YSM Online

Dust Erases Gravitational Waves: Data from the early universe poses new questions

In 2014, controversial results from the BICEP2 telescope at the South Pole claimed to prove the existence of gravitational waves. However, new data from the Planck space telescope cites cosmic dust as the true cause of the strange BICEP2 results. This conflicting data, though not completely resolved, is bringing the field of astrophysics closer to answers about the beginning of the universe

Lauren Chambers March 29, 2015

Controlling Electron Orbitals: A modern day philosopher’s stone

A team of Yale researchers has recently demonstrated that a new technique allows for the manipulation of electron orbitals, and consequently paves the way for the fine-tuning of atomic properties.

Marguerite Epstein-Martin March 29, 2015

Earthquakes Rock Connecticut

More than a dozen small earthquakes rocked Plainfield, Connecticut in the first two months of 2015. Seismologists reassure the public that the risk of a damaging earthquake remains low, but emphasize the need for earthquake preparedness.

Lionel Jin March 29, 2015

So Cool it Hurts: Menthol in cigarettes creates illusion of non-irritation

A team of researchers conducted a study with mice showing that menthol decreases the irritating effects of cigarette smoke. It was shown that menthol vapor has a normalizing effect on breathing patterns in the presence of cigarette smoke.

Alexander Sernyak March 29, 2015

Two Signals to Make an Oncogene

Yale immunobiology professor Ruslan Medzhitov has published research that lends support to the two-hit hypothesis of cancer development. The identification of key proteins Yap and IL-6 opens the door for new methods of treating liver cancer.

Dan McQuaid March 29, 2015

Secrets of the Earth’s Core: New research contradicts what we thought we knew

A new discovery shows that the earth’s core is more complex than we previously thought. What does this reveal about the planet’s early history?

Ethan France March 29, 2015

Returning to Darwin’s Finches: A genetic explanation for his observations of bird beaks

Genomic analysis of finch species from the Galapagos archipelago and Cocos islands reveals a genetic basis for the beak diversity studied by the father of evolution.

Sarah Ludwin-Peery March 29, 2015

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Breathe Easier: Using arthritis medication to treat lung inflammation

A team led by Emanuela Bruscia of the Yale School of Medicine has found a more efficient treatment for cystic fibrosis: The drug, called celecoxib, is FDA-approved for treating arthritis inflammation.

Fran Harris March 29, 2015

Bzzzzzz: The Bee’s Need for Sleep

Sleep has previously been shown to consolidate memory and learning. Researchers have observed the same phenomenon in honey bees, and the necessity for sleep is especially apparent in social creatures.

Claire Kim March 8, 2015

How to Detect a Troubled Heart

Despite current knowledge of genetics, identifying patients at risk for genetic forms of heart disease remains difficult. Assistant professor of biomedical engineering Stuart Campbell has developed a method of growing realistic heart tissues from patients’ cells in order to diagnose a family of inherited heart diseases.

Kevan Ip March 5, 2015

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