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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …