Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 20, 2024

Science & Technology



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 Researchers modified the gene expression of the gut cells of fruit flies to change the cells’ sex.

Organs may also have sexual identities

Currently, it is commonly thought that the cells in the non-reproductive organs of both sexes are relatively similar — and that any difference in lung or heart or liver function is due solely to the different hormones that circulate in males and females.



 PUBLIC DOMAIN
A recent study found that particulate air pollution is linked to obesity and other diseases.

Air pollution leads to weight gain in rats

China is second only to the U.S. in obesity rankings, with an overweight population that has reached 300 million people in the last three decades. Although the majority of obese individuals are adults, children and adolescents are also affected, and health risks caused by obesity include conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer.



 PUBLIC DOMAIN
In the future, we could charge our phones simply by walking.

Footsteps could be used to charge phones

Smart phones and the features they offer have become an essential part of daily life. Yet their short battery life, which is approximately three-fourths of a day, leaves many frustrated, especially if power cords and chargers have been misplaced or forgotten. However, according to a new invention from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), the frustration of a forgotten charging device may soon become a relic of the past. A novel energy collection and storage technology, which was developed by mechanical engineers at UW-Madison, could allow users to charge their phone’s battery through their footwear.


 Alexanderaius/CC-BY-SA-3.0
Graphene’s honeycomb-like structure gives it its special properties.

Graphene may have fluid-like properties

Graphene is a two dimensional, ultra-conductive material that may be the key to understanding current astronomical phenomena, such as black holes and supernova. Originally isolated in 2004 by professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov at the University of Manchester, Graphene could have the potential to advance our understanding of relativistic physics and completely revamp current electric industrial products. This so-called “wonder material” essentially consists of a one-atom-thick carbon sheet composed of a honeycomb-like network of atoms.


Myopia may afflict half the world’s people by 2050

Mom was right: Sitting in front of the television might make us blind. According to a study published in the Ophthalmology Journal, five billion people, or about 50 percent of the global population, might suffer from myopia (shortsightedness) by 2050. Moreover, the number of people with vision loss from severe shortsightedness is predicted to increase seven-fold from 2000 to 2050.



Samsung impresses at Mobile World Congress

This past week, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) convened for the eighth year in a row, meeting in Barcelona, Spain. This annual event is the largest mobile phone exhibition, where electronic companies including Samsung, LG and HTC showcase their soon-to-be-released smartphones. One big name is missing from this list every year — Apple is noticeably absent from this event because the company hosts its own reveal events.


Incarceration affects sexual partnerships

High rates of incarceration prevail in many U.S. communities. According to the most recent data compiled last month by the International Centre for Prison Studies, the U.S. has the second-highest incarceration rate in the world: about 698 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Numbering more than 2.2 million, the U.S. prison population is by far the largest in the world and is disproportionately comprised of young black and Hispanic men.



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Bacteria in village homes are different from those in urban homes.

Microbiomes are influenced by the environment

We all carry a unique assemblage of bacterial colonies in and on ourselves that we began to collect before we were born and that continues to evolve as we pass through life. This “microbiome” helps us to fend off pathogenic bacteria and keeps us healthy. However, it can also cause health problems.




 zhouxuan12345678/cc-by-sa-2.0
Elevated iron levels in the blood may be harmful for human cells.

High blood-iron concentrations may be harmful to cells

Iron is vital to bodily function, playing an important part in oxygen transport and metabolism. However, nutritional deficiencies or excessive bleeding can cause iron deficiency anemia in patients. Those who are anemic may feel tired or lethargic. Currently, millions of people who have iron deficiencies take iron tablets to supplement their iron intake.


Scientists catalog more rare Earth minerals

A recent catalog of rare Earth minerals revealed that the total quantities of some of these minerals have a smaller volume than a sugar cube. However of the over 2,500 minerals in the catalog, many hold information that is crucial to understanding how the Earth formed. Robert Hazen, a researcher at the Carnegie Institution for Science, argues that while many people dismiss these rare minerals because they are so minimal in quantity, these minerals tell us how the Earth differs from the Moon, Mars and other planetary bodies. These uncommon minerals found only on our planet hold the key to knowing what makes Earth so special.



 Courtesy of nirali chauhan
Hopkins students traveled to Honduras this past Intersession to serve in a temporary clinic.

Global Brigades group volunteers in Honduras

During Intersession, 25 students spent six days in Honduras sorting medications, shadowing doctors, seeing patients and running a temporary clinic for nearby citizens. The medical care they provided motivated citizens from all over the area to travel to the temporary clinic. Some citizens were rumored to have walked for over two hours to receive the medical care that Hopkins students were helping to deliver.


The food we eat may influence our genes

A recent study from the University of Cambridge and the Francis Crick Institute in London has provided evidence that almost all of our genes may be influenced by the food we eat.


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