Apple varieties photographed by Rebecca Siegel, available under Creative Commons license 2.0 on Flickr What’s your favorite kind of apple? Today, over 7,500 varieties of Malus domestica, or domestic apple, are cultivated and produced worldwide. Research from Reedy et. al indicates that 728 of these varieties, with names like Slack Ma Girdle and Pig’s Nose, are specifically grown for cider production. Classic apple-based juice and cider beverages have been around for centuries

Most people are aware of the harmful effects of consuming alcoholic beverages, but are not aware that the preparation of certain cocktails, such as margaritas, can also have the potential for harm. Margarita burns get their name not because of the alcohol, but because of the lime in margaritas that can cause burns, blistering, rashes, and sun poisoning. Margarita burns are a type of phytophotodermatitis, meaning they occur when chemicals from phototoxic plants interact with s

High magnification micrograph of chorangiosis by user Nephron, available under Creative Commons license 3.0 at Wikimedia Commons The baby has arrived and finally, the room exhales. Months of anticipation give way to first cries and embraces. It is tempting to think that the hardest part is over, but for the body that has just carried a pregnancy, another chapter is only beginning. In the weeks after childbirth, blood sugar can remain dangerously high and blood loss can beco

Artwork by Esme Ammons Nail polish has long been used as a decorative cosmetic, and common polish ingredients have changed drastically over the course of time. Today, there is a large variety of nail polishes on the market, such as traditional, gel, shellac, and more. Nail polish toxicity is a topic generally discussed, but seldom fully understood by regular users. In the United States, nail polishes are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are treated li

Celiac disease is an inflammatory autoimmune condition triggered by the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in cereals such as wheat, rye, and barley. This disease causes underlying damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine, leading to flattening of the villi, the small hairlike projections of the intestine that facilitate nutrient uptake. In the long term, this damage can lead to malabsorption of nutrients. A person with this condition also experiences symptoms li

Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety are just a few of the taxing symptoms that come with menopause. These symptoms occur because the ovaries begin producing less estrogen during menopause, which has wide-reaching implications for the entire body. Pharmaceutical scientists at Xinjiang Medical University have developed a compound estrogen-progesterone patch that offers a promising new avenue for managing these symptoms. Transdermal estrogen patches are a common the

From “mewing” to “bone-smashing”, and almost everything in between, the internet has quickly fallen into obsession with unconventional ways to enhance appearances. As multiple online communities emerge in the wake of this, one method seems to be among the most popular: injection of grey-market peptides. Although their spike in fame is recent, peptides have been around for a while. Insulin was first discovered in 1921, and others such as oxytocin and Ozempic have been FDA-app

Have you ever meticulously mixed different ratios of household materials, hoping they would combine to form the delightful slippery substance we call slime? You may not have realized it in the moment, but you could consider yourself an amateur chemist! If you successfully created slime as a kid, you were doing more than just contributing to the 2016-era craze; you were forming a non-Newtonian fluid. These fluids don’t follow Isaac’s law of viscosity; their “thickness” changes

Image from Freepik Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a type of pancreatic cancer, has a five-year survival rate of less than ten percent. Often diagnosed in later stages, it is one of the most lethal diseases. Pancreatic cancer is on the path to becoming the second-leading cause of cancer death by 2030, with diagnoses rising each year. Current treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, but do not improve clinical outcomes. A recent study published in the

In the mammalian world, bowhead whales are unrivaled in lifespan and second only to blue whales in size, yet these whales seemingly evade cancer. A recent study led by researchers at the University of Rochester identified that this cancer resistance comes from a protein called CIRBP that helps repair DNA damage. Cancer can develop when genetic errors accumulate in cells over time, but bowhead whales, which have a 200+ year lifespan and many cells, have a paradoxical resistan

Preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and organ damage during pregnancy, is responsible for 14% of maternal deaths each year. Despite the high prevalence of preeclampsia, its causes continue to elude scientists. Even more troublingly, there are currently no tests that can consistently predict the onset of preeclampsia early on in pregnancy, and early diagnosis is critical for effectively treating the condition. A team of biologists and doctors may have hit

For axolotls, regenerating an arm is like an architect rebuilding a mansion after a fire. To reconstruct this complex building, an architect needs a blueprint.

With the final borehole dug on September 11, 2025, Smith College is well on its way to completing its intricate geothermal heating and cooling system. 40% of the campus is already benefiting from the system.

A recent study led by researchers from Stanford University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital discovered that lung cancer cells in the brain partner with neurons to promote tumor growth.