Category: 2016

  • The Hyperloop: Propelling us into the Future

    The Hyperloop: Propelling us into the Future

    “We’re not selling transportation, we’re selling time” (“Hyperloop One”). The slogan of Hyperloop One encompasses the revolutionary, efficiency-centered attitude that both their organization and the world as a whole are adopting. Imagine taking a train from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under half an hour. For someone that lives in California, traveling that fast…

  • The Minimalist Cell

    The Minimalist Cell

    As scientists, we like to assign function to structure. With the human genome, however, this association becomes difficult. The human genome is 3 billion base pairs long, but only 1.5% of the genome actually codes for protein. Some unknown part of the noncoding 98.5% of the human genome is involved in gene regulation, but what…

  • The Periodic Table of Berkeley

    The Periodic Table of Berkeley

      Whether you’re a dewy-eyed freshman, or a tenured professor, we all know UC Berkeley has been a world center of scientific innovation and discovery for decades—and we’re DARN proud of it. But in case you need a couple more reasons to take pride in being a Golden Bear, here are a couple noteworthy chemical…

  • The Impacts of Soylent on the Human Gut Microbiome: Berkeley’s New Student Organization “Mycrobes” Launches a Research Study

    The Impacts of Soylent on the Human Gut Microbiome: Berkeley’s New Student Organization “Mycrobes” Launches a Research Study

    Typically, we judge how “healthy” a food product is by looking at the nutritional label. However, the chemical composition of food (e.g. amount of fat, salt, or sugar) and its caloric content alone do not provide a complete picture of its dietary effects. Recent research [1] indicates that diet can alter the genetic composition and…

  • The Bone Splint System: a Revolutionary Treatment for Osteogenesis Imperfecta

    The Bone Splint System: a Revolutionary Treatment for Osteogenesis Imperfecta

    Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones. Characterized as “a hidden autosomal inheritance disorder,” this condition can lead to imperfect formation of the whole skeletal system. Some outcomes of having this disorder include – but are not limited to – fragile bones, short stature and other malefactions. Individuals…

  • Increasing the Human Brain Memory Capacity: Drugs that Enhance Norepinephrine and Dopamine Functionality in the Prefrontal Cortex

    Increasing the Human Brain Memory Capacity: Drugs that Enhance Norepinephrine and Dopamine Functionality in the Prefrontal Cortex

    The human brain is the single most complex structure known to man in the entire universe. Humans have surpassed all other life forms on Earth owing to the power of the human brain. However, there is always the constant drive to reach even greater heights. Questions such as “What is the size of the universe”…

  • Attack of the Zika

    Attack of the Zika

    The human body is an impeccable machine made of tiny, living particles that compose every part of our physical existence – cells. Without our conscious thought, our cells produce the necessary proteins, enzymes, and hormonal responses that allow us to function normally on a daily basis. In comes the virus – a semi-alive being that…