Science

Science

Life in STEM: Michael Moore on the right whale and declining marine populations

By Amelia Macapia | February 1

Below is an interview with Michael Moore, a senior scientist and veterinarian at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Much of Moore’s career has been dedicated to research on the health and growth of North Atlantic right whale populations. In his book, “We Are All Whalers: The Plight of Whales and Our Responsibility,” Moore links the collapse of the species to damage from shipping and fishing trauma. Below Moore joins me for a discussion on the immediate jeopardy of the North Atlantic right whale, and how we all contribute to the right whale’s extinction risk through supply chains and consumer demand.

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Science

The uncanny valley vs. Hollywood’s immortal vision

By Jaiden Rodgers | January 26

What will live on after your death? According to Hollywood, it won’t just be your children, accomplishments or legacy. In fact, for many of the most acclaimed silver screen performers, the term “death” may be an exaggeration. Technological advancements in CGI and artificial intelligence made during the past 15 years are paving the way for the film industry to keep its actors evergreen, defying death and reversing age.

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Science

Unraveling the Ozempic craze

By Adi Raman | January 24

Over the past century, humanity has grown increasingly fascinated by the possible benefits of consuming all sorts of pills and potions to lose weight. The newest wave of this craze has come in the form of injectable medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

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Science

The ‘Brain Atlas’: Putting the puzzle together

By Adi Raman | December 4

Think of the human brain like a puzzle: an elaborate system of communication between many different linking pieces. Except, a few of the pieces are dusty, and it’s hard to discern where they fit to make a larger picture. Scientists have been working to further differentiate the functions of these pieces — brain cells — to further examine brain function and potentially combat certain neurological diseases.

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Science

Phenylephrine: The decongestant that leaves you stuffy

By Meg Radke | October 20

Going into winter, your cold medicines could end up looking a little different based on a forthcoming decision from the FDA. Phenylephrine is an over-the-counter decongestant in many different medicines, including Dayquil Cold and Flu Relief, Sudafed PE and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion. But an FDA advisory board recently concluded that at current dosages, oral phenylephrine is not effective. The independent advisory committee, assembled by the FDA, will now review the findings and determine whether phenylephrine is effective. If they come to the same conclusion that the committee did — which they often do — there would be a process to remove medications with phenylephrine from the shelves, and medications containing phenylephrine, especially those containing multiple active ingredients, such as Dayquil, would need to be reformulated. CVS has already announced that it will stop selling products containing oral phenylephrine.

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Science

After 12 years as president, Tony Monaco is returning to genetic research

By Lugin Afifi and Catherine Gregory | October 19

While Anthony Monaco may no longer be president, he’s taken on a new role at Tufts: Professor of Biology. After stepping down from his twelve-year role in June, President Emeritus Monaco is devoting his time to genetic research on the cause of mental health disorders.

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Science

FDA approves breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

By Adi Raman | October 3

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting an estimated 6.7 million Americans. This past year, biotech companies Eisai and Biogen made a significant breakthrough in the landscape of pharmaceuticals.

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Science

Quantum computers: Available for free from your own home

By Jaiden Rodgers | October 3

As you’re reading this, millions of dollars are being invested by big tech companies into developing quantum computers around the globe. Luckily, industry leaders like Microsoft and IBM have also decided that the pursuit of science should have no price tag. Thanks to them, you can run experiments on real quantum computers for free from the comfort of your own home.

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Science

Say ‘Shoo!’ to the flu this fall

By Adi Raman | September 19

When someone mentions “fall,” a few things may come to mind, like the changing leaves, a new NFL season or “Gilmore Girls” (2000–07). However, fall is also host to something much more insidious: the start of flu season. The influenza virus infects millions of Americans every year, with tens of thousands dying. The flu is known for constantly mutating, so scientists are annually working on vaccines to combat new strains. Time Magazine reports in 2023 that twice a year, the World Health Organization collaborates with professionals to evaluate which strains should be combated via vaccine in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

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Science

Q&A: Professor Emeritus Jan Pechenik looks back on storied marine biology, education career

By Anushka Singh | May 21

In a career spanning over 40 years at Tufts, Professor Emeritus Jan Pechenik has left an indelible impact on marine biology and generations of students. The Daily sat down with Pechenik to discuss the questions that have motivated his work for the past four decades and the unexpected — and rewarding — turns his teaching has taken.

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Science

Senior Profile: Teamwork is everything for former TEMS Executive Director Eric Grin

By Tvisha Goel | May 21

Many students have a story behind their passion. Inspiration is hard to come by, but when it does come, it often fuels the drive behind a career choice.

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Science

Henrietta Lacks and her legacy

By Margaret Radke | April 27

Henrietta Lacks died of cancer in 1951 at age 31, not knowing that her cells would create the foundation for modern-day medicine and that her treatment would play a predominant role in the rise of medical ethics. During a hospital visit, doctors collected a tissue sample from Lacks without her consent. Biotech companies later went on to tremendously profit from Lacks’ cells without ever compensating her or her family. Sadly, this is one of many instances of blatant racism in the medical system, many of which do not receive nearly as much media attention.

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Science

ChatGPT: Love it or hate it, you have to understand it first

By Anushka Singh | April 20

If you have been active on social media over the last four months, it is very likely that you have heard about the hype of ChatGPT. You might have experimented with it or used it for an assignment. But do you know how it works? Is it going to replace your job? Is this the start of an artificial intelligence powered apocalypse?

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Science

Despite progress, STEM professions still lack gender representation

By Tvisha Goel | April 13

Edith Linwood Bush followed in her father’s footsteps, graduating from Tufts University in 1903. She was the head of mathematics at Chelsea High School and principal of Provincetown High School before being appointed as the assistant professor of mathematics at Tufts University in 1922. While this story doesn’t seem to be anything special today, it is one of its kind since, according to the Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History, this made her the first female professor to teach in the College of Engineering.

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Science

Life in STEM: Dan Nguyen on the Laidlaw Scholars Program and global health research

By Cindy Zhang | April 12

The Daily sat down with biology and community health major Dan Nguyen (A’24) for a conversation about water, sanitation and hygiene in global health research and his involvement with the Laidlaw Scholars Program at Tufts.

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Science

Bite-Size Science: The contentious and groundbreaking endeavor of genome editing

By Khushi Jain | April 5

Imagine if we could curate the ‘perfect’ human being — from changing their eye color to developing resistance against deadly illnesses. Is this a groundbreaking pursuit or an unethical idea? When He Jiankui, a Chinese scientist, announced in 2018 that he had changed the genetic makeup of three babies to make them resistant to HIV, he was placed in prison for three years. Nevertheless, the influence of his actions on the scientific field is strong and persistent.

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Science

Bite-Size Science: FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan, an antidote for opioid overdose

By Emilia Nathan | April 4

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan for over-the-counter sale on March 29. Narcan, which is also known by its generic name, naloxone, is a fast-acting nasal spray medication produced by Emergent BioSolutions that reverses opioid overdoses. The decision comes two weeks after the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee unanimously voted in favor of allowing the nasal spray to be sold over the counter.

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Science

Bite-Size Science: The return of analog computing, a brief on the latest quantum computing innovation

By Amber Abdul | March 10

While digital computers have become entrenched in our daily lives, a new analog quantum computer offers a stark contrast in both its design and capabilities. A team of physicists from Stanford University and University College Dublin created the “Quantum Simulator platform,” making it possible to solve previously unsolvable problems. This new analog computer represents a breakthrough in how scientists understand superconductivity and its merits.

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Science

Tufts professors receive $8 million investment for biotech startup

By Taylor Escudero | March 9

Morphoceuticals, a biotech company co-founded by Tufts professors Michael Levin and David Kaplan, recently received $8 million in seed funding from Prime Movers Lab and Juvenescence. The company is taking a new approach to the challenge of regenerative medicine by exploring the bioelectric controls of the human body to induce the regeneration of tissue, limbs and organs. Levin hopes their work can revolutionize regenerative applications and help millions of people with various injuries and health conditions.

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Science

Collaboration between universities yields novel biodetection methods using proteins, silk

By Sarah Sandlow | February 21

Imagine if there were ways for your mask to detect a COVID-19 infection or your bra to detect signs of breast cancer. Researchers at Tufts University and the University of Washington are working to make these speculations a reality. Labs at the two universities recently developed a novel way to detect viruses, toxins and other biomarkers through the use of de novo protein switches in a silk fibroin matrix. The research, published in Advanced Materials in December 2022, stemmed from a collaboration between the Silklab at Tufts and the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington.

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