The Catalyst

Frankenstein, Jekyll, Doofenshmirtz, Doom. It seems the villains of our screens and pages all share one common prefix: Doctor. Eccentric men in their lab coats hunched over the workbench or screaming to the sky about their new discovery are often the image we associate with the character of the “mad scientist.” Why is a scientist always “mad,” though? Why must he–always a “he,” never a “she”–be obsessed with ruling the world and molding it to his will, conducting evil experim

Collage by Evie Tourtelot Special effects (SFX) makeup and prosthetics have been used to transform movie actors into their characters since the earliest days of cinema. Early SFX materials were oftentimes made with extremely toxic ingredients, like mercury and lead, and caused all sorts of medical problems for the actors. In the 1939 The Wizard of Oz movie, for example, The Tin Man was covered in actual aluminum powder which resulted in his hospitalization only nine days int

Smith Cheerleaders Hana Hernandez and Louisa Miller-Out demonstrating a toe touch. Photo by Sadye Prebus. What do cheerleaders and Sir Isaac Newton have in common? A robust understanding of the laws of physics! Based on his observations of the behavior of objects on Earth, Newton wrote three laws of motion. Cheerleaders understand these laws intuitively and apply them in order to execute difficult stunts. Gary Felder, a professor of physics at Smith, helped break down two fou

HBO Max’s The Pitt is a medical drama that has taken television by storm. Each season of the Emmy-winning show follows a day in a Pittsburgh emergency room, with each episode comprising an hour of one shift. The Pitt has received lots of praise for its realistic portrayal of emergency medicine and for highlighting the nuanced issues American healthcare faces in a post COVID-19 world. Is this praise warranted? John Wiesenfarth, MD, is an attending physician with the Hawaii Pe

“Turn on the propane first with this knob, then turn this knob for the oxygen.” A flame, half a foot long, bursts from the nozzle. That was Sally Prasch, a scientific glassblower of the UMass Glassblowing Laboratory. In February, the Student Event Committee organized three workshops at the lab for Smithies to learn the unique craft of glassblowing, an intersection of art and science that cannot be found on campus. Sally Prasch demonstrates how to melt the end of a glass rod.

To many people, it may seem unconventional to have an organic molecule or a neuron tattooed on their body. However, after completing a difficult STEM course, memorializing these concepts as a tattoo can serve as a reminder of not just the difficult material, but also the connection made between classmates and the pride felt after completing the course. These courses are not only major requirements, but also a stepping stone in your academic journey to discover what you love.

Gingko trees are the last remaining species of a primitive plant family, their existence dating back to 150-200 million years ago, when dinosaurs were still alive. Their long-lasting presence is reflective of their exceptional resilience – Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences notes their ability to survive in harsh environments, as well as their resistance to insects and disease. Gingko trees are native to East Asia, but their durability make

Hanging in the main common room of the Barresi Lab is a framed art piece—one that earned junior biology major Sophia Liu first place in an interlab art competition. The photo depicts two organic, almost celestial-like forms suspended in a field of black, floating as if in deep space. Green particles of stardust trace the contours of their bodies, while clouds of violet and ember-orange seem to glow from within. At first glance, the mesmerizing alien image could be mistaken fo

This shift in nature signifies the transition from summer to fall, and in regions like New England, it brings people from all over the world to see its beauty.

Have you ever seen a beautiful blue hydrangea on the side of the road and wondered if you could make an ink of that exact color? Well, you can try– but according to Avery Maltz ’25 (he/him), that beautiful blue might turn out as a shade of green or yellow.