Although many people steal in response to economic hardship, either perceived or actual, some individuals only steal to satisfy a powerful urge. These individuals may have an impulse control disorder known as kleptomania. People with kleptomania experience a sense of relief from stealing, so they steal to get rid of their anxiety (Talih, 2011). The […]
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Chemistry and Biochemistry
Toxin Therapy
While the growth of mold on fruits and vegetables forgotten in the fridge is not an atypical occurrence, lethal spores slowly sprouting in improperly preserved or fermented foods lead to more than a smelly fridge. The Clostridium botulinum bacterium produces deadly botulinum toxins (BoNT) that destroy proteins critical for the release of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter […]
Computer Science and Tech
Mimicking the Human Brain: The Role of Heterogeneity in Artificial Intelligence
Picture this: you’re in the passenger seat of a car, weaving through an urban metropolis – say New York City. As expected, you see plenty of people: those who are rushed, lingering, tourists, locals, old, young, et cetera. But let’s zoom in: take just about any one of those individuals in the city, and you […]
Environmental Science
Living in Beaverland: The Ecology and Biogeochemistry of Beavers
Next time you’re flying up to the Portland Jetport and the third rerun of Endgame just isn’t cutting it, look out the window. Much of the northern half of the continent is a sprawling landscape dotted with kettle lakes, winding rivers, and other vestigial scars of a world once drowned in ice. Certainly, of the […]
Math and Physics
The Power of Plant Cells: An Interview with Luis Vidali, PhD
Walking around campus, we are surrounded by plants of various sizes — pines, grass, bushes, mosses. Despite the variety of size and characteristics, all these plants share a similar structure: their cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is the protein fibers found within the liquid cytoplasm of plant cells that maintain and modify their physical structure. It performs […]
Psychology and Neuroscience
The Kleptomania Connection between Serotonin and Stealing
Mimicking the Human Brain: The Role of Heterogeneity in Artificial Intelligence
Picture this: you’re in the passenger seat of a car, weaving through an urban metropolis – say New York City. As expected, you see plenty of people: those who are rushed, lingering, tourists, locals, old, young, et cetera. But let’s zoom in: take just about … Read Full Article about Mimicking the Human Brain: The Role of Heterogeneity in Artificial Intelligence
The Power of Plant Cells: An Interview with Luis Vidali, PhD
Walking around campus, we are surrounded by plants of various sizes -- pines, grass, bushes, mosses. Despite the variety of size and characteristics, all these plants share a similar structure: their cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is the protein fibers found … Read Full Article about The Power of Plant Cells: An Interview with Luis Vidali, PhD
When We Fall Asleep
When our bodies shut down at night, our brains transport us into strange, convoluted alternate realities. Dreams range from the mundane to the fantastical, from classrooms to castles. Despite the sheer absurdity of many dreams, they always feel real. But where … Read Full Article about When We Fall Asleep