.

Scientists could “turn off” alcohol cravings

By CINDY JIANG | April 4, 2019

It’s nearing midnight and you’ve spent a productive day in Brody. You’ve had dinner, but you’re feeling a bit hungry after all the time working on that assignment for that class you have. All of a sudden, you get a craving — French fries. Cravings are a common occurrence, but have you ever wondered exactly what it is that drives them?

Humans may be able to sense magnetic fields

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | April 4, 2019

It’s a process that allows pigeons, honey bees and whales to navigate the world through the Earth’s magnetic field. Magnetoreception, a so-called sixth, geomagnetic sense, is found in bacteria, arthropods and multiple vertebrate species. It was thought to be completely beyond the perception of beings humans.

  PUBLIC DOMAIN A study at the University of California, Santa Cruz showed that solitude could have benefits.

Study shows solitude can be good for mental health

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | April 4, 2019

In this day and age, depression amongst college students is a growing issue: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 10 percent of all college students have been diagnosed with depression. While many may believe that a telltale sign of depression can be social withdrawal and isolation, new studies conducted at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) show that this may not always be the case; in fact, young adults who spend time alone can gain many benefits from this chosen solitude.