Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 26, 2024

Science & Technology



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The ninth planet influences the positions of objects in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.

Researchers discover likely ninth planet

Researchers at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, Calif. have recently discovered evidence of “Planet Nine,” a giant planet located at the outer edges of the solar system.


 james gathany/public domain
 The WHO considers the mosquito-born Zika virus a global emergency.

Zika virus declared global emergency

The current Zika outbreak has spread to more than 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that it will infect another four million people by the year’s end.


 leon santhakumar/photography editor
Cocaine causes brain cells to destroy themselves at a damaging rate.

Cocaine catalyzes death of brain cells

Researchers in the Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have found that high doses of cocaine in mice kill brain cells by way of overactive autophagy, a “housekeeping” process through which cells rid themselves of debris and waste.


 doc. rndr. josef reischig, csc./cc-by-sa-3.0
Cells can better detect signals when in a group than on their own.

Groups of cells play “telephone” to relay signals

Complex organisms like humans are made of trillions of cells that can communicate with each other to coordinate actions. During development, when a cell’s identity is being determined, the chemical environment around a stem cell influences its differentiation into a specific type of cell. A cell can sense the concentration gradient of a chemical signal in its environment, causing the cell to move in a desired direction and then proliferate.


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Quantum dots made out of metal nanoparticles may be the solution in the fight against superbugs.

Quantum dots combat antibiotic resistance

Sick with a sinus infection, strep throat or pneumonia, you were probably prescribed antibiotics. In fact, antibiotics are the primary method of treatment for most bacterial infections. The drugs, while often very successful, have resulted in unforeseen consequences since the beginning of their use.


 frwl-takahata highschool 10/cc-by-sa-2.0
Students score higher on tests when they have a view of the natural environment from their classroom.

Exposure to green views improves test scores

The next time you enter a classroom for a test, you might want to choose a seat that has a view of a green landscape. You may do better on the test and be less stressed, according to the results of a recently published study.



 public domain
Hookah has more smoke, tar and carbon monoxide than cigarettes.

Hookah use rivals cigarette dangers

There is not much debate anymore about the effects of cigarette smoke on health — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. and causes at least 480,000 deaths per year.


 scott vaughan/cc-by-2.0
Boys are much more likely to have autism than girls.

Study finds autism marker in the brain

One in 68 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a developmental condition that falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The number of diagnosed cases of ASD is increasing over time, as is the medical community’s understanding of autism. As of now the exact mechanisms underlying the development of autism are not fully understood. However a new study has shed light on a region of the brain whose folding activity is correlated with the display of autistic symptoms.


 dvidshub/cc-by-2.0
The APL’s device can improve the daily lives of people with prosthetics

APL tests a new Modular Prosthetic Limb

The Modular Prosthetic Limb, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL), has achieved new levels of operability thanks to a pioneering surgical procedure that allows the prosthetic to be directly and biomechanically attached to the amputee’s bone.


 Bruno Gilli/ESO/CC-BY-4.0
Researchers think life could be found on the outskirts of the Milky Way rather than in far-off galaxies.

Globular clusters may harbor interstellar life

The search for life outside of planet Earth has captivated science fiction writers, astronomers and society at large. However, the likelihood of finding such life is continually restricted by the limitations of technology and the sheer size of the universe.


 Uxbona/cc-by-sa-3.0
Increased oceanic carbon dioxide levels can be deadly for fish.

Carbon dioxide threatens metabolism of fish

Everyone knows that climate change caused by carbon emissions is harmful to the environment. It causes rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, reduced agricultural yields, constrained water supply, unpredictable weather patterns and more. New research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia indicates that there might be yet another consequence to worry about: drunken fish.



 merzperson/public domain
 A newly discovered foam can propel bone growth, and may one day make casts unnecessary.

Injectable foam potentially builds new bone

Osteoporosis, a disease that results from an imbalance between bone resorption and bone growth, affects millions of Americans each year. Patients who suffer from this disease have weakened bones that fracture easily under impact, causing pain and problems in mobility. The patient usually does not realize that he or she has osteoporosis until he or she experiences the onset of constant back pain or a sudden fracture. To lower the risk of osteoporosis, doctors recommend exercise and a healthy diet, but there remains no treatment for osteoporosis-related injuries once the patient has the disease.


 brocken inaglory/cc-by-sa-3.0
The meltwater surrounding glaciers has a large amount of nutrients that can support productivity.

Giant icebergs may play a key role in carbon cycle

A recent study done by the University of Sheffield’s Department of Geography discovered that water from melted giant icebergs supports extremely high levels of phytoplankton growth. This melted water contains iron and other nutrients and contributes to an activity known as carbon sequestration.


Researchers discover new antidepressant

Neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins Medical School have found that compound CGP3466B successfully delivers antidepressant effects to mice within mere hours. This compound, which has previously been shown to block cocaine craving in mice, rapidly delivers antidepressant effects when compared to most drugs, which can take weeks or even months.





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