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

Science & Technology

The “Great Firewall” limits international business

By Catie Paul | February 19, 2015

Are China’s strict Internet controls acting against its best interests? A survey released on Feb. 12 by the European Chamber of Commerce in China found that most businesses believe they are. Foreign companies that operate in China are frustrated by the fact that China blocks certain websites and restricts Internet access. Eighty-six percent of the companies, which are based in the European Union (EU) and operate in China, said that their business has been negatively affected by the blocking of websites in China.

Kicking the habit with electronic cigarettes

By REGINA PALATINI | February 19, 2015

In 1964 the United States Surgeon General published the first federal government report outlining an indisputable link between smoking and cancer, heart disease and other health problems. Since then, individuals and public health groups have proposed countless methods to help people who are addicted to smoking “kick the habit.” The American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages smokers to participate in the “Great American Smokeout” each year, which proposes that smokers refrain from smoking for 24 hours. The ACS emphasizes that when smokers are engaged in such a behavior, five percent of them go on to quit smoking permanently. Such behavioral therapies began in the 1970s, but they were met with limited success. In the 1990s, pharmacotherapy made its appearance and included nicotine patches and gum. Some individuals chewing nicotine gum stopped smoking, but they became addicted to the healthier but more expensive option of the gum. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs) were introduced to the world about ten years ago, and since then, their use has been fraught with everything from confusion to praise to condemnation. Many smokers want to stop smoking tobacco, and with the onslaught of advertising from e-cigarette manufacturers they may believe that they have found the perfect solution. Many teenagers, some of whom have never smoked, have also taken to using e-cigarettes. Some e-cigarettes are designed to look like conventional tobacco cigarettes and can be purchased in flavors that are appealing to teenagers.

Vitamin A intake may help prevent malaria

By TONY WU | February 19, 2015

Those who live in tropical areas around the world are at risk for malaria. In fact, malaria is a top cause of infant mortality in some countries. Numerous advances have been made to curb the instances of malaria, and medical devices have also been developed to detect malaria in underdeveloped countries. However, a new study at the Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests a far simpler solution. The researchers propose that a timely increase in vitamin A intake may decrease the chances of being infected.

HIV drug could treat degenerative blindness

By Catie Paul | February 12, 2015

Going blind is terrifying. Finding out there’s nothing that can be done to help you is even worse. This is what millions of people face each year when they are diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. However, there soon may be a new treatment option: drugs that are already being used to treat HIV.

Specialized neurons help maintain balance

By TONY WU | February 12, 2015

Walking on a frozen road in the middle of winter requires intense concentration. One misstep and you can end up face down on the ground. Even though most of us have fallen at least once from slipping or otherwise losing our balance, we’ve had many more times when we recovered and stayed upright. How did we manage to maintain our position?

Microsoft, Samsung reach agreement on court case

By Catie Paul | February 12, 2015

Since August 2014, the two technology giants Microsoft and Samsung have been battling it out in court over unpaid royalties. However, on Feb. 10 they announced that they had come to an agreement and that the dispute was over.

After near extermination, bedbug numbers increase

By REGINA PALATINI | February 12, 2015

Bedbugs are here to stay, and thanks to evolution, they are getting stronger every day. When Charles Darwin wrote his classic The Origin of the Species, little did he know that his landmark theory would be applicable in 2015 to the lowly bedbug.

Nerve cell receptors help form memories

By JOAN YEA | February 12, 2015

With each new piece of information or sensory experiences, our dynamic and malleable brain alters its connections which leads to long-lasting changes in neural pathways. While the misconception of the inert brain has mostly subsided, the underlying molecular mechanisms resulting in structural changes in neurons are still under much scrutiny in neuroscience.

Rate of Ebola infections in Africa slows down

By SUNNY CAI | February 12, 2015

2014 saw the deadliest and most widespread Ebola epidemic in history. It was the first to occur in West Africa as well as the first and only Ebola outbreak ever to reach epidemic proportions. The epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013 and soon spread to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as to other West African nations. As of Feb. 3, a total of 9,019 deaths due to this epidemic of Ebola have occurred with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia bearing the overwhelming majority of the disease’s burden.

Study links gene to enhanced cognition

By JOAN YEA | February 5, 2015

Clotho, one of the three Fates in Ancient Greek mythology, was accorded the responsibility of spinning the threads of human lives. She was tasked with controlling not only the birth of each individual, but also the timing of each individual’s death. Named after this Greek spinner of life, the klotho protein, which was discovered in 1997, has been associated with longevity. Recently, a variant of the KLOTHO gene that codes for the klotho protein was linked to better cognitive abilities in humans.

Honey bee populations plummet worldwide

By REGINA PALATINI | February 5, 2015

The next time you lay out on the Beach studying and an inquisitive bee comes along, thank him. Why? Because our health and the health of people worldwide depend on this creature that weighs one-tenth of a gram. Scientists have recently linked human health in a new way to the important role that bees play in pollination of agricultural crops.

Close links found between memory and sleep

By SARAH SUKARDI | February 5, 2015

The big chemistry test is tomorrow. You’ve been up pouring through and highlighting your textbook, consolidating your notes into one dense study sheet, and cramming all the information about alkanes, aromatic molecules and reaction mechanisms that you can in one night. Your brain is sated, and it’s time for a celebratory cup of coffee to cement those facts.

NFL players suffer the effects of concussions

By TONY WU | February 5, 2015

Millions of Americans sat in front of the television last Sunday, mesmerized by the skill and speed of football players in Super Bowl XLIX. The bone-crunching impacts both horrified and delighted the spectators.

Personality ratings can predict life expectancy

By SUNNY CAI | February 5, 2015

At some point or another, everyone has wondered how long he or she will live. Although obtaining a completely definite and reliable answer is essentially impossible, a recent study shows that your close friends may be able to provide a fairly accurate assessment of your life expectancy.

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