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Activity-Based Protein Profiling: Discovering Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Disease
In the post-genomic era, we are faced with the daunting challenge of translating all of this genomic information into cures for human diseases. One of the major bottlenecks for drug discovery is that much of the genome remains uncharacterized, hampering our efforts to uncover their biological or therapeutic functions. Another challenge is that many of the…
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Analysing the Link between Global Warming, Hurricane Patricia, and Future Tropical Storms
For a brief time, Hurricane Patricia had taken America by storm (pun definitely intended). On the night of Wednesday October 21st, Patricia was an under-the-radar tropical depression that drew little attention. Then, due to a combination of high ocean temperatures, low pressures, and low wind currents, Patricia began to grow at a rate that astounded…
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The Human Microbiome: Slowly Getting There
At this point in time, the study of the human microbiome is not a novelty. Quite a lot of time and money has gone into pursuing the promising field, hoping that collecting data from the trillions of microorganisms in and on our bodies will offer insights into how they affect health and diseases. While…
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The Enigma of the Brain
The 1,200 cm^3 mass of neurons inside our heads, more commonly known as the brain, has been frustratingly elusive in its nature for as long as we’ve known of its existence. How does it work? What does ours, as humans, do so differently from everyone else’s? What is it about the brain that even makes…
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Scientists Selling Genetically-Engineered Micro-Pigs
Who doesn’t love things that are fun-sized? While most pet owners would gladly keep their furry friends baby sized forever, a group of scientists in China has taken things a step further. Geneticists from leading genomics research institute BGI in Shenzhen, China have begun selling genetically engineered micro-pigs as pets starting at US$1600. By…
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Recent Breakthroughs in the World of 2D Materials
Author: Kevin P. Nuckolls In the past few years, the search for new and exciting two-dimensional materials has taken over both the field of material science and nanotechnology. These materials have displayed previously unimaginable characteristics, including their novel electronic properties or extraordinary mechanical characteristics, making them some of the best candidates for solving some of…
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Earth Week 2015: How you can help
Every year, we celebrate Earth Day on April 22 to mark the anniversary of a movement that started in 1970. The founder, Gaylord Nelson, then a US Senator of Wisconsin, thought of the idea after the 1969 massive oil spills in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement (much of which started here…
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Editor’s Picks
Light’s dual nature as both a particle and a wave has confused us all since the theory was proposed. For the first time, scientists have captured a photograph of light behaving as both a particle and a wave, using electrons to image the light. Ever wonder why you really can’t eat just one potato chip?…
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Professor Jennifer Doudna explains RNA Therapeutics and DNA Editing
[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qECgqd6wJb0[/embedyt] Professor Jennifer Doudna explains some of her discoveries in RNA therapeutics and DNA editing at the World Economic Forum. Read her original publication here – or, if that gets too technical, read this article that delves into the story behind her research.
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Editor’s Picks
After a hiatus of nearly a year, Berkeley Scientific Journal is proud to announce that our blog is back! Our aim is to provide a platform for young scientists to discuss issues they are passionate about, and share their thoughts with the public. “Editor’s Picks” is a new series of posts that will regularly feature…