Communications should be available to everyone, not the select view. Signlink aims to address one crucial issue regarding accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-being community through the use of AI. A computer vision and machine learning model to detect sign language and bridge the gap in communication between first responders and the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in emergencies.

Universal healthcare in the US has been a widely debated topic. Opponents of universal healthcare reason that there will be an increased financial burden on taxpayers, prevent economic growth, and create inefficiencies in administrative processes and access to healthcare services. While opponents of healthcare reform argue that healthcare imposes financial burdens and limits individual freedoms, universal healthcare should be implemented in the US because it will promote equitability among individuals, improve public health, and allow for a more efficient, stable society.

Medical professionals exploited, took advantage of, and profited off of Henrietta’s cells, creating a multi-million dollar industry, while she and her family were uninformed of the procedures on Henrietta and the use of her cells. Systemic racism refers to the institutional and structural barriers within a society, perpetuating discriminatory and unjust practices and outcomes for individuals based on their racial identity. It is characterized by the systemic policies, procedures, and structures inherent in society, resulting in unequal access to opportunities, resources, and privileges, such as education, employment, housing, and healthcare. Although the medical field strives to provide equal care to all individuals, systemic racism continues to persist due to issues with informed consent, equitable access to medical care, and historically ingrained stereotypes. Addressing these issues will allow society to circumvent racial barriers and improve patient care overall.

In this STEMATA interview, Sophia talks to Deepshikha Patra, a developmental psychologist and trained mental health professional, about the impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents' mental health. They also discuss steps that can be taken to support young people during these challenging times, advice for high school students interested in pursuing a career in mental health, important skills in the STEM field, and the role of developmental psychology in shaping the future of STEM education. Don't miss this insightful conversation!

RNA-based medicines are quickly expanding as a group of treatments transforming the pharmaceutical sector. These treatments can be cost-effective, easy to produce, and target pathways that were inaccessible previously. RNA drugs include various methods such as anti-sense oligonucleotides, aptamers, small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, and messenger RNA. Each RNA medicine has its advantages and disadvantages, but all provide potential in clinical trials.

The To Cure A Rose Foundation, founded by Casey, aims to fund research and find a cure for HNRNPH2, a rare genetic disease that causes developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and seizures. Their mission is to raise funds to support groundbreaking research for HNRNPH2 and other rare genetic diseases. Listen on YouTube and hear about Casey's mission to find a cure for his daughter and learn more about gene therapies and CRISPR.

Henrietta Lacks was a Black woman whose cells, taken without her knowledge or consent, became one of the most important tools in medical research. The story of Henrietta Lacks and her cells, known as the HeLa cell line, is a complex one that highlights issues of race, ethics, and informed consent in medical research.

CRISPR Interview with Rice Professor Isaac Hilton

Professor Hilton talks about CRISPR, his concerns about gene editing such as equitability and safety, difficulties he faces as a researcher, advice for aspiring scientists, and more!

Try imagining a beach. Close your eyes and imagine the waves crashing against the sand or a beach ball thrown in the air. Can you produce a mental image of this scenario? Compare it to what you would see in real life. Was it extremely accurate or vivid, somewhat inaccurate, or could you not visualize anything at all? The inability to conjure mental images and create an interpretation of a concept is called aphantasia or the loss of the mind’s eye.

Have you ever fasted or gone long periods where you haven’t eaten? This process is autophagy, and doing this in moderation can help clean your body of harmful toxins and substances. Autophagy is reported to have anti-aging properties and is a way for the body to clean out damaged cells to regenerate new, healthier ones. Throughout the lifespan of cells, they are exposed to various stressors that affect their homeostasis.

We all know that the COVID vaccine is essential for keeping ourselves and the people around us safe during the pandemic but have you ever wondered how the vaccine worked? Understanding how the vaccine works and common misconceptions can prevent misinformation, especially from online sources such as social media, and help minimize some of the harmful effects of false information…

What Is the Study of How We Think?

Cognitive psychology is the study of how an individual perceives, processes, and stores information in the brain. It explores how people create thoughts, use language, and perceive environments. Thinking refers to how a person forms mental representations of the world using the information provided to produce complex ideas. Understanding how an individual processes information allows scientists to develop a better understanding of the brain and prevent cognitive disabilities.

It is crazy to believe that something could directly modify or remove genes causing disease or change genes connected to traits, such as eye color and not only appearances but physical abilities and intellect… CRISPR-Cas9 allows for precise modifications to DNA that someday could prevent diseases such as cancer or create a drought-resistant crop faster, at a lower price, and higher accessibility compared with the gene-editing technology not even a decade ago. Interestingly enough, this genome editing system is derived from a defense system in bacteria…