By Rachel Rundengan |Opinions Editors| Physics professor Tim Usher has been selected as the university’s 2015-2016 Outstanding Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activities Award winner. Every two years, the award goes to one CSUSB faculty member presented during CSUSB’s Meeting of the Minds student research symposium. The award is based on a professor’s sustained research efforts in their field. This year, Usher stood out amongst all the other candidates. In his speech Usher said that it was a great honor to have received the award. “It is also a great honor and privilege to work with outstanding students and excellent faculty at … [Read more...] about Honored researcher
Science
Flatulence under microscope
By Pauline Fontanaud |Staff Writer| “One who does not burp or fart is bound to explode.” This rough translation of a proverb by Chinese philosopher Lao-Tseu says it all. Farts are a natural way for your body to release the gas it produces or absorbs. They are the result of trapped air, which can have many sources. While we chew and drink, we swallow air that will need to be released. But most of it is caused by fermentation. Some food substances don’t get absorbed in our intestines and end up in the colon. There they are fermented by the bacteria living in our gut, creating gas. “I never fart,” stated student Crystal Virgen. FALSE. Everybody farts. On average, a … [Read more...] about Flatulence under microscope
Scientists try resurrecting extinct species
By Clarissa Toll |Staff Writer| Ben Novak, now 27, vowed to devote his life to resurrecting the extinct species of Passenger Pigeons at the age of 13. The last known of its species died in captivity in 1914. Novak and other researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz are working to resurrect the extinct species of pigeon in what they call “The Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback” project. The project is essentially attempting to create a facsimile of the bird. “This was the most abundant bird in the world. It was thought that one out of four, maybe one of three birds in North America in the early 19th century was a passenger pigeon. It really did blacken the sky for days,” … [Read more...] about Scientists try resurrecting extinct species
Chronicle news briefs
by Essence Dennis |Staff Writer| Mexico legalizes Vigilantism (Jan. 27) Mexico has legalized vigilantes after they captured a cartel leader. The self-appointed group of citizens captured “four top leaders” from the drug cartel known as “Knights Templar.” The government allowed the group to become part of a civilian group referred to as “Rural Defense Corps.” “I believe this is a really positive thing that’s happening in Mexico, the cartels are a big problem and the police (that aren’t corrupt) need help,” said student Miguel Rincon Jr. Incredible findings in sloth fur (Jan. 28) Sloth fur has been found to have a type of fungi that carries anti-parasitic, anti-cancer and … [Read more...] about Chronicle news briefs
Doctors discover medical breakthrough that may cure HIV
Tiffiny Gaston |Staff Writer| At a medical conference in Atlanta on Sunday March 3, a group of scientists mentioned that they believe they have cured a child of HIV. According to the LA Times, for the first time, doctors are reporting that a child born with HIV and put on an unusually aggressive treatment regimen has been functionally cured of the infection. The child in question is a two-year-old girl from Mississippi, whose identity has not been revealed to the public. The girl’s mother did not know she had HIV until she took a screening test after she was already in labor, according to Dr. Hannah Gay, the pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center … [Read more...] about Doctors discover medical breakthrough that may cure HIV
CSUs to hire STEM teachers
By Courtney Sims |Staff Writer| California State Universities push President Obama’s initiative by providing over 1,500 math and science teachers over the next three years. The STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) initiative, constructed by the Obama Administration calls for an $80 million demand for the U.S. Department of Education. STEM is an integrated approach to science, technology, engineering and math. It uses project-based learning to engage students, teach higher-level problem-solving skills and build learners for life according to Learning.com. The nation’s recent rankings for education compared to other countries suggest a need for education reform, … [Read more...] about CSUs to hire STEM teachers
Golden Fleece Awards
Researchers ask timid questions and do not try to get new information or new research, they just explore topics that have already been studied, even if it contributes little to knowledge, according to Kyle Stanford, a professor of philosophy of science at UC Irvine. “It’s the way the industry is set up,” said Marc Abrahams, creator of the Ig Nobel Prizes, to the Los Angeles Times. “Scientists get promotions only if they crack out a lot of research papers,” he added. According to the Los Angeles Times, “A recent paper in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine reported that medical journals publish the results of 75 clinical trials and 11 systematic reviews of the trials every … [Read more...] about Golden Fleece Awards