Nergis Mavalvala [1] Introduction Nergis Mavalvala champions diversity as the Curtis and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics and the Associate Head of the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) [1], a female in a male-dominated field, but that’s just the beginning. She is also a Pakistani-American, and openly queer. A professor […]
Alan Turning; Courtesy of The New York Times Abstract: Alan Turing was a homosexual English mathematician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist, known for his famous work in cracking the Nazi Germany communication code called the Enigma code and developing the first blueprints to what became the modern computer. However, aside from his revolutionary work in these […]
Figure 1: Ruth Gates; Courtesy of The Atlantic Introduction With her lifelong dedication and research advancements in marine sciences, Dr. Ruth Gates left a legacy that will continue to fuel progress for years to come. From a young age, Dr. Gates fell in love with the field of marine biology, spending countless hours watching “The […]
Joan Roughgarden, courtesy of Stanford University Profiles LGBTQ+ Pride month is celebrated every June in remembrance of the Stonewall riots to champion the dignity and visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is estimated that LGBT people are around 20% less represented in STEM fields than expected.1 Therefore, it is important we champion the inclusivity of LGBTQ+ individuals […]
A Pride Month protest taking place in New York City. Courtesy of nycpride.org Introduction On June 26th, 1969, police in New York City had raided Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. The bar was just one among many havens for those in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender community. This riot had inspired […]
Abstract: Smoking is one of the biggest problems that has hunted our society for decades. The usage of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes has led to a dangerous and addictive cycle attributing to the deaths of more than 100 million adults. This is because tobacco, the substance found in all these smoking methods, is made up […]
Although the scientific revelation between the causal correlation between smoking and lung cancer has now arguably become “common knowledge, many people seem unaware that lung cancer is not the only cancer that smokers become susceptible to. Smoking is known to cause at least 15 different types of cancer: lung, larynx, oesophagus, oral cavity, nasopharynx, pharynx, […]
Figure 1: Tobacco products. Courtesy of The Independent. Introduction Over 5000 chemicals can be found in tobacco smoke often having devastating carcinogenic, respiratory, or circulatory effects on the human body. The most common tobacco smoke caused deaths include cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as various types of cancers, making it one of […]
It is a well-known fact that smoking is injurious to health and is linked to several diseases, including cancer. Many campaigns promote anti-smoking by highlighting the devastating effects it has on your body. However, did you know that smoking endangers animals too? From domestic pets to wild sea turtles to mutilated lab rats, smoking severely […]
Introduction: What are electronic cigarettes? Electronic cigarette is a term used to describe electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), which are noncombustible tobacco products. These products use a liquid solution that contains nicotine including ingredients such as flavorings, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin. However, the chemical composition of e-cigarettes vary. They are different from regular cigarettes […]
Figure 1 – Socially accepted: group of young adults smoking hookah at a festival [1] Introduction Almost 50% of US-undergraduates report use of hookah[2] as well as almost 60% of British adolescents using cigarettes.[3] Every summer, I see dozens of people, most of whom are young adults, smoking shisha in public places, especially in bars […]
Abstract: Tobacco usage is known to be one of the leading causes of death, with 7 million worldwide dying each year as a result of smoking cigarettes, or chewing tobacco products.[1] There are also many around the world that do not smoke, but inhale cigarette smoke as a result of being exposed to smokers, in […]
Earth Day sprung into being at a time when not many government officials were focused on protecting the environment. Fifty years down the line, it’s succeeded in mobilising and uniting colossal groups of people to act today for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.This article examines Earth Day’s accomplishments to date,as well as the future of the […]
A very average dead rock, by planetary standards. Then, about a billion years later, something quite miraculous happened- the first glimpses of life were seen, and they came from what seemed to be nothing. Since abiogenesis, Earth, and life on it, have been through a lot- from single celled creatures to underwater plants to animals […]
Abstract Life on Earth didn’t just come about by random chance. Several billion years of chain events, complex chemical reactions, mutations, evolutions and favourable conditions were necessary for the creation of life as diverse and adapted as we can see around us now. Scientists are eager to understand how life came to be, for if […]
Introduction: Climate change has been a growing concern of many individuals around the globe. The following technologies could serve as potential solutions to the world’s increasing temperatures. Biorock: From bracelets to earrings one of the most diverse sea habitats lies at the heart of your very own brooch. Although this sea mineral is commonly […]
Introduction: On July 29th, 2019, Ethiopia planted over 350 million trees in 12 hours. Although this has not yet been confirmed by Guinness, Ethiopia has unofficially broken the record for the most trees planted in one day. This was previously held by India, where over 50 million trees were planted across the country in 2016.[1] […]
Despite the theme for the 50th Earth Day being climate action, the last few years has seen mostly inaction and indecisiveness. Agreements have been signed, but then abandoned. However, in recent years, there has been an important exception — teenagers. Many of them are sounding the alarm for urgent and immediate action, and inspiring thousands […]
Abstract The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. This may bring into mind environmental policy and implementation of sustainable practices such as the usage of renewable energy or water conservation in order to reduce the adverse effects of climate change. Geoengineering may also provide a solution. In this article, the two main branches […]
COVID-19 and Climate Change: Can the Lockdown Lifestyle Help the Environment? With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, declared on March 11, 2020, several nations around the globe have encouraged citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing. During the lockdown period, studies and satellite images have shown that carbon emissions have dropped […]