A recent study at Harvard University has suggested that a probable mechanism to slow the aging process might be packed into a tiny protein called sirtuin, which can be activated by a natural chemical known as resveratrol.
Meteorites Provide Clues to Planetary Birth
The study of the origin of planets is appealing for many reasons; after all, understanding the origins of Earth makes it easier to find other systems likely to form Earth-like planets. But since it is unlikely to catch a planet in the process of forming, researchers in this field require a certain amount of creativity, always needing to find new ways to "observe" planet formation billions of years after the fact.
Rejuvenating the Immune System to Fight HIV
A Rhesus Factor Protein Channels Extra Acids
If you know what blood group you belong to, you might have noticed a plus or a minus sign next to your group; A, B, AB, or O. This plus or minus sign refers to the presence or absence, accordingly, of a protein in the surface of your red blood cells called a Rhesus factor (abbreviated as Rh). A different Rh group between a mother and the baby she is expecting may lead to the production of antibodies by the mother, while the unborn baby may suffer organ enlargement and anemia.
Visit with the Senior Research Editor
Probably one of the most interesting stories that I have heard over the years has been the true tale of Dr. Herbert Jackson. Dr. Jackson was a Christian missionary who, when he got to the mission field, was assigned a vehicle that could start only with a running push. After a while of debating what to do, Dr. Jackson struck gold he went to a nearby school and got permission from the principle to take some of the students out of class momentarily to push his car. Genius! After being pushed, the missionary would either park his car on a downhill or leave the engine on. This technique was full proof for roughly two years.
The Entrepreneurial Science Journalist
What most undergraduates outside of the social sciences and the humanities perceive of as science journalism is a passive, fact-collecting affair sifting through press releases and secondary sources. There can be nothing farther from the truth. Becoming a science journalist as JYI can not only enrich your undergraduate education intellectually, but also help you take concrete steps towards finding your passion and the career of your dreams.
JYI: The Ultimate Washington D.C. Excursion (Video Content)
Typically, undergraduate research journals are confined to one specific university. As such, board meetings are usually held in a class room or diner not too far from where they have classes. These meetings are typically informal as the staff members often see each other on a regular basis. The Journal of Young Investigators, however, is unique in that it is an international undergraduate research journal. Therefore, besides internet and telephone communications, in-person meetings are also established at various locations around the United States of America. This year, JYI had its executive board member meeting in Washington D.C., corresponding to the 2008 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Research Conference at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel (November 21-23, 2008).
Interview with Raymond Gilmartin, Former CEO of Merck & Co. Inc.
Urbanization: More Comfort but Less Health
he process of urbanization started long before the word itself existed. In fact, the relentless pursuit of a more comfortable life has been going on ever since man realized his superiority over the rest of the animals. From caves to huts, then to houses and sky scrapers! Man made them all. In the last couple of centuries many changes have occurred as never before in the entire history of mankind. Maybe these enormous changes are too much and too fast for Mother Nature to cope with, as is reflected in the declining environment around us as well as our own health.
A Mathematical and Empirical Analysis of Stoichiometric Effects of Light Intensity on Daphnia Dynamics and Coexistence
Many factors affect population dynamics in Daphnia, including the quantity and quality of the algae upon which they feed. A previous study by Urabe and colleagues examined the effects of light and nutrient supply on stoichiometric food quality and showed that, while increased light intensity stimulated increased algae growth, the algae became phosphorus-limited and thus of poor quality due to higher C:P ratios. Furthermore, Urabe's study showed that, under low light, one Daphnia species outcompeted the other, but under high light the two species coexisted.
Aero-microbiological studies of Moisture Affected Buildings in the Indoor Environment
Microbes and moisture associated with building materials and structures are known to cause health effects. To understand this phenomenon it is important to know how the indoor environment of a moisture damaged building differs from that of a normal and non-damaged building in terms of microbial concentration. In this context, we have selected index and reference buildings based on the criteria like visible mold, smell of mold and moisture damage to compare indoor microbial concentrations of index buildings with that of reference building.