A partially-assembled jigsaw puzzle with a picture of DNA

The Uses And Potential Misuses of Synthetic Biology

Submitted by Pernelle Chan to fulfill the ethics in science requirement for the Young Scientist Program at BMSIS. Introduction/Overview With the rapid evolution of both technology and science, researchers and experts in a vast number of fields have been looking to create innovative, biological technologies that can benefit society (or to make a profit). One of the key realms of this innovation lies in the rising popularity of the field of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology is the creation or engineering of organisms. […]

Read more
Social media icons on a display

Science Debate and Miscommunication on Social Media

Submitted by Emily Harari to fulfill the ethics in science requirement for the Young Scientist Program at BMSIS. Background Media Bias in American Media The Founding Fathers of the United States pointed out media bias as early as the 1800s, claiming it targeted their campaigns (1). The phenomenon is not new. However, social media has increased its prevalence. With fewer barriers to publication, almost anyone can disseminate information without adhering to journalistic etiquette. Most commonly, conversations on media bias pertain […]

Read more
Image showing the Moon, Mars, spheres for microbes, and a chisel and hammer

Microbes: Miners of the Moon and Mars?

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. […]

Read more
Leave a comment

“Science Nomad,” Dr. Daniel Angerhausen, Looks for Habitable Planets

By Emily Harari Dr. Daniel Angerhausen is an astrophysicist and astrobiologist at ETH Zürich. Ask him what the oldest question of humankind is and he’ll immediately jump to life on other planets: Are we alone, or are other planets outside our solar system similarly habitable? But Angerhausen doubles back:  “That’s also a bit exaggerated. Maybe the oldest question is, ‘Can I eat this?’ But I really think [habitability] is one of the biggest scientific questions and also one that is […]

Read more
An illustration showing a planet and moon

Is Space Exploration a Waste of Money?

By Sarah Treadwell It is estimated that for humans to have first reached Australia approximately 65,000 years ago, they would have had to travel across vast bodies of open water. Much is unknown about how exactly they achieved this. Archaeologists and historians credit this as one of the first, remarkable achievements made by humans. While admirable today, their courage could also be described as reckless. When these early humans set sail, they took incalculable risks. They had to weather the […]

Read more
1 2 3 4 5 … 55