By Elisabeth Lee How did life as we know it begin? What makes the cells in our bodies different from the cells in the wood in something like a desk? These are questions that excite scientists and non-scientists alike. For scientists like Dr. Natalie Grefenstette, these are the questions that drive her research and for others, such questions can be a conduit of interest into a field that may not be familiar to them.  As an undergraduate student myself, I […]

By Elisabeth Lee When you enter any field as a professional, the doubt and discouragement from others is inevitable. Whether it comes from friends, critics, or colleagues, the dissuasion can be difficult to endure. Dr. Rakesh Mogul, however, has proven to be a successful professor and researcher at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona despite the naysayers he encountered throughout his career. Today, Mogul has been interviewed on German Public Radio, has had articles written about him in Forbes and […]

By Anurup Mohanty Mining projects often require a lot of equipment, capital, and work-force. When we mine using conventional methods there can be a number of environmental concerns associated with it. Soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, formation of sink-holes, contamination of surface and groundwater are just to name a few. Moreover, mining poses threat to miners’ health, the tiny particles inside a mine can cause severe respiratory diseases.  Biomining is a method that employs microorganisms to extract metals from ores. […]