Over the past five years, many of us have encountered vaccines, whether through routine immunizations or COVID-19 shots. This well-established method helps prevent serious infections caused by harmful pathogens that have threatened human health for centuries. But some patients are afraid of the needle. Exploring alternative vaccine delivery systems could increase accessibility and encourage those who fear needles to receive necessary healthcare.While investigating the role of the skin in immunit ...read more
Ancient Mars may have been a beach paradise 4 billion years ago. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that the Chinese Mars rover Zhurong detected evidence of an underground beach in an area that may have once been an ocean. Though Zhurong is now inactive, the evidence the rover has collected is vital to understanding the Red Planet’s history. These findings also help support the theory that Mars once had a massive ocean. "The structures don't look ...read more
What makes one a Hun and where did the Huns come from? Historians have long argued these questions about the fierce nomadic fighters who contributed to the fall of the Roman empire and the beginning of the “Dark Ages” in Europe.One dominant theory about Hunnic origin posits that the equestrian warriors originated in what is now Mongolia, during the Xiongnu Empire. They then swept westward toward Europe, pivoted south through Germany, leaving death and destruction in their wake. However, ther ...read more
There has always been the tendency to put our understanding of the Universe into silos. It makes it easier to create models within those silos that explain how parts of our world might operate. However, as with any model, these silos are just the boundaries we set to allow for the model to work. Otherwise, trying to account for every potential factor would far exceed any ability to make sense out of complexity.When it comes to models, we have to take the crunchy with the smooth. They are great b ...read more
You’re probably concerned about the plight of polar bears. You may reach for your wallet when you see a panda on a fundraising flyer. But have you given much thought to the blobfish?More often than not, our reactions to animals are not very rational. Regardless of the threats to their survival, we love and often try to help animals we think are beautiful or cute. Others, not so much.People who raise money for conservation know this. That’s why the World Wildlife Fund has a panda on its logo ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine