Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
December 23, 2024

Science & Technology




White House proposes law to protect consumers

On Feb. 27, the White House announced that they will be proposing a new piece of legislation, the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act. The aim of the bill, according to the White House, is to provide greater privacy for consumers.


Is it blue and black, or is it white and gold?

One week ago, 21-year-old singer and guitarist Caitlin McNeill posted a picture of a dress on Tumblr when members of her wedding band couldn’t agree on its colors. She hoped that her followers would reach a consensus on whether the dress was black and blue or white and gold. The photo was picked up by several other news sources and ended up polarizing the Internet into two camps.


iPhone leads global smartphone market

Coming in at the top, the iPhone is the world’s top-selling smartphone for the first time in three years. The smartphone market becomes increasingly competitive every year, and with that Apple, Lenovo, Samsung, Huawei and LG Electronics have shuffled in ranks for selling the most phones worldwide.


Few intervene when cyberbullying occurs

As different types of social media grow and communication over the Internet becomes increasingly common, the question arises: What to do about cyberbullying? A recent study from Ohio State University found that most people will not directly intervene if they see a case of cyberbullying.


Acclaimed author gives lecture on science writing

“Where does one begin to tell a story?” Dava Sobel asked attendees in Hodson Hall this past Friday as the best-selling author gave a short talk and reading from her latest work. “They have something to say and don’t know where to start,” Sobel said.



Prisoner’s Dilemma teaches us about prediction

The Prisoner’s Dilemma game tests not only the rationality of the players but also their social decision-making skills. These skills are based on the player’s ability to predict what the other person will do. In the game two criminals, both aware of the greater award if they both cooperate, are most likely to betray each other because of each one’s prediction that the other will behave in their own self-interest.


Peanut exposure level linked to allergy rate

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that feeding young children peanut products could help prevent peanut allergies. This challenges the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation which calls for children under the age of three who are at risk of developing allergies to avoid consuming peanut products.


Photos, profile affect online dating matches

Is there anything more frustrating than online dating? Reading through someone’s profile, trying to decide if you’ll like them, the negotiations involved in meeting up for the first time... It can be extremely disheartening, which is why it isn’t surprising that two researchers decided to look into the science behind why some people get more dates than others on online sites.


The Brain Wave: Scientists use fMRI to help read subjects’ minds

The exploration of the mind has always been the center of intense research interest. The brain is the least understood organ in the body, and nobody knows exactly how it works. One approach to solving the brain puzzle is looking at neuronal activities of different brain regions. This strategy has led to important insights within the field of cognitive neuroscience, allowing for investigations into the biological mechanisms of brain function. Even more excitingly, such an analysis of brain activities may allow us to some day be able to delve into a person’s mind and gain access to their deepest thoughts — science fiction transforming into tangible reality. But how can we build a mind reading machine?


Study shows sex can weed out genetic diseases

Every hour, thousands of couples around the world engage in amorous acts. The rush of endorphins and the bonding that results from sex create a sense of pleasure, but humans also use sex to procreate and ensure the survival of the species.


FCC to vote on net neutrality debate

One of the most important debates you may have never heard of is the debate over net neutrality. The concept that the Internet should be treated like a public good, with cable companies giving no privilege to certain sites over others, has been a hot topic issue for years. On Feb. 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will vote on whether to reclassify Internet use to telecommunications, ensuring net neutrality.



Pollution levels reach global high in India

Consider the word “pollution.” What comes to mind? Perhaps constellations obscured by thick smog, perhaps the bright-red skyline of some industrial city by night, perhaps factories expelling billows of smoke. Perhaps even specific cities as Beijing and Shanghai, places notorious for having extreme amounts of pollution, to the discomfort of residents and travelers.


Hopkins develops Ebola modules for hospitals

Any patient who enters an emergency room with an infectious disease poses a potential threat not only to him or herself, but also to the other patients, doctors and personnel in the hospital. These days, medical institutions across America are finding it necessary to prepare for one infectious disease in particular: Ebola.


Study highlights the prevalence of Lyme disease

You are enjoying your vacation on the East Coast in the thick of the heady, swollen heat of summer. You spend your days roaming swamps, swimming in lakes and sunbathing by the water. One particularly hot day you notice a rash on your leg — it looks a little like a target, or a bulls-eye, but you don’t think much of it. After all, bugs are a consequence of East-Coast weather, and you look forward to when the rash subsides. After a few days, it does.



Languages show bias toward “happy” words

The plethora of F-bombs used in everyday life seems to indicate universal human dissatisfaction. Yet, according to researchers at the University of Vermont, all languages — despite the swearing — reflect a bias for the use of happy words.


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