Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
July 12, 2025 July 12, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Science & Technology

COURTESY OF KEVIN LEWIS Kevin Lewis’s lab works at the cross section of geophysics and geology.

Hopkins professor uses virtual reality goggles to study Mars

By TRISHA PARAYIL | April 11, 2019

Kevin Lewis’ most recent project was to use gravity to “weigh a mountain” on Mars. In introductory physics classes, gravity is taught to be a constant equal to 9.8 meters per second. In reality, it varies from place to place depending on what is beneath you. If you stand on an iron ore, the pull of gravity will be a bit stronger. This quality makes gravity a useful geological tool to interrogate the subsurface of a planet. If gravity measurements do not match previously established expectations, then scientists can discern the density of the rocks underneath the surface.

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Playing team sports as a kid was shown to reduce depressive symptoms.

Playing team sports could lower risk for depression

By SAMI SANIEI | April 4, 2019

A new study from the Washington University in St. Louis revealed that involvement in sports is associated with changes in young children’s brains. The study was published last February in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. 

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Using light, scientists could reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms in rats.

Scientists could “turn off” alcohol cravings

By CINDY JIANG | April 4, 2019

It’s nearing midnight and you’ve spent a productive day in Brody. You’ve had dinner, but you’re feeling a bit hungry after all the time working on that assignment for that class you have. All of a sudden, you get a craving — French fries. Cravings are a common occurrence, but have you ever wondered exactly what it is that drives them?

Humans may be able to sense magnetic fields

By BAYLEIGH MURRAY | April 4, 2019

It’s a process that allows pigeons, honey bees and whales to navigate the world through the Earth’s magnetic field. Magnetoreception, a so-called sixth, geomagnetic sense, is found in bacteria, arthropods and multiple vertebrate species. It was thought to be completely beyond the perception of beings humans.

  PUBLIC DOMAIN A study at the University of California, Santa Cruz showed that solitude could have benefits.

Study shows solitude can be good for mental health

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | April 4, 2019

In this day and age, depression amongst college students is a growing issue: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 10 percent of all college students have been diagnosed with depression. While many may believe that a telltale sign of depression can be social withdrawal and isolation, new studies conducted at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) show that this may not always be the case; in fact, young adults who spend time alone can gain many benefits from this chosen solitude.

  PUBLIC DOMAIN Scientists came up with a new genetic method to revert blindness.

Gene insertion helps blind mice regain eyesight

By JAEMIE BENNETT | April 4, 2019

First evolved in animals 550 million years ago, the ability to see is essential to life. It helps animals navigate the world around them. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), may have found a way to reverse blindness caused by retinal degeneration and give people back the ability to fully experience the world.

    COURTESY OF LAURA WADSTEN Veronica Robinson, great-granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks, spoke at Hopkins this Tuesday.

Osler Medical Symposium welcomes the Lacks family

By LAURA WADSTEN | April 4, 2019

The Osler Medical Symposium hosted a discussion on Tuesday, April 2 titled “Medical Ethics: Privacy and Patient Rights” in Hodson 110. Members of the symposium welcomed Cynda Rushton, a professor and founding member of the Berman Institute for Bioethics, and Veronica Robinson, who is the great-granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks. The granddaughter and great-great granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks were also at the event. 

New Jersey passes bill to legalize assisted suicide

By ELAINE CHIAO | March 28, 2019

On Monday, March 25 the New Jersey state legislature passed a new bill that would legalize the practice of assisted suicide for its state residents. This was the first time that the bill went to an actual vote in the New Jersey Senate, where it narrowly passed.

PUBLIC DOMAIN O’Keefe highlights the disparities in Native American communities.

Meet the Hopkins professor tackling health equity for indigenous communities

By LAUREN PADILLA | March 28, 2019

Addressing disparities in Native Americans’ access to healthcare and quality of treatment is a critical public health issue. In a joint survey from National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, almost a quarter of Native Americans reported having faced discrimination during a doctor’s visit. Approximately 15 percent of participants indicated that the fear of encountering bias from medical professionals prevented them from pursuing healthcare services. 

CC BY-SA 2.0 / GLOBAL PANORAMA Even in treatment centers, Ebola continues to spread through the DRC.

The Ebola epidemic could continue for another year in the Congo

By ALLISON CHEN | March 28, 2019

The Ebola outbreak that began in August of 2018 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is projected to last for another year, reported Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield. Redfield’s prediction, stated in an interview with the New York Times on March 15, came after his visit to the affected region. 

New discovery may reveal origin of the solar system

By CINDY JIANG | March 28, 2019

Nothing is impossible. This statement is perhaps best embodied by the planetary sciences, a field in which scientists have made so many discoveries that seem so far removed from the normal everyday. Take the Big Bang for instance. It is a familiar concept to many, but scientists don’t really have any primary sources for the actual event. 

PUBLIC DOMAIN In the US, Hispanics and blacks are plagued the most by air pollution.

Study finds air pollution affects minorities most

By JESSICA KASAMOTO | March 28, 2019

While racial inequalities are evident in the United States when it comes to disparities in categories like wealth, educational opportunities and unemployment rates, a recent public health study has shown that racial inequality exists when it comes to air pollution as well. 

Seven groundbreaking black women in STEM

By LAUREN PADILLA | March 14, 2019

Recently, many have begun to call attention to the lack of intersectionality within Women’s History Month celebrations. Despite the historical and current contributions women of color have made in the battle for women’s equality, their narratives and achievements tend to receive little acknowledgement. 

PUBLIC DOMAIN HIV occurrences had decreased form 2010 to 2013, but since then they have plateaued.

Reduced HIV incidence in the U.S. has stalled

March 14, 2019

A new report on the incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States reveals that the decline in HIV infections has plateaued as the Trump administration reveals its intention to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

Genetics might play a role in healthy marriages

By CHRIS REINHARDT | March 14, 2019

The secret behind a successful marriage may be more than just passion. According to a new study, genetics may also play a role. Yale scientists found that a gene responsible for emotional stability may also predict marriage satisfaction. This may pave the way for a future study on how genetics can impact the quality of relationships over time.

Wrap up: the latest in technology...

By WILLIAM XIE | March 14, 2019

Elizabeth Warren campaigns in New York City  Known as a strong critic of tech giants, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently held a campaign event in New York City, where the tech conglomerate Amazon was recently effectively pushed out. She gathered an audience of more than 1000 people who listened to her speak about “tech companies who think they rule the earth,” among other issues. Much of her plan is driven to protect the people’s interests and protect smaller competitors from tech monopolies. The official Democratic-presidential candidate’s policies would push existing tech giants to divest in their acquisitions. In addition, she would implement laws that limit a tech giant’s influence and participation in its own platform.

Trending
Weekly Rundown
News-Letter Magazine