CuriosiTEA Journal Club 

Student summary by Olivia Hwang Original Source: NEIL SAVAGE, Scientific American, April 2,2025 https://www.scientificamerican.com/custom-media/ul-research-institutes/the-new-materials-that-could-ease-climate-impacts/?mvt=i&mvn=c72419d6bafe46a58cf37beafcb7118d&mvp=NA-SCIEAMER-11239494&mvl=%20%5BHopper%20Native%20Grid%5D Abstract Background: Climate change is a growing issue, and with the world using many petroleum-based materials, a United Nations study reports that water

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 Audrey Kim Original Source: Catherine Morris, WorldAtlas, June 6, 2025. https://www.worldatlas.com/animals/discover-the-shrimp-that-fires-sun-hot-bubbles.html Image created by Audrey Kim Abstract Background: Pistol shrimps use their strong, quick claw to form a bubble underwater that can injure or kill their prey. A snap of a pistol shrimp can reach up to 210 decibels, about as loud as a gunshot, and the heat of the water bubble is similar to the surface

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

Student summary by Elizabeth Li Original Source: Erin Garcia De Jesús, Sciencenews, July 2nd, 2025 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bioplastic-algae-plastic-mars-space Image created by Elizabeth Li Abstract Background: Getting ahold of enough material to build and sustain a settlement on Mars would be nearly impossible. Even for humans to live there — or anywhere — without plants would be impossible. Mars has an atmosphere too thin to hold liquid water — about 100 times t

Student summary by Hayden Byun Original Source: Published November 28, 2024 in The Washington Post by Kasha Patel Abstract Background: Scientists believed that the special genes needed to make stem cells could only be found in animals. A researcher named Shinya Yamanaka first discovered how to reprogram cells using four genes. Until recently, it was assumed that these genes were only found in animals. Objective: The scientists wanted to achieve functional mouse stem cells