Fall 2020 – Berkeley Scientific Journal

Beyond the Racetrack: The Perfect Formula for a Ventilator [Interview with Simone Resta]

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 28, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

Beyond the Racetrack: The Perfect Formula for a Ventilator Interview with Simone Resta By Elettra Preosti As published in Berkeley Scientific Journal Volume 25, Issue 1, Bonds pp. 20-24 Simone Resta (1). Simone Resta is Head of Chassis Area at Scuderia Ferrari, the Formula 1 racing team of luxury Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari. He obtained a master’s …

Concerns over Insufficient Vitamin D: A Valid Excuse for Not Wearing Sunscreen?

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 14, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

By Tiffany Liang We know that we should wear sunscreen when heading outdoors on a hot, sunny day, but slathering on the sun lotion is often the last thing on our minds during the cold, dark days of winter. Besides, we need all the Vitamin D we can get, right? Well, let’s first break down …

The “New” Science Field That Might Cure Our Existentialism

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 14, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

By Aarthi Muthukumar What does it mean to be human? Perhaps it’s our anatomy, and the way we’ve categorized ourselves in evolutionary theory. Or maybe it’s the fact that we have big brains, dedicated to solving complex problems and contemplating the meaning of existence. Whatever the answer may be, we can all agree that …

Shaping Light with New Materials: A new take on Chromatic Aberration

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 13, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

By Yi Zhu Ever wonder why rainbows contain, well…a rainbow of colors? The science behind rainbows was first demonstrated by Isaac Newton in 1666 when he showed that white light passing through a glass prism will spread out into a wide spectrum of colors. We observe a rainbow from materials such as …

You’re Overthinking: The Spotlight Effect

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 12, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

By: Hosea Chen The teacher asks for a volunteer to sing their favorite song in front of the class. Would you do it? What if I told you that you’d feel more inclined to hit those high notes in front of your peers by the end of this article? Well, let me introduce you …

Lower Voice Pitch Correlates with Higher Electability, but not Necessarily Leadership Ability

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 January 12, 2021February 28, 20220 comments

by Nanda Nayak Vocal communication can serve a variety of purposes in the animal kingdom. Male white bellbirds, for example, attempt to coo females they are interested in by loudly screaming in their face, reaching up to 125 decibels in volume — about as loud as a jackhammer!) Tigers may roar to intimidate competition and …

Artificial Intelligence: A Potential Platform for Breast Cancer Diagnosis

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 December 24, 2020February 28, 20220 comments

By Liane Albarghouthi When you hear of artificial intelligence, what first comes to mind? You may not immediately jump to breast cancer screenings — but with the developments of exciting technologies, this seemingly unlikely pairing is within reach. Now, scientists are unraveling trailblazing artificial intelligence applications throughout a vast range of fields — including cancer …

Deep brain stimulation: a potential new treatment for schizophrenia

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 December 21, 2020February 28, 20220 comments

By Andrea He Schizophrenia is a severe disease that affects 1% of the worldwide population and reliable, effective treatments are almost nonexistent. Symptoms of hallucinations and delusions mark this mental disorder, changing the lives of patients and their families. However, a new treatment using the deep brain stimulation technique could improve the condition of patients. …

What’s Killing the Tasmanian Devils? And What’s Saving Them?

by Berkeley Scientific2020, BSJ Blog, Fall 2020 December 21, 2020February 28, 20220 comments

By Emily Matcham Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is as horrific as it sounds. Classified as a transmissible cancer, the disease, when present in Tasmanian devil populations, can reduce the populations by approximately 80 percent. Tasmanian devils, which are small, carnivorous marsupials native only to Tasmania, are scavengers and are instrumental to the maintenance of …