Humans are unique in our use of sophisticated spoken language to communicate. While other animals use communicative calls and sounds, human language features complex grammar and structure that allows us to convey a nearly infinite number of ideas. Homo sapiens, the species name for modern humans, appears to have been far superior to other hominid […]
Author Archives: Susan Lubejko
November
05
Why do we get hangry?
posted by Susan Lubejko
I’ll admit it – I get very hangry. “Hangry” (a colloquial combo of “hunger” and “angry”) describes the grumpiness and irritability I experience when I’ve gone a bit too long between meals. Hunger itself is an important physiological feeling that signals when our body is low on energy that needs to be replenished by eating. […]
September
24
Something to sneeze at: Hunger-induced sneezing?
posted by Susan Lubejko
If you’re anything like me and crave the look of a pantry or office supplies organized by color in clear bins, you’ve probably, also like me, already binged Netflix’s Get Organized with the Home Edit, in which organizational gurus Clea and Joanna of The Home Edit Instagram fame edit and contain disorganized kitchens, closets, offices, […]
July
09
How much does your brain pay attention while you’re asleep?
posted by Susan Lubejko
*Tick, tick, tick* I glance over into the dusty corner of the dimly lit room, and to my horror, I see what looks like some sort of explosive device fitted with a clock, inevitably ticking down to my demise. *Tick, tick, tick* I freeze in fear, unsure of how to resolve this situation. The ticking […]
June
11
Disparities in the Treatment of Pain Experienced by Black Patients
posted by Susan Lubejko
Recent events in the United States, namely the murders of two Black Americans George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police, have thrust racial policies and violence faced by Black Americans onto the national and global stage. To be clear, the racism faced by the Black community is not new, has been known […]
April
09
Why do many pandemics start with bats?
posted by Susan Lubejko
We are in the midst of an unprecedented global health crisis. The new disease COVID-19 has changed many aspects of how we can lead safe and healthy lives. COVID-19 is caused by the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus previously unknown to humans. As health scientists race to find the best testing and preventative strategies, […]
March
12
ACHOO! How can light make you sneeze?
posted by Susan Lubejko
I follow the same routine every morning. I begrudgingly roll out of bed, get ready for the day, hustle out the side door of my apartment building on my way to the bus stop, and… sneeze. Especially in sunny San Diego where even the overcast days seem bright, I step outside and am greeted with […]
October
31
I scream, you scream…
posted by Susan Lubejko
You’re walking down a dark, cobweb-swathed hallway with only the light from a few candles to guide your way. You note the torn and dirty oriental rug beneath your feet and the strange shadows that dart across the ceiling overhead. On the walls, you pass dusty, old-fashioned portraits of stiffly-posed families whose eyes seem to […]
August
01
Why are you yawning right now?
posted by Susan Lubejko
As a graduate student, spending an early morning or late night in the lab is not uncommon. During those hours, it’s also not uncommon to catch me in the midst of a yawn (or many). This makes sense, though; I’m tired from little sleep or a long day. However, you may be surprised to learn […]
May
30
You’re getting sleepy: Brain mechanisms of anesthesia and natural sleep
posted by Susan Lubejko
[En español] “Take a deep breath and count backwards from 10…” “10…9…8…7….” If you are one of the many people that have had surgery under general anesthesia, you may remember these words from your anesthesiologist, beginning the countdown yourself, then probably ….nothing. When you awoke later, you were already out of surgery and in a […]
