Category Archives: Science in pop culture

January 16

Under Your Skin: the Immune Science Behind Tattoos

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The skin is the first major barrier to injury and harm in everyday life. In areas where clothes or hats fail to protect us, our skin protects us from the sun’s harsh UV rays. If we trip and fall, we might receive mere scrapes to the skin while our muscles and bones will remain unscathed. […]

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September 19

Solving the Puzzle of Addiction

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According to the United Nations’s World Drug Report of 2024, the number of people who use drugs worldwide had risen to 292 million in 2022, a 20 percent increase over the past 10 years (1). Further more, an estimated 64 million of those people suffer from a substance use disorder (addiction). The study of addiction […]

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April 25

Soothing Towel Sounds

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There is more to the new fad of ASMR than you think.

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September 30

What Does Music Have to Do with Gender, Anyway?

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There has been a lot of debate regarding gender stereotypes in music, but is there actually any inherent quality of music that makes it gendered?

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June 29

Headbang It Out

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Learn how your favorite rock and roll music could help you process emotions by understanding your brain’s basic responses

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April 13

Your Brain on Stories

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The brain is wired for stories, but what exactly happens to it when we hear and tell stories?

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July 21

Media Misrepresentations of Mental Illness: Dissociative Identity Disorder

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It’s no secret that watching movies can create lasting impressions on viewers. This is true in cases of medical dramas, where viewers are introduced to rare diseases through interactions with fictional patients seeking help. It is also true of mental health conditions – both in the cases of television and movies, it has become increasingly […]

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April 14

“Fearless” climbers: how the amygdala mediates fear

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Rock climbing, both in a specialized gym and outdoors on natural rock formations, is a very popular hobby here in Southern California. Some people find it exhilarating and enjoyable, while others are simply terrified. Like with any athletic venture, climbers assess risk before embarking on new routes, and may quell their fears with the knowledge […]

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January 27

Genetics of Sasquatch: making cryptozoology scientific?

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Growing up in Oregon meant I spent lots of time hearing about Sasquatch. Now working in a lab studying monkeys, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how different primates are related. While it is undeniable that little evidence has been found to prove Bigfoot roams the wild forests of the Pacific Northwest, perhaps […]

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April 09

Why do many pandemics start with bats?

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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, […]

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