Science

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Kepler 22b

Look Up in the Sky: Astronomy Discoveries in 2011

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With stars topping Christmas trees and twinkling lights covering houses, the holiday season is the perfect time to stop and think about the real stars that surround us all year. [...]

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Dec 17, 2011 | 1 Response

Fat Mouse

Neuron Transplant Reduces Obesity In Mice

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Scientists at Harvard University have successfully transplanted neurons into the brains of obesity-prone mice to prevent them from getting fat. The researchers did not have human obesity in mind when [...]

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Dec 6, 2011 | Leave a response

Illustration by Evan Caughey

Researchers Critical of Pilot Malaria Vaccine

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When scientists announced promising interim results from the first large-scale clinical trial of a possible vaccine for malaria, the international public health community rejoiced. The vaccine, originally a project for the [...]

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Nov 14, 2011 | Leave a response

Digital rendition of UX Tau A, a star system that is one million years old and about 450 light-years from Earth.

‘Planet Formation in Dusty Disks Around Young Stars:’ An Astrophysics Lecture from Catherine Espaillat

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This Monday, the Institute for Astrophysical Research welcomed Catherine Espaillat, a member of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. She presented a lecture in room 502 in the College of Arts [...]

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Nov 9, 2011 | Leave a response

The Miracle Berry. Photo courtesy of user Hamale via  Wikimedia Commons

The Miracle Berry: A Sweet Surprise

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The Mind and Brain Society (MBS) hosted a “flavor tripping” celebration of sense perception at BU Central Wednesday night. Distributing “the miracle berry” to a limited number of people, MBS [...]

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Oct 31, 2011 | 2 Responses

Size doesn't matter with these nanotubes. They're as strong as steel and as light as air. | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

“Mirage Effect” Creates First Underwater Invisibility Cloak

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Scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas have successfully manipulated the “mirage effect” to engineer an underwater invisibility cloak reminiscent of the cloak in the beloved Harry Potter series. [...]

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Oct 28, 2011 | Leave a response

Biosafety Level-4 Laboratory | Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

BU BioLab Triggers Community Concern

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In 2003, Boston University became one of two universities to receive a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) to construct a National Biocontainment Laboratory next [...]

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Oct 17, 2011 | 5 Responses

Don't be frightened, they could teach you a thing or two. | Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Zombies…to the Rescue??

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According to a 2010 congressional briefing, the U.S. ranks 48th worldwide in K-12 mathematics and science education. This poor performance should not be seen as an indication of a lack of ability; it [...]

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Oct 12, 2011 | Leave a response

Linear accelerator.

CERN makes an interesting discovery

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Late last week, scientists from the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland recorded particles moving faster than the speed of light. The particles, called neutrinos, were generated at the Super [...]

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Oct 3, 2011 | 2 Responses

The perfect way to implant music into your brain. Photo via wikimedia commons user Pertsaboy/

What Goes in One Ear Does Not Come out the Other

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The Science Behind the Song Stuck in Your Head. The first in a new series done along with Synapse—BU’s undergraduate science magazine.

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Sep 14, 2011 | Leave a response

A representation of the major brain areas involved in language. Orange = angular gyrus, yellow = supramarginal gyrus, blue = Broca's area, green = Wernicke's area, and pink = primary auditory cortex. | Photo courtesy of Wikicommons.

Language In Us and Animals

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A discussion on our linguistic origins, development and current state, and a brief comparison and contrast of communication between animals and humans.

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Nov 7, 2010 | 1 Response

Scientists Just Don’t Get It: The Complexities of Laughter

Scientists Just Don’t Get It: The Complexities of Laughter

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A brief, simplified overview on one of nature’s most blissful and universal gifts: Laughter. Here we cover the emergent properties of laughter, the possible underlying neurobiology, and its adaptive use and benefit.

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Oct 10, 2010 | 2 Responses