Science

Science

NASA budget cuts could affect Tufts research

By Kylie Liggett | September 22

NASA has faced threats of losing a significant portion of its funding since the beginning of the Trump administration. A recent NASA economic impact report found that, in fiscal year 2023, the agency generated $75.6 billion in economic output despite the agency’s budget being roughly $25 billion that same year — an approximately threefold return on investment. Yet, the White House proposed setting the NASA budget for fiscal year 2026 at under $19 billion, representing an over 24% cut. Congress only has until Sept. 30 to finalize NASA’s funding — to decide whether to approve or reject the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts. As Congress has the final say over government spending, there is currently a bipartisan effort to veto the White House’s proposed budget cuts.  

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Science

Vibrio vulnificus permeates the waters of coastal Mass.

By Shanzeh Haider | September 18

On Aug. 13, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a warning regarding a potentially dangerous bacterium found in the waters of Cape Cod: Vibrio vulnificus.

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Science

Fall foliage: The science behind leaves of change

By Grace Lee | September 18

As fall begins its descent on the Hill, pumpkin spice everything and cozy knit sweaters accompany the perpetual change in scenery that beckons the need to take a picture of every angle of Tufts campus. The quintessential New England autumn is characterized by vibrant hues of reds, oranges and yellows, adding a richness of colors that researchers have actually found to improve physiological stress recovery and emotional ratings. But, how are these leaves able to transform into the iconic colors of fall we know to recognize with the season?

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Science

Dissertation Diaries: Amarachi Osuji

By Shoshana Daly | September 16

In this second installment of “Dissertation Diaries,” we highlight Amarachi Osuji, a fifth-year chemistry and biotechnology Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Professor Joshua Kritzer here at Tufts. Originally from Nigeria, Osuji earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Debrecen in Hungary. For her Ph.D., she chose to shift her focus, moving away from engineering to delve more deeply into chemistry.

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Science

Dissertation Diaries: Kevin Smith

By Shoshana Daly | September 10

Welcome to the first installment of “Dissertation Diaries,” a new column where we will highlight different doctoral candidates from various science and engineering departments at Tufts! Our first student profile spotlights Kevin Smith, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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Science

A new era for US vaccines: RFK Jr. restructures CDC advisory committee

By Aria Chawla | September 4

On June 9, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s key vaccine advisory panel — and replaced them with his own appointees. Established in 1964, ACIP develops national vaccine recommendations, including schedules and safety guidelines, which influence coverage under Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.

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Science

A crash course in science at Tufts

By Shoshana Daly | September 2

People will always tell you to “network” and “get involved in research,” but it isn’t always clear what that actually looks like. As a senior biochemistry major at Tufts, I’ve figured out some effective ways to do both, so here are my four tips for first-years pursuing a STEM major or minor.

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Science

A ‘department reborn’: ECS launches new majors, relocates to Bacon Hall

By Maya Godard | September 2

During the fall 2024 semester, Tufts’ Department of Earth and Climate Sciences announced two new majors, earth science and climate science, and a minor in earth and climate sciences. This semester, the department is making the academic transition and moving into new lab spaces in Bacon Hall.

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Science

Carmen Smoak says ‘yes,’ reaches new heights at Tufts

By Liam Chalfonte | May 16

When asked to describe her four years at Tufts in a single sentence, graduating senior Carmen Smoak was inspired by words often attributed to writer and professor Joseph Campbell: “Say yes to the whole catastrophe.” “It’s gonna be a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess,” Smoak said. “You might as well just say yes to the whole catastrophe and embrace it for all it’s worth.”

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Science

Ian Lau finds community, belonging at Tufts

By Merry Jiao | May 15

From sledding down Prez Lawn on laundry basket lids to running half-marathons with friends, Ian Lau, a graduating senior and a former photo and science executive for the Daily, has had what can only be described as a whirlwind four years filled with lifelong friends, supportive communities and unforgettable memories. Now, about to graduate with a degree in biology and biotechnology, he can confidently say that coming to Tufts was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

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Science

So, how much money are we talking about?

By Carmen Smoak | May 14

In the first 100 days of his presidency, Donald Trump slashes government spending in multiple different departments. Some of the departments most hard hit are those that fund and support research at universities across the country. Notable standouts include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which houses the National Institute of Health (NIH), as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additionally, the Trump Administration has hit university research with restrictions to federal grant funding for university medical research. 

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Science

Looks can kill

By Sorelle Tan | May 13

Staring at a litter of puppies, the first to go are the ones with unique colorings, mixes of merle, little white boots, or floppy ears. These days people pick their pets based on how cute they think they are. But are these really the characteristics that pet owners should be searching for? 

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Science

Microscopic focus, global stakes: Unraveling TB one cell at a time

By Shoshana Daly | April 25

In a lab in the heart of Boston, professor Bree Aldridge leads a team of researchers trying to understand a threat that is both microscopic in size and global in consequence. The subject of Aldridge’s research is the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In 2023, TB made 10.8 million people sick and killed around 1.25 million people.

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Science

Deepfakes, the fight for truth in science

By Pia Sodhi | April 17

Imagine if anyone — or anything — could perfectly copy your voice or face and spread it online. A flawless imitation, indistinguishable from the real you, saying things you never said, showing up in places you’ve never been. How would that change the way you see yourself? How would it feel to lose control over your own image, your own sound?

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Science

The comeback of measles in the United States

By Shanzeh Haider | April 16

In 2000, the United States declared measles eradicated in the country due to the development of a vaccine. Yet, recent data has shown a measles resurgence in the United States with an outbreak in New York in 2019 and a larger outbreak this year in Texas and New Mexico.

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Science

Tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City

By Shanzeh Haider | April 9

An outbreak of tuberculosis within Kansas City in the United States has been ongoing since Jan. 2024 and has highlighted new trends of TB in the United States. According to March 2025 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the TB rate in Kansas increased by 148% from 2024–25.

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Science

Film photography: Magic, art or science?

By Carmen Smoak | March 27

Magic, art or science? Film photography blurs the lines between these categories and creates permanent images from nothing but light and chemicals. This process feels like magic, even when you do it yourself from start to finish. So let’s look behind the curtain and learn how this chemical process comes to life.

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Science

The solitary bee’s knees

By Carmen Smoak | March 4

When you think of bees, what comes to mind? It might be the sweet taste of honey or an ever present buzzing next to your ear. It may even be the 2007 cinematic masterpiece, “Bee Movie.”

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Science

A new shield against bird flu

By Pia Sodhi | February 26

With the COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in the minds of many U.S. citizens, concerns over the government’s ability to contain emerging health threats persist. The ongoing struggle to control the H5N1 bird flu outbreak has raised alarms, particularly as the virus has begun spreading beyond poultry to cows and even humans. While the likelihood of a pandemic remains low, if one does occur, it could be as disruptive as 2020, if not worse.

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Science

Spotlight on the Scheck Lab

By Shoshana Daly | February 20

One of the first things that students learn when they enter a biology class is the central dogma: DNA → RNA → Proteins. Proteins are the workers of our cells. From signaling cascades to intracellular transport, from energy metabolism to DNA repair, proteins are behind it all. In most intro level biology courses, we learn simply: amino acids dictate a protein's structure and thus determine its function as a result. However, there is another piece to this story: namely, what happens to proteins after they are formed. Post-Translational modifications are chemical changes that can change a protein's function, inactivate it or activate it. 

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