Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 18, 2024

Science & Technology




 HUME/CC-By-3.0
This species of Dryas monkey was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Population of endangered monkeys discovered

Researchers from the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have discovered an entirely new population of critically endangered monkeys in one of the most isolated regions on Earth. Utilizing remote sensing cameras and audio recorders, the team is the first to capture footage of the rare, largely unknown monkey population known as the Dryas. The monkey species has long been thought to be solely native to a small area in the Congo basin, a hypothesis that has been recently debunked.


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Phages exhibit decision-making processes that makes them appear more intelligent than we thought.

Phage research may provide cure for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

It might be difficult to imagine essentially inanimate objects having a sense of brain and self, but this is virtually the case for viruses. Viruses occupy a gray area. They are generally believed to hover between living and nonliving. Their main purpose for existence is to invade hosts as a sort of intracellular parasite.



 Courtesy of TOMMY KOH
Tommy Koh, a DURA recepient, has researched Singapore’s semi-democratic and authoritative regime.

Hopkins awards annual research scholarships

At Hopkins, there is a kind of research for everyone, whether it is wet lab research at the Hopkins Hospital, clinical research at the Bloomberg School of Public Health or research through other institutions and study abroad programs. Amidst all of these opportunities, Hopkins also provides research scholarships for students that wish to investigate independent research projects.


 PUBLIC DOMAIN
Five galaxies were used to measure current universe expansion rate.

Universe is expanding faster than expected

A group of international astronomers, led by Sherry Suyu of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, made new and independent measurements of how fast our current universe is expanding. This expansion rate, also known as the Hubble Constant, plays a crucial role in modern astronomy for its ability to help verify our picture of the universe.



Personality linked to brain structure

Personality is a multi-faceted quality with numerous possible influencing factors, making it intriguing and yet difficult to measure and study. We are constantly shaped by our experiences and environment.



LUMOS3/Public Domain
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have lingering carcinogenic effects.

Aromatic hydrocarbons increase cancer risk

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are naturally occurring chemicals released by the combustion of organic matter, including wood, coal, oil and gasoline. As a result of increased biofuel consumption in recent years, PAHs have become major pollutants in the atmosphere and 15 PAHs have been identified as carcinogens.



HAYMANJ/CC-BY-2.0
Pancreatic tumors are treatable by surgical removal only at early stages.

Studies show longer cancer survival rates

A recent clinical study conducted by the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK showed that a combination of two chemotherapy drugs helped to extend survival time  for pancreatic cancer patients. A separate research study showed an increase in survival rate for patients suffering from lung cancer. Pancreatic cancer has the worst survival rate among the commonest forms of cancer, while lung cancer has the second worst survival rate.


 DLMEDIA/CC-By-2.0
LSD is a psychedelic drug used to cause hallucinogenic effects and spark creativity.

Scientists unearth LSD binding mechanism

One of the most commonly known hallucinogens has actually gone misunderstood for quite some time now. Lysergic acid diethylamide, usually referred to as “LSD” or “acid”, is one of the most potent hallucinogens, and its effects can last for over 12 hours after the initial usage.


 COURTESY OF SABRINA CHEN
The UTL was awarded the Platinum certification for being an energy efficient building.

UTL lauded for its environmental efficiency

Trekking across campus to the Bloomberg Department of Physics or the Recreation Center, it is impossible to miss the iconic four-story-high Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories (UTL) building. Though you may have noticed its glazed-glass exterior and cells of students and staff alike conducting experiments, the UTL stands out this year for a different reason: its platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.


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Trump’s visa ban could be a detriment to tech companies like Google.

Tech companies could be impacted by Trump’s ban

President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration prevents non-U.S. citizens in seven Middle Eastern countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen —  from setting foot in the United States.


PUBLIC DOMAIN
Chemicals in insecticides could affect our sense of day and night.

Insecticides may alter our circadian rhythm

University at Buffalo biologists recently discovered that toxic chemicals commonly found in insecticides have the ability to change the way our biological clocks function. The researchers believe that they have uncovered the previously unknown mechanism by which insecticides put people at higher risk for metabolic diseases like diabetes.


rosen/cc-By-2.0
A serious bacterial infection rendered Benoit unable to receive a lung transplant.

Woman survives six days without lungs

It has been proven that humans can survive without appendices, gallbladder, spleen and even parts of their pancreas and liver, but the lung has always been considered an essential organ. That is, until thoracic surgeons at Toronto General Hospital of University Health Network, successfully resected the infected lungs of a dying woman.




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