The term “stem cell” has become seemingly ubiquitous in modern scientific research. From the first successful bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia in 1956 to the birth of Dolly the sheep clone in 1996, stem cells have been the foundation of several groundbreaking headlines in recent times.1 However now, prominent research groups across the world are working on using stem cell therapies to treat a variety of medical issues that span the entire human body. What are stem cells, and why is the scientific community so excited about the prospects of stem cell therapies?
For humans, learning is an inevitable task. From birth we are constantly analyzing our situations around us to learn about the world we live in. For more than twelve years of our life we even go to a designated area for eight hours a day to focus solely on learning. It is second nature for our species to gain knowledge through our own experience or through studying the experiences and findings of others. If there are more than seven billion people on Earth who already learn from their surroundings and trillions more living things that do the same, why would we want to teach machines to learn?
If you are applying to college or grad school, there’s a better way to get accepted: just hack your way in! Ok ok, I'm not entirely serious, but it might surprise you that hacking into a college’s database is theoretically possible using a method called SQL injection.
The brain is the ultimate controller and regulator of our every thought, feeling, and action. So then why does the heart seemingly ache with heartbreak, in line with every cheesy love song ever written? Why does it feel like our emotions have the ability to run rampantly untamed, no matter how much we attempt to control them?
With their wagging tails, lolling tongues, and bright-eyed, trusting gazes, dogs have quickly adapted to life among humans. And unlike their wolf ancestors, dogs have an uncanny ability to communicate with humans; they are especially attuned the emotions of their owners, able to comprehend facial expressions and even express remorse when their owner is upset. When trapped in an uncomfortable situation, dogs will also often seek contact with a human and solicit help.1 But how much of this tendency is due to science, and what implications does this behavior have for humans?
