CuriosiTEA Journal Club 

Student summary by Emma Seo Original Source: Carl Zimmer, The New York Times, Published: October 17, 2025 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/science/microbes-endangered-preservation.html Image created by Emma Seo Abstract Background: Humans need microbes to help pandas, rainforests, whales, oceans, and everything else, but microbes are declining. Humans are driving this decline by destroying their habitats, like cutting down forests and turning grasslands int

Student summary by Olivia Liu Original Source:National Public Radio (NPR), September 15, 2021 by The Associated Press Image Created by Olivia Liu Abstract Background: A significant environmental problem is the huge amount of urine waste coming from cows. Cow urine holds nitrogen, and when it is mixed with feces, it transforms into ammonia. Ammonia is an environmental problem that can cause acid rain and other issues. It can also contaminate water with nitrates and produce th

Student summary by Elizabeth Li Original Source: Jake Buehler, Science News, July 10, 2025 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/greenland-sled-dog-dna-arctic Image created by Elizabeth Li Abstract Background: Dogs have shared a close bond with humans for over 20,000 years. When humans crossed a land bridge into the Americas, sled dogs were there to help them. Now, a population of large, thick-furred Arctic sled dogs, Qimmit (singular Qimmeq), is declining, with t

Student summary by Olivia Hwang Original Source: Kasha Patel, The Washington Post, July 2, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/07/02/ancient-egyptian-dna-analysis-study/ Abstract Background: Scientists have only successfully sequenced partial genomes from a few ancient Egyptians due to poor DNA preservation. A full genome of an ancient Egyptian had never been sequenced before, leaving a gap in knowledge about ancient Egyptian history. Objective:

Student summary by Jayden Ahn Original Source: Ben Baker, Yahoo News, August 15, 2023. https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-shocking-discovery-provides-hope-113000690.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall Abstract Background: A vaquita, a 5-foot porpoise, is one of the smallest whales and the most endangered whale species in the world. In May 2022, researchers and scientists sought to understand why there wer