Vol. VI No. 1 by Dickinson Science Magazine

DickinsonScienceMagazine

CONTENTS 13 December 2019 - Volume 6, Issue #1

Editor’s Choice

4 Letter From the Editor

Science News 5 Future of Alcohol 6 Priestly Award 2019 7 To Change Vaccine Behavior, We Must First Understand Behavior 13 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Scientists for Discovery of how Cells Sense and Adapt to Oxygen Availability

CONSIDER THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA IN NORWICH , ENGLAND!

Research 10 Oh Deer... 12 Sleuthing a Snake’s Digestive System 14 Climate Change Impacts on the Birds of Cumberland County

Features

16 Music, Earth, Home, and Change Science Activism at BE.Hive U: Climate Change Needs 18 Behavior Change Summit Endangered Species of 20 Pennsylvania

Technology 22 An AI Composer Twenty Years of the Britton 23 Telescope

Opinion

24 Op-ed On Vaping

25 Ethics of Data Mining

Entertainment 25 Crossword Puzzle 26 Deception Point: A Modern Conundrum 28 Chernobyl

Health & Wellness

Prioritize Self-Care Today 29 for a Healthy and Productive Tomorrow 30 Alcohol and the Brain What We Know 32 (And What We Don’t) About E-Cigarettes

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDY AT GLOBAL@DICKINSON.EDU

Letter from the Editor

DSM Dickinson Science Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tom Wegman ‘20 Managing Editor Anna Peterson ‘22

Hello everyone! I’m Tom Wegman, the editor-in-chief for the Dickinson Science Magazine. I’ve been working with the Magazine for eight(!) whole semesters – almost my entire time here, starting from News and working my way to the top. This will be my final issue with the team as I’m graduating at the end of this semester. Taking my place will be Anna Peterson – she’s the Features editor this semester. She was actually the one who came up with the theme for this issue; science activism. With climate change becoming more and more of a looming threat over the future of humanity, the current generation is getting fed up with those in charge and are taking action that needs to happen. The climate strikes are a great example of that and is the subject of one of our featured articles. We need more people to get involved, so if you’re concerned about the direction this country (and the world as a whole) is taking, please take action! Once again I’d like to take a moment to appreciate everyone involved in Dickinson Science Magazine this semester, to all our wonderful editors and writers, and of course the readers like you. Thank you! -Tom Wegman ‘20

Executive Layout Editor Alice Kuklina ‘20 Layout Editor Assistant Amelia Dao ‘23 News Editor Yuna Lee ‘21 Features Editor Anna Peterson ‘21 Research Editor Abigail Brickler ‘21 Science & Technology Editor Hiya Sawhney ‘22 Science & Entertainment Editor Alexis Scott ‘19 Opinion Editor Nuhan Abid ‘23 Health & Wellness Editor Oliver Zheng‘22 Cover Art Alice Kuklina ‘22 Executive Copy Editor Ayana Rahman ‘22 Event Coordinator Janice Wiss Faculty Advisor Missy Niblock Email: scinews@dickinson.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DsonScienceMagazine/ Issuu: http://issuu.com/dickinsonsciencemagazine

News

Alcoholic

beverages have been a staple across cultures all around the globe since the Neolithic era. Though the drinks we enjoy today may not all be the exact same as those hunter-gatherers drank at the beginning of history, we all brewed and appreciated beer. The process of brewing beer involves fermentation and four main ingredients— water, grain, hops, and yeast. As beer connoisseurs and microbreweries continue to rapidly pop up, fresh new beer varieties are in high demand. With yeast being a main ingredient in all fermented beverages and a model organism, molecular biologists and geneticists have collaborated to focus on using technology, old and new, to genetically modify new yeast strains to appease the appetite of beer lovers everywhere. As of now “The Aroma genesis Project” is in full swing. The main tactic involved in this project is simple enough—natural selection. More specifically, they are using thermal stress adaptive evolution. Ursula Bond of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, a main contributor to the project, states that they are applying heat stress to the yeast cells to naturally introduce random mutations. This process involves placing yeast with favorable profiles under a specific stress to induce even varying palatable flavors over an accelerated period. Furthermore, the thermal centric processes ensure that the yeast is optimal for commercial and consumer use by emulating the fermentation process’ lack of oxygen. More recently developed technology is also being investigated. Specifically, these scientists are experimenting with genome editing through CRISPR. However, they are not directly editing the genome. Instead, they are using this tool to identify specific genes that produce specific flavors when brewed. With this information, the researchers can create a game plan for what yeast strains to target and how to design and approach their accelerated evolutionary methods. Though it seems these developments will increase alcohols marketability, there are other factors preventing the very thing. However, as it seems, many people throughout Europe are cutting down

on their alcohol consumption for a variety of health reasons. As many European countries are major producers of wine, this downturn in consumption has been bad for their rural economic standing. Therefore, many have been interested in finding a way to produce a low-alcohol wine with great taste. Trends also oppose the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in producing new yeast strains. Thus, Dr. David Peris Navarro at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spain, is adopting similar techniques to aid in their hunt for yeasts to produce palatable low-alcohol wine.

News

Priestly Award 2019 Bryant Caballero ‘21

For 67 years, Dickinson College has

presented the Joseph Priestly Award to an outstanding scientist whose achievements have contributed to the wellbeing of humanity. This year’s recipient was chosen by the Department of Biology for her groundbreaking research on the structure and function of microbial communities as well as her contributions to shaping national science policy. Previous science advisor to President Barack Obama and former faculty at Yale University, Dr. Jo Handelsman updated our understanding of both microbes and soil through her lecture Microbial Communities—The Original Internet of Everything. Since Robert Koch’s development of petri dishes in the 1870’s, scientific advancements mostly relied on the analysis of pure cultures. Since then, many have overlooked a fact that Handelsman never did: the majority of microorganisms fail to grow in standard conditions (even with food) when away from their, as she puts it, ‘friends’. “Of the small minority [of microbes] in soil,” she said, “only about 1% or 0.1% will grow on Petri dishes.” In nature, microorganisms flourish best when surrounded by their diverse communities. Although pure-culture models provide useful insight, the elegant symbiotic mechanisms that sustain the real microbial world are lost in the process. Thus, Handelsman argues that micro-

organisms need to be studied in communities by convention. Handelsman stages her research in the light of a greater, more urgent issue: erosion. More than ever, Americans and developers worldwide continue to degrade fertile earth at an alarming rate. When soil is dug up (whether for agriculture or construction), the rich

microbial colonies, plants, and other animals found within become a victim of the elements. Air, sunlight, and anthropogenic chemicals extinguish its rich, life-giving properties. Taking matters into her own hands, Handelsman worked with the White House to commission a report from 15 global federal agencies to push for sustainable agricultural practices in America. One

To Change Vaccine Behavior, We Must First Understand Behavior Michael Murphy’20

of their findings was a need for interdisciplinary research, an increase in soil scientists, and public education. With intentions to reduce the rate of American soil erosion, Handelsman dutifully applied her microbial acumen to develop THOR: a model community for microbial research. Her model system achieves the pinnacle of community ecology: specific phenotypes among Pseudomonas koreensis, Flavobacterium johnsoniae, and Bacillus cereus are expressed when they function properly in tandem that would otherwise not be seen in the individuals or pairs. Handelsman’s three-species model community promises that microbial communities can be manipulated to produce more polysaccharides that ‘stick’ the soil together to ultimately intercept the erosion crisis. Microbes are capable of accomplishing amazing feats when working in concert. Jo Handelsman commissions their talent. Her commitment to advancing science education and solving global concerns and not settling for previously explored answers undoubtedly continues to inspire students to seek creativity, responsible-living, and a drive for discovery. Dr. Jo Handelsman, Dickinson’s 67th Joseph Priestly Award winner, has set the bar for scientific excellence and effective citizenship.

News

the year 2000, measles was eliminated within the United States, the most populous country to have achieved such status (Papania et al., 2014). This success was due to the effectiveness of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Yet in 2019, there were 1,250 individual cases of measles from 31 states reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Measles cases and outbreaks, 2019). This the highest number of reported cases in the U.S. since 1992. 75% of cases within the U.S. in 2019 are attributed to outbreaks in New York that largely infected under-vaccinated Orthodox Jewish communities (Measles elimination in the U.S, 2019). The outbreaks in New York, and most within the U.S., are largely traced to travelers from other countries experiencing serious outbreaks, such as Israel, Ukraine, and the Philippines. These outbreaks, which began in October 2018, nearly threatened the U.S.’s measles elimination status. As of October 3, 2019, however, the New York State Health Commissioner declared the outbreaks to be over (Zucker, 2019). Prior to writing this article, it was admittedly difficult to picture what measles imparts on the body: a red blotchy skin rash, dry cough, inflamed eyes, and runny nose, to name a few symptoms. Many modern Americans, including doctors, might not view the measles (and other eradicated or rare diseases) as a

tangible threat due to its elimination in 2000. According to behavioral scientists, this has large implications on the decision to vaccinate. Among many of the “cognitive biases” humans share is the availability heuristic (Graves, 2019). According to the heuristic, or rule of thumb, a lack of tangibility causes us to place little weight on a threat. As such, the disease might be viewed as a harmless thing of the past. Recent outbreaks are helping bring it back to life, but we at a great cost. We can continue to make the disease tangible through salient communication, not actual outbreaks. In addition to the availability heuristic, many of us succumb to the confirmation bias (Graves, 2019). This states that we only accept “facts” that support our opinions. This bias is especially dangerous in today’s digital world. A Facebook search led me to the group “Moms Against Vaccines,” which supports the erroneous link between autism and vaccines, in about 20 seconds. Hesitant individuals are especially resistant to pro-vaccine science when more agreeable information is so readily available. A step in the right direction is to enlist the help of “convert communicators,” or those who advocate for a belief that once contradicted their view. The science is solid: vaccines work safely. Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective (Hall et al., 2017). The vaccine problem in the U.S. is not scientific in nature, but behavioral. As the science community is realizing, another randomized control trial in the most prestigious of journals will not fix the problem. Data is not enough. The answer to the vaccine problem will require interventions made for real people, not the impartial processers of information we sometimes wish and presume to be. We are imperfect and biased. It might seem unfortunate, but this understanding is central to the solution.

News

“2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Scientists for Discovery of how Cells Sense and Adapt to Oxygen Availability” Chase Weizer BCMB ‘22

Every year, the Nobel Prize in Physiol-

ogy or Medicine is awarded to “a person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine” (“Nobel Prize Lessons – All Nobel Prizes 2019”, 2019). This year, on October 9, the Nobel prize was awarded to two Americans, William G. Kaelin Jr., Gregg L. Semenza, and one British man, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability” (“The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2019”, 2019). The group made profound discoveries relating to the protein-composed HIF-1 complex, or hypoxia-inducible factor 1 complex, which senses how much available oxygen there is within a cell’s surroundings, plays an integral role in the body’s response to low oxygen concentrations, and heavily regulates homeostasis (Ziello, Jovin, & Huang, 2007). HIF-1, a protein responsible for gene regulation in response to low cellular oxygen

levels (Irving, 2019), was originally discovered by Semenza, a biochemistry, medicine, and oncology professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Semenza was awarded the Nobel prize for this discovery. Kaelin Jr., a professor of medicine at Harvard University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, was jointly awarded the Nobel prize for his investigation into the correlation of HIF-1 and von Hippel-Lindau’s disease, or VHL. Kaelin’s research concluded that the expression of the gene that encodes for the disease, alternatively codes for a protein that was found to block and prevent certain cancers and was found to play a role in the response to low oxygen levels within cells, which had similar implications to Semenza’s HIF-1. Ratcliffe, a professor of clinical medicine at Oxford University and licensed nephrologist, was also awarded the Nobel prize in part for discovering an oxygenation mechanism mutual to all cells. When oxygen levels are recognized by the body as being insufficient, the kidneys produce more red blood cells that carry the HIF-1 protein throughout the body. These cells constantly produce HIF proteins that prompt the body for oxygen when levels are low. When oxygen levels become sufficient again, the body tags HIF proteins with ubiquitin, a smaller regulatory protein, which aids in the targeting of cells for degradation by the proteasome (Saey & Cunningham, 2019). The esteemed trio’s research may hold the key to developing cures for anemia,

myocardial infarctions, strokes, and primarily cancer. Just as normal cells require oxygen to survive, so do cancer cells. Metastasizing cancer cells often clump to form tumors, and these tumors require quite the amount of oxygen to sustain themselves. However, these tumors must rely on a blood supply to receive the oxygen needed for sustainment. Angiogenesis, or the process of forming new blood vessels (Grisham, 2014), is instrumental in cancer formation due to it being the source of oxygen and nutrient delivery. The trio’s advanced understanding and research into the HIF-1 complex was vital in the development of a class of drugs known as angiogenesis blockers, which help to treat cancer by blocking tumors from forming of new blood vessels and obtaining oxygen and nutrients that they require to survive (Chow & Freeman, 2019). Research is also currently being conducted into experimental treatments that are capable of regulating the HIF complex. This poses both the benefits of starving the cancer of oxygen by turning off the HIF system and activating low-oxygen responses within the cells by turning on the HIF system (Saey & Cunningham, 2019). Although cancer is still a complex disorder that may require more than one solution to cure, the research and findings of Semenza, Kaelin Jr., and Ratcliffe may help to add another “nail in the coffin” towards producing a cure.

Research

Oh Deer… Nina Don, ‘20

Driving along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-81, or through the

backroads near Carlisle, there are road signs warning drivers to be vigilant of deer activity and movement. The threat that deer pose on the roads are the tip of the iceberg for Pennsylvania’s larger issues with these four-legged furry forest inhabitants. Pennsylvania’s deer problem has evolved over time from being one of scarcity and threat of extirpation to one of abundance and overpopulation. Before the 1900s, deer populations had reached an all-time low due to a lack of hunting regulations. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was founded in 1895 to bring back the deer population within the state. The Commission imposed strict regulations on hunting and importing deer from other states to boost herd numbers. These efforts – paired with a lack of natural predators – allowed the deer population to increase well past their pre-European settlement population into the massive numbers we witness today. The significant increase in deer population has not come with unanimous praise, for the sheer number of deer have started to cause major changes within Pennsylvania’s forest ecosystems. Deer are browsers, which is a type of herbivory in which deer eat anything below their feet or anything their mouth can reach. This relatively uncontrolled herbivory has started to have some effects on Pennsylvania’s forest composition, mainly concerning what future forest flora will dominate and what will perish. Over the years, biology Professor Carol Loeffler and her research students have studied the effects of deer herbivory on forest growth over time. This study takes place at Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS), a short drive away from Dickinson over North Mountain. What makes RWS unique and the ideal location for the study is that the 3,400 acre plot of forest is protected by a legal clause that prevents any “molestation” of animals or the environment; no hunting or logging is allowed on the grounds. Being that the land remains “untouched,” the factor of direct human influence on the environment and experimental data are minimized. In 1992 and again in 2012,

multiple fenced deer exclosures were constructed in three different regions of RWS to track forest growth in the absence of deer herbivory. Unfenced control plots that were the same size as the two experimental plots were placed in each of the three regions to act as the control, for deer could still freely eat whatever the found desirable in the respective regions. In each plot, multiple one meter by one meter quadrat samples were taken to measure different types of growth; every species found in the quadrat was recorded along with their respective percent cover, number of individuals, and height (if applicable). Every year this data is collected and compared to past years in order to track deer herbivory in RWS. This research allows us to better understand how deer herbivory affects forest composition by comparing data collected in deer exclosures to the control plots. The exclosures provide insight to what the forest would look like if deer populations were decreased, while the control plots demonstrate the effects of the high deer population on the current and future forest composition of RWS. Preliminary data has shown that in the exclosures there is greater plant diversity, healthier plant growth, and less invasive species. In the control plots, invasive monocultural species dominate. (For RWS this is stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). Furthermore, the data also sheds light on the forest’s ability to regenerate. The exclosure plots established in 2012, while not as diverse as the plots built in 1992, have shown to promote growth of native species when compared to the control plots. One could hypothesize that if the deer herbivory in RWS and other parts of Pennsylvania were decreased, the forest would have a chance to regenerate with its native species. However, if deer populations were to remain at their current level, the future forests of Pennsylvania could be comprised of stiltgrass and other non-native species. All this data raises concerns for how deer populations and forestry should be managed in order to maintain not just RWS but the rest of Pennsylvania’s forest ecosystem.

Research

Sleuthing a Snake’s Digestive System Julia R. Freeman’21 Edited by: Professor Scott Boback

name is Julia R. Freeman and I’m a junior biology major, with plans on going to veterinary school after my Dickinson education. Right now, Professor Scott Boback and I are working on a research project titled “Food Habits of a Population of Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) in Northwestern Colorado. ” We are interested in looking at the digestive tract within rattlesnake specimens that were donated to Dickinson’s Biology Department. This population of rattlesnakes utilizes a hibernaculum (a place to overwinter like a bear’s den) located above 7200 feet! This elevation makes this one of the higher populations ever studied! Professor Boback and I feel that snakes are often overlooked and under researched in both the scientific field, and even in the veterinary world, so one of our goals is to bring to light knowledge of what these animals eat. This is super important because although many people fear them, snakes are an essential part of our ecosystem and are a diverse – yet enigmatic – group. Herpetology is a fairly broad branch of animal science. Herpetologists study amphibians and reptiles, and besides snakes, those animals can include a wide range from toads to lizards to crocodiles. Professor Boback and I are curious to see what types of meal plans our rattlesnakes were on when they were in Colorado. For us to explore the digestive tract of these snakes, we must carefully dissect them. Before we do anything in regard to taking a closer look at a given snake’s digestive tract, we identify the anatomy inside the snake, as well as take various measurements. We make note of things like gender, how long the lung sacs are, and where the heart is in relation to the start of the body. Then we further explore three parts of the snake’s gastrointestinal tract: the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine/colon. I am discovering that these organs are truly fascinating in their form and function. For example, a snake can digest almost all parts of a prey animal; but, in the fecal material, we find remnants of hair. We ar00e curious to see at which stages the snakes are digesting their prey, and more specifically, what prey they are eating. We have been able to collect substan-

tial hair material from all of our snakes thus far in the fecal material, which is extracted from the colon. Currently, we are eager to learn how to make slides using those hair specimens in order to identify what animals these snakes were consuming. There are three types of slides we plan to prepare: cuticula slides, medulla slides, and cross-sections. While we might think nothing of it on a daily basis, a single strand of hair is so complex in its structure and can actually be an essential part of identification. Hair is made up of a protein we call keratin. If we look at our hair, we see something called the shaft. This is where we have pigments that give us color to our hair. Under the shaft, and of course under a light microscope, we can see the outer part of the hair shaft called the cuticle, then deeper inside (the cortex), and then ultimately the deepest part (the medulla). The cuticle can have many different types of patterns (from the keratin scales which lay on top of each other), as well as scale position and scale margins. All of these can help us narrow down the species of prey consumed. Many other features of the cortex and the medulla will help us to further refine our species I.D. Stay tuned for what we are able to gather from these animals! Professor Boback and I are excited to learn more about snakes and their digestive features, and are even more excited to share the knowledge we obtain from these Prairie Rattlesnakes with the Dickinson community and beyond.

Research

Climate Change Impacts on the Birds of Cumberland County Larissa Babicz ‘20

Climate change is a topic that has been discussed ex-

tensively not only here at Dickinson, but also in the rest of the world. Normally these discussions are broad and based on ways in which we can be more sustainable, but the direct and indirect effects that climate change will have on the species that we are familiar with remains largely unexplored. For my biology research experience, I have been working with Professor Van Fleet to examine the ways in which birds may be affected by climate change. Birds are an important part of many terrestrial ecosystems, and recent evidence of widespread population declines has caused much alarm over the future health of the world’s ecosystems. Last semester, we focused on general trends that we might start to see among bird species, including range shifts, altered migration timing, changes in habitat suitability, more frequent disease outbreaks, changes in body size, extirpation, and possible extinction. These are changes that are occurring worldwide, and because birds rely so heavily on

resources that are available at a particular time in a location, any of these can have major consequences for their survival. This semester, we have been taking this general information and applying it specifically to the birds of Cumberland County. We already compared the bird species present in the county today with those present in the mid-1800s, when Spencer Fullerton Baird collected specimens in the area, and we have noticed a clear shift in bird community composition over this time frame, due – at least in part – to a warming climate. For example, the Northern Cardinal is a very familiar species in Pennsylvania today, but in Baird’s time they were considered to be rare! Like the Northern Mockingbird and the Carolina Wren, this species has been expanding its range northwards as the climate becomes more suitable at higher latitudes. We expect these kinds of trends to continue in the future, but at an accelerated pace. Our goal now is to predict which birds in Cumberland County will increase or decrease in numbers as a result of

Research Research climate change, based on an optimistic climate scenario and one that predicts significant changes in temperature and climate. First, we had to determine what kinds of habitats are present, and we decided to group them as forest, grassland, shrub, and wetland. These are being researched individually to determine how the plant communities and habitat structure will change with higher temperatures and increased rainfall. Using this inforWWWmation, we can get a rough idea of what habitats will look like in Cumberland County by the end of the century. Next, we will be examining the ecologies of forty bird species that are present in the county today and determining how their numbers might change based on what resources will still be available to them in the future. We expect that many of the birds that are common today will probably start to decline in numbers as habitats change in Cumberland County. Especially for migratory birds, which depend on habitats in their winter territories and along their mi-

gration routes as well, these changes will likely cause severe population declines. Meanwhile, birds that are currently associated with a more southern range in North America will shift their ranges northwards to compensate for the warmer temperatures. This is already the case for the Carolina Chickadee, which is slowly beginning to displace the Black-Capped Chickadee in Pennsylvania. It is likely that the bird communities of Cumberland County will look quite different by the end of the century as a result of climate change. While our research is currently focused only on the effects of climate change, it is important to remember that this is not the only threat that bird species must face. Other factors, such as habitat loss due to human development, window collisions, cats, and the use of pesticides, impact bird populations as well. The effects are cumulative, and birds across all families are facing declines as a result of human activities.

Features

At Dickinson, the College Choir takes an in-

Music, Earth, Home, and Change

Associate Professor of Music and Director of the College Choir Dr. Amy Wlodarski

tentionally liberal arts approach to our programming. We envision our concerts not as abstract performances removed from the challenges faced by our communities—whether academic, local, national, or global—but as means by which to harness the affective power of music to help inspire individuals to consider new perspectives, to learn about an issue, and to grow and change as part of the process. Students are at the core of these initiatives, and many have helped to design and curate some of our most meaningful and ambitious programs to date. This past year, a group of student singers advocated for a program that would address the dire consequences posed by extreme climate change as a provocative “call to arms” rather than a beautiful performance that sought to assuage fears. As the director, I was keen on the challenge and applied for a grant from the Center for Sustainability Education to help fund the venture. The result of these supportive Dickinson networks—students, faculty, and administration—is our upcoming choral concert, “Earth Without Song.” In it, the choir invites the audience to musically imagine what a world without responsible stewardship might look like, and how it might impact our safety and communities. The program opens with an invitation

from the Earth to experience the joy and beauty of nature, but then turns to depictions of global warming that include mediations on glacial melt, flooding, extreme weather, and the rising seas. The concert concludes with a potential vision of final encounters in the aftermath, and a call to action in the name of peace. The works themselves are intentionally international and culturally diverse, and we deliberately sought out works composed by artists who hail from climate-threatened areas of the world. As a composite, they represent a rich diversity of subject positions related to gender, religion, ethnic orientation, and geographic regions. Such scope is intentional. It seeks to demonstrate to our audience that human concern about climate change transcends many of the cultural barriers that often divide us. We hope the concert—which will take place on two separate dates in Rubendall Recital Hall—will allow our audience to encounter and experience the importance of climate awareness through music, an artform known for its ability to impact both hearts and minds. The Dickinson College Choir will perform “Earth Without Song” on Saturday, December 7th at 7:00pm and Sunday, December 8th at 4:00pm. Both concerts will take place in Rubendall Recital Hall and are free and open to the public.

Features

Science Activism at BE.Hive U: Climate Change Needs Behavior Change Summit Jackie Greger ‘22

Picture an electrocar-

diogram of the human heartbeat, that steady rhythm and pattern that sustains all human beings. It is steady and regular until something throws it out of balance. Now, zoom all the way out. The heartbeat of planet earth should be quite similar: its consistency is what allows life on earth as we know it. But right now, the heartbeat of our planet earth is suffering-- it is extremely out of balance. The amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is increasing faster and faster, and so is our planet’s heart rate, to the point of becoming a serious health risk. This metaphor, delivered by Brett Jenks of Rare, is what opened the BE.Hive On Campus Summit. The climate crisis is upon us, and it’s the largest threat facing our generation. It is personal. The “BE.Hive on Campus: Climate Change Needs Behavior Change” summit took place on October 4th and 5th in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium right here at Dickinson. Students came together from schools as far as the University of North Carolina and Cornell to form a swarm of youth activists and change markers buzzing with ideas and solutions, making the ATS auditorium quite literally a bee hive. As young college students deeply connected to our communities and learning more and more each day about the state of the world

and our environment we are about to come of age in, we have a platform to express our ideas and make change locally. At BE.Hive, attendees learned behavior change strategies and heard from top behavioral scientists, CEOs, sustainable company founders, environmental advocates, the executive director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and student leaders. The goal of the conference was to empower individual and collective behavior change in a political environment in which structural change may be years away. However, the time to act is now. The question and challenge becomes: “Can we change behavior faster than the increasingly changing climate?” The morning of the summit was focused on stating the facts of the climate crisis and behavioral science, as well as educating attendees on powerful behavioral strategies. For example, using social influences, choosing the right messenger, providing material incentives, appealing to emotions, creating rules and regulations, and constructing choice architecture are some strategies that have been proven to be effective. Attendees heard from Erez Yoeli, a research assistant at MIT, Erik Thulin, Rare’s behavioral scientist, Ashley Williams, a behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School, and Adam Levine, a government professor at Cornell. The three

professionals offered insight as to what their respective research has found, what has worked and what has not. Yoeli addressed promoting altruistic behavior by appealing to people’s desire for a good reputation because as humans, we are extremely invested in what others think of us. Thulin emphasized the power of social norms in changing the narrative of behavior change to be strictly individual. Collective societal change begins with trendsetters, who then influence people around them, and the social circle slowly expands. Williams talked about loss framing, conveying how by not changing more is at stake to be lost, specifically effective in monetary terms. Finally, Levine discussed legitimation rhetoric, which entails validating and acknowledging people’s nervousness in request that they do something. Altogether, it was a morning full of learning and strategic planning for changing behaviors. In the afternoon, the BE.Hive summit shifted from planning to acting. Student leaders making changes at their universities presented what they are doing to make their campus more sustainable. Representatives from Oberlin College, UNC at Chapel Hill, and the University of Connecticut spoke about what they have done and solutions they have come up with, like storytelling and air flow reduction in campus labs for energy conservation. The conversation then turned to what Dickinson is doing in a presentation by Neil Leary, Director of Dickinson’s Center for Sustainability Education, and what makes the College such a leader in sustainability ini-

Features tiatives. However, although Dickinson may be a leader in campus sustainability, Rare challenged teams of students from attending graduate and undergraduate universities in the Behavior Design Challenge the day before, October 4, to ask how else we can make food at Dickinson more sustainable. Teams had to design solutions based on Rare’s behavior strategies and the top teams from the competition then advanced to present at the summit on day two when a champion would be voted on by the audience. This was a dynamic, fun competition that streamlined the behavior design process and the teams came up with creative and feasible results. The day closed out with real success stories of environmental advocacy and activism, from companies like The FRESHGLOW Co. and Patagonia. Overall, the BE.Hive On Campus summit enabled youth in attendance with behavioral tools and levers to use to enact change as we face the climate crisis. Despite the long turnover for political and structural change, we have in our hands the capacity to educate and communicate effectively for individual and eventually collective, societal change. Afterall, the people are far more powerful that the people in power. No one can stop a movement once it starts, and the fact that BE.Hive was a day of action made it such a day of hope. As Arvi Garbow, Environmental Advocate for Patagonia, stated at the end of the day, “to do good you must do something.” Individual change matters, and now is the time to start.

Features

Endangered Species of Pennsylvania A short list of highlights chosen by Tom Wegman ‘20 and Alice Kuklina ‘20

Northern Flying Squirrel

Tri-Color Bat

Unlike most squirrels, it is strictly nocturnal. Endangered in Pennsylvania, protected under the Game and Wildlife Code and a priority species in Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan

Named because of the distinct color patterns on its back. Listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN in 2018, due to the recent spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal that has been threatening bats across the US.

Short-Eared Owl

The “ears” are tufts of feathers. Not protected at federal level, but endangered in Pennsylvania and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird of Conservation Concern, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

Bog Turtle

North America’s smallest turtle. Critically endangered, and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Habitat has been decreasing because of urban development and the spread of envasive species.

Dickcissel Has confused taxonomists for a long time, trying to find its closest relatives. Currently in the cardinal family. Endangered in Pennsylvania and protected under the Game and Wildlife Code. A Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan priority grassland species, protected under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Shortnose Sturgeon Bottom feeding fish, consuming small crustaceans and insects. Considered and endangered species in the US since 1967. At risk because of dams, discharges, dredges, and pollution have removed or reduced the quality of its habitat.

Technology

An AI Composer Boo Sung Kim’23

Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist (AIVA) differs from most Artificial Intel-

ligence (A.I.). A.I. has quickly become the buzzword of the 21st century. It seems like there is A.I. for all sorts of tasks: speech recognition, biometrics, board game opponents, and so on. AIVA Technologies, on the other hand, is exactly what its name implies: it is an AI “that has learnt the art of music composition by reading over 30000 scores of history’s greatest.”1 AIVA was founded by Pierre Barreau, Denis Shtefan, Arnaud Decker, and Vincent Barreau, and it is recognized as a composer by Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers Music (SACEM), making AIVA the first virtual artist to become officially registered with a musician’s rights company2. AIVA translates compositions into a midi format, or “a matrix-like representation,” and uses deep neural networks to search for patterns in the compositions3. A neural network functions like the neurons in people’s brains—when data enter the input layer, the information is relayed to the hidden layers, which process the input and passes the result to the output layer. Using the deep neural network algorithm, AIVA finds patterns in a composition and attempts to predict what the next node will be. Once the AI can make good predictions, it will build “a set mathematical rules for that style of music” so that it can create original scores of the that genre1. A common fear is that AI will replace people. Will AIVA do the same? Pierre Barreau, one of the cofounders, does not believe that it will replace musicians. He believes that AIVA will be able to provide “personalized music” for smaller films, video games, and individuals in a way live music cannot. By being able to generate music in a very short amount of time, AIVA can provide quick and lengthy soundtracks for movies and video games—something human composers cannot do. Barreau states, “This achievement does not mean that AIVAwill replace musicians, and we will continue to encourage collaborations between man and machine.”2 As of October 2019, AIVA can create 9 different genres of music and has made two albums, “Genesis” in 2016 and “Among the stars” in 2018, with 24 songs each. The Upload Influence, which allows the user to upload midi files to the engine and create similar piece of music, will be released in December 20194.

Twenty Years of the Britton Telescope Aidan Pidgeon’20

Technology T

This

semester, we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the construction of the ‘new’ Tome Hall. With construction may be less grandiose than that of its adjoining neighbor; the Rector Science Complex, with its high glass atrium and purple-cladded exterior; the building remains a relatively quiet fixture on Dickinson’s campus. Nevertheless, Tome is much beloved. Its design committee was comprised of administrators, faculty, and critically, students from the departments that the building would come to house. This input from students is perhaps why the building remains so popular. To this day, many physics, math, or computer science majors will tell you that “there’s no place like Tome.” Perhaps the part of Tome Hall that stands out the most from the outside is the so-called conoid, the towering gray spire standing at the end of the Physics and Astronomy wing. At its peak is the Britton Observatory, named in honor of the late college treasurer who served on the design committee for the building. The observatory’s installation marked a huge change in how astronomy could be taught at Dickinson. Students would now be able to take their own astronomical data without relying on an external observatory and would also be able to share the stars with the public through open nights. The Britton stands as an exemplar of what is possible for Astronomers at small institutions like Dickinson, and it even rivals the telescopes of far larger schools. With a 24-inch aperture, its primary objective, the large mirror at its base, acts like a huge bucket, scooping up orders of magnitude more photons than the human eye could ever hope to on its own. The Britton has so far enabled astronomy students and professors to collect data on a litany of objects. From cataclysmic variable stars to “kissing” binary stars to asteroids and extrasolar planets. It has also given the campus and the general public the opportunity to get a glimpse of the wonders of the universe through open house nights hosted by the astronomy club. As it enters its twentieth year, the Britton telescope still stands as one of the most impressive scientific apparatus accessible to the College. With the introduction of a new course in observational astronomy last fall, the stage is set for the Britton to continue use as a fantastic tool for students, and the installation of a new instrument selector over the winter break will allow for more uses of the telescope than ever before.

Opinions

Op-ed On Vaping Katie Schorr’21

The issue of vaping has been garnering a lot of attention lately in the

news in the past year. The sudden occurrence of multiple vaping related deaths around the country has produced a panic and a strong drive in government to regulate the vaping market. Even though almost all th e vaping related deaths have been linked to only black-market THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) vaping products, multiple states and the federal government have jumped to issue large bans and restrictions on all kinds of vaping products. This is in addition to the mounting pressure on vaping companies, most notably Juul, to restrict access to their products in the face of a teenage vaping crisis. In some places, the number of students in high schools vaping has reached as high as 40%. Juul has acted to decrease teen use, but there is mounting pressure to further restrict access to vaping products in the face of the continuing crisis and new rise in deaths. While working to reduce the rate of teenagers and young adults who are now addicted to nicotine is a commendable thing, and the fast action of the government on multiple levels is remarkable, I see a potential problem to the total ban and restriction of vaping products from the American market. When all of the vapes are gone, there are still going to be millions of young adults addicted to nicotine, which is a notoriously difficult addiction to recover from, and no access to vapes. What are these people going to do when they need to satisfy their addiction? They’re going to turn to cigarettes, which will become another crisis, one that we have already been through, and know the cost of. Cigarettes cause a myriad of health issues for most of the people who use them, but with vaping, the long-term effects are not yet known, but seem to be less harmful than cigarettes when used in normal amounts. So, I’m asking, what happens when vapes are banned? Does the crisis get solved, or does it cause another crisis, one that may ultimately cause more damage than the original one?

Ethics of Data Mining Jenny Beck ‘21 Data mining is a tool used by large companies to gather and organize information in a concise manner, as well as to eliminate “noisy” data points. Essentially, data relationships, AI, and predictive algorithms work together in data mining software to forecast many relevant relationships in business, including promotions (targeted ads), and price optimization, as well as insight into how economic influences are affecting aspects of business. In recent years, data mining has become easier, moving from manual to automated data analysis. However, there are some ethical implications, particularly involving targeted ads and healthcare. These include possible conflicts in the reception of ads (wrongly targeting people as a result of their search history, leading to an insulted client) as well as breaches in medical information, that is supposedly confident. I think that data mining is a great innovation, especially the automated and more concise modes of doing so. It can be a great tool for companies to use to gather information about consumer demographics to provide better services. However, in terms of ethics, I think that transparency is key. Companies should be obligated to disclose whether they are using these techniques and that the data collected and analyzed is not being misused or shared with any other third-party consumers.

Entertainment

Deception Point: A Modern Conundrum Nathaniel Rines’20

I recently stumbled upon an old work that sits in my room

at home, a stout book that brought me weeks upon weeks of fervent reading. I fondly remember spending the whole bus ride to and from track meets with my nose entrenched in its pages, and still thinking about it while watching my friends compete at the events. It was a book I loved so much I read it multiple times over, but since I left it at home I’ve forgotten about it for a few years. The text I speak of is Deception Point by Dan Brown. Well known for his best-selling book The Da Vinci Code, Brown boasts a wide array of other thriller volumes that receive considerably less attention than his most popular piece. Among them I found a great deal of entertainment in my highschool days, two of my favorites being Digital Fortress and Deception Point. Mildly dated at this point, the 2001 novel still holds great significance to today’s national climate and scientific world. Deception Point is a book of taut political tensions, groundbreaking interstellar discovery, and terrestrial scientific intrigue. The book revolves around a main character Rachel Sexton who sorely dislikes her father, an important political figure

running for president of the United States. The slimy politician is seen by the reader taking enormous and illegal bribes by outside parties, and we quickly paint him the main villain. Rachel, on the other hand, is a moral compass that becomes entwined in mysterious a research project that doesn’t seem to have much relevance to her job at the National Reconnaissance Office. A meteorite has been found of enormous proportion by NASA and offers great value in its historical significance. The true importance in the meteorite is realized by Rachel when its removed from its ice tomb, the space rock contained something that would revolutionize the world of science forever. However, there was no time to celebrate, for she found herself a pawn in a wrestle of power that she never agreed to be part of. Soon strange occurrences were happening at the meteor site, the melted water was behaving oddly, people were disappearing, something was wrong. Her ethics will be pushed, Rachel has no choice but to follow the clues and bring to light the events unfolding. It’s difficult to do the book justice without spoiling too much but suffice to say: the story will keep you guessing the whole time.

It’s worth mentioning that the beginning of Deception Point is just a mite slow and takes some initial dedication to break through. Past the first few chapters, the book tumbles into a fast-paced mystery you won’t be able to put down. It’s an amazing time-killer, and it’s still wildly interesting the second and third read through. Incredibly realistic, it makes you question how much of it is fiction and paints an enlightening yet somber narrative of the forces that shape the United States. Without being hyperbolic, it changed the way I look at politics and policymakers. For someone as inquisitive about the natural world as myself, it felt as if the book was written specifically for me. Whether you prefer biology, geology, or chemistry, if you enjoy reading about science you will love Deception Point. It feeds the natural curiosity of the human mind spurs you to race to the end. Every question answered in this fantastic mystery will give rise to two more, equally compelling to grok. For these reasons I give Digital Fortress 9/10: a book that makes my top five favorite of all time, and one that deserves more reading than it receives.

Entertainment

Health and Wellness

Chernobyl Tom Wegman ‘20

HBO’s

Chernobyl is a historical drama five-part miniseries following the disaster of the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor of 1986, the efforts to keep the situation under control, and the investigation of why things went wrong. It’s won several Emmys, including that of Outstanding Limited Series. The series mainly follows Valery Legasov and Boris Shcherbina, the two men put in charge of the cleanup of Chernobyl in the aftermath of the disaster. Their tasks: keeping the reactor from causing another huge explosion, preventing the radiation from spreading, and investigating why it went wrong in the first place to prevent it from happening again. It also follows other characters – some of the men working in the plant and what happened to them, the first responders who were exposed to copious amounts of radiation, the soldiers who had to put down the animals in the affected area. Many people put their lives on the line to try to keep the situation under control, and the series depicts those with lots of respect. In terms of accuracy, it holds up fairly well. They’ve taken some creative liberties here and there – the character of Ulana Khomyuk never existed and is meant to represent the many scientists involved in the containing and investigation. The grand scene at the end where Legasov reveals in court the suppression of information by the Soviet government that lead to the disaster, and the scene afterwards where he is threatened by the KGB, also never happened, but it makes for good drama. A recurring theme throughout the series is those in power refusing to listen to the experts on the direness of the situation. Repeatedly, scientists approached their superiors with concerns about the severity of the situation and were turned away, accused of being “alarmists.” If you’re at all following what little progress is being made on climate change action, you’re well aware of this pattern. It is just as frustrating to watch in the show as it is in real life.

I am going to put up a warning up to sensitive viewers – some material may be disturbing. The physical effects of radiation are depicted, and it is not pleasant to look at. Levity is few and far between, with almost all of it coming from my favorite characters, the miners, who see through a lot of the bullshit put out by their higher-ups. But overall, it is a very good series, and definitely worth watching. I give it 3.6 Roentgen out of four.

Prioritize Self-Care Today for a Healthy and Productive Tomorrow Assistant Professor of Biology Tiffany Frey

When

“ money or health is a problem, you think of little else; when it’s not a problem, you don’t think much about it” (Rubin, 2009, p. 169). I love this quote because it reminds me to be vigilant about my physical and financial health. In particular, I find that it is way too easy to let self-care slide when I am feeling well. I have been extremely fortunate not to have any chronic health issues until earlier this year when migraines I’ve had since my mid-twenties on a very infrequent basis became chronic. At times, the symptoms were so severe that I thought I was either having a stroke or aneurism and for a couple of months it became difficult to function on a daily basis. Through this experience I learned that nothing is more important than prioritizing self-care and living a healthy lifestyle.

A migraine is different than a typical headache and is characterized by abnormal blood flow and neuron activity in the brain, specifically associated with the activation of trigeminovascular pathways (Goadsby, et al., 2017). Along with severe head pain, symptoms can also include visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to sound, light, touch, or smell, and numbness in the face or extremities. Migraine is considered to be the 6th most disabling condition globally by the World Health Organization (Goadsby, et al. 2017) with 12% of the United States population suffering from migraine (18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of children) (https://migraineresearchfoundation.org) . It is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental contributions and a wide range of triggers including hormonal fluctuations, alcohol, caffeine, stress, sensory stimuli such as bright lights and sounds, sleep changes, intense physical exertion, weather changes, medications, certain foods, blood glucose levels, and food additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) (https://www.mayoclinic.org). Managing migraine involves lifestyle changes (avoiding triggers) in addition to pain-relieving and preventative medications. Due to the complex nature of migraine and variability among patients, each person must experiment to find the best management conditions. For me, it ended up being the combination of vitamins (D, B-complex, and coenzyme Q10), anti-anxiety medication (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI), getting enough sleep, avoiding artificial sweeteners, and minimizing alcohol consumption. Ultimately, I am grateful that I experienced chronic migraine. In the past, taking care of myself was the first thing to go when my life became extra busy. Knowing that I could slip back into chronic migraine forces me to prioritize my health and well being on a daily basis, which may prevent more life-threatening conditions in the future. It is way too easy to put your health last on the list when you are busy pursuing your education and career goals, but prioritizing self-care each day will help lead to a lifetime of productivity.

Health and Wellness

Alcohol and the Brain Jordyn Schwartz’21

Many of us have seen people in our lives drunk. Whether it is friends, family, or being out in social settings, alcohol consumption is common in social settings all over the world and there tends to be a change in behavior when alcohol comes into the picture.

The Cerebellum-

The cerebellum is important for movement, coordination, and balance, and debates arise as to whether it is involved with consciousness as well. The cerebellum is also involved with slurred speech. At BAC of 0.05%-0.08%, alcohol decreases muscle coordination and motor movements, such as with the tongue. Part of the cerebellum is the cerebellar cortex (see figure below). It is made of three layers: Granule, Purkinje Cell Layer, and Molecular Layer. Alcohol inhibits

granule cells (neurons with small cell bodies), which leads to decreased synaptic activation of Purkinje cells.4 These cells release the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, reduces nerve impulses, and results in decreased motor movement and coordination, like staggering home from a party. These signals will likely impair other parts of the brain like the relay center, the thalamus, where motor processing is disrupted.

Why is it that people are feeling so good on alcohol? That a shy person can suddenly start breaking out crazy moves on the dance floor, and people stumble and slur their words?

The answer involves the brain and alcohol’s effects on it. So, let’s talk a bit nerdy and get into some basic science.

There are about 100 billion neurons (cells of the nervous system) in the human body.1 These are transmitting the signals throughout our bodies to make us move and behave the way we do! They communicate with each other through chemical and electrical connections between cells, called synapses. Chemicals called neurotransmitters leave one neuron and bind to receptors on the next one, passing this information along, like dominos. The effects can be excitatory and promote further electrical brain activity or inhibitory and decrease this. Alcohol increases an inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA, it inhibits an excitatory neurotransmitter called Glutamate, and it increases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is part of the reward system and makes people feel happy. Here are some parts of the brain effected:

The Prefrontal Cortex (Part of the Cerebral Cortex)-

The main role of the prefrontal cortex is decision making. Alcohol inhibits an excitatory glutamatergic receptor in this area, NMDA, and normal, controlled behavior is affected.2 This results in decreased risk/benefit assessment, and the next thing you know, you may be dancing on top of a table without a care in the world.

Hippocampus

The hippocampus is critical for memory formation, and this is part of the brain that is disrupted when people blackout. Alcohol prohibits neurons to respond to other signals at a heightened response for long periods of time (long-term potentiation), which is critical for learning and memory. This involves alcohols interference with the glutamatergic NMDA receptor.7

The Amygdala

The amygdala is involved with anxiety, social behavior, and processing emotions.5 When people get emotional from alcohol, this area is a large reason for that. It also has a role in the positive, reinforcing effects of alcohol and is involved with alcohol dependence.6

The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) This area of the brain is one of the reasons behind the feel-good effects of alcohol, an d is part of the brain’s reward system.9

The Pituitary Gland and HypothalamusOne main role of these areas involve releasing hormones, and when alcohol is involved, sexual arousal increases.8 Factors such as age, weight, sex, family history, the amount of drinks consumed, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) also play a role in how the brain is affected.10 Even low concentrations of alcohol defined as 0-20mM (about half a standard drink) and medium concentrations defined as 20-50mM (about 1 standard drink) have effects on neuronal activity. This was just a bit of neuroscience for you! This only skims the complexity of the brain on alcohol, but you can appreciate the complexity of your mind a bit more now and be able to nerd out a little bit the next time you’re out for a drink.

Health and Wellness

What We Know (And What We Don’t) About E-Cigarettes Sidney Gilkey’21

Lung injury from vaping killed a 17-year-old from the Bronx on October

8 of this year, making him the first teenage fatality from what the surgeon general calls an “epidemic of youth e-cigarette use”1,2. Unfortunately, the teen is not alone. As of October of 2019, the CDC has reported 1,604 injuries and 36 deaths linked to vaping3. Despite these alarming illness rates, vaping usage, especially among young people, continues to rise. A recent survey conducted among high school students found that e-cigarette use in this age group has more than doubled since 2017, with 25% of high school seniors reporting vaping at least once a month, and 12% at least 20 days per month4. As both the number of vapers and the number of cases of this mysterious illness continue to climb, there is growing concern among health officials about how to control this deadly epidemic, and finding the elusive cause of the deaths is a primary focus of many researchers. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that create an inhalable vapor from the heating of volatile liquids to deliver nicotine, THC, or various flavorings to the user5. The liquid inside that is vaporized is made of glycerin, propylene glycol, flavoring, and nicotine, THC or cannabinoid oils6. Some companies also add diacetyl, a flavor-enhancing chemical that many guess is to blame for some vapers contracting bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly called “popcorn lung.” This incurable but treatable condition causes irritation and scarring of the lung’s alveoli, leading to damage that resembles a chemical burn, according to the Mayo Clinic7. Continued usage can lead to flu-like symptoms and may deteriorate into severe breathing problems and can be fatal8,9. The nickname “popcorn lung” originates from an outbreak of the condition among workers in factories that produced microwave popcorn, which contains diacetyl as a

Health and Wellness

buttery flavoring10. The use of diacetyl in e-cigarettes is common; one study found diacetyl in 39 of 51 e-cigarette flavors from 9 different brands11. However, researchers suggest that other chemicals, either within the liquid or produced from the vaporization process, could also be potentially causing the damage; more research is needed to pinpoint the exact source of the illnesses, and to determine if one or more vaping brands or products is responsible9. Dank Vapes, Moon Rocks, Off White and TKO are a few of the most used brands among those who have fallen ill, but CDC officials recommend caution, and cessation when possible, with all vaping products7. The damage e-cigarettes cause may not be limited to lung injury. Though marketed as a cessation aid for smoking, several studies have found that vaping may actually do the opposite, acting as a gateway to cigarette use5. Additionally, the nicotine found in many e-cigarette liquids is alarmingly high in concentration; for example, a typical JUUL pod has on average

the same amount of nicotine as 20 cigarettes. In addition, sometimes product labels do not list true nicotine content, and some vaping products have been found to contain nicotine though they claim to be nicotine-free12. This significant intake of the drug not only exacerbates the risk of dependence among users, but also raises concerns about the deleterious effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain. Nicotine activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, desensitizing them to further stimulation and inducing lifelong detriments in reward-processing, emotion, attention and impulse control when taken in high levels during adolescence, a critical time for brain maturation and organization13. These concerns, along with the potential for lung damage, are evidence of the danger of these devices, and while much is left to be uncovered about e-cigarettes, one thing is certain: the best decision is to put the vape away.

Bibliographies & Crossword Solution Science News 1.The Future of Alcohol Gillman, Steve. “Scientists Speed up the Evolution of Yeast to Create Tastier and Healthier Alcohol.” Horizon, 10 Oct. 2019, horizon-magazine.eu/article/scientists-speed-evolution-yeast-create-tastier-and-healthier-alcohol. html. 2. To Change Vaccine Behavior, We Must First Understand Behavior Graves, C. (2019). What’s really behind why people do not vaccinate (the behavioral science view of what’s going on and how to fix it). Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/ pulse/whats-really-behind-why-people-dovaccinate-science-view-graves/ Hall, V., Banerjee, E., Kenyon, C., Strain, A., Griffith, J., Kathryn Como-Sabetti, . . . Kristen Ehresmann. (2017). Measles outbreak — minnesota April–May 2017. ( No. 66). doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6627a1 Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/ wr/mm6627a1.htm Measles cases and outbreaks. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html Measles elimination in the U.S. | CDC. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/ elimination.html Papania, M. J., Wallace, G. S., Rota, P. A., Icenogle, J. P., Fiebelkorn, A. P., Armstrong, G. L., . . . Seward, J. F. (2014). Elimination of endemic measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome from the western hemisphere: The US experience. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(2), 148155. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4342 Zucker, H. (2019). Statement from new york state health commissioner dr. howard zucker on new york state’s public health response to measles. 2..2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Scientists for Discovery of how Cells Sense and Adapt to Oxygen Availability Chow, D., & Freeman, D. (2019, October 8). The life-saving science behind the 2019 Nobel Prize for Medicine. Retrieved from https:// www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/life-savingscience-behind-2019-nobel-prize-medicinencna1063531. Grisham, J. (2014, March 13). What Is Angiogenesis? Retrieved from https://www.mskcc. org/blog/what-angiogenesis. Irving, M. (2019, October 8). Oxygen-sensing cell discovery earns scientists 2019 Nobel Prize for Medicine. Retrieved from https://newatlas. com/science/nobel-prize-2019-physiology-medicine-winners/. Nobel Prize Lessons – All Nobel Prizes 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize. org/prizes/medicine/. Saey, T. H., & Cunningham, A. (2019, October 7). Medicine Nobel honors discovery of how

cells deal with oxygen. Retrieved from https:// www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/medicine-nobel-2019-discovery-cells-oxygen. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2019/summary/. Ziello, J. E., Jovin, I. S., & Huang, Y. (2007, June). Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF)-1 regulatory pathway and its potential for therapeutic intervention in malignancy and ischemia. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC2140184/.

Technology 1. An AI Composer 1. TED. “How AI could compose a personalized soundtrack to your life”. Filmed [October 2018]. YouTube video. Posted [October 2018]. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wYb3Wimn01s. 2. Barreau, Pierre, “Composing the music of the future.” Medium, September 24th, 2016. https://medium.com/@aivatech/composing-the-music-of-the-future-4af560603988?so urce=---------5------------------. 3. NVDIA. “I Am AI Docuseries, Episode 1: AI with the Heart of a Composer - Aiva”. Filmed [December 2017]. YouTube video. Posted [December 2017]. https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=CPh0bKcXgLo. 4. Aiva. “Upload Influence - Demo”. Filmed [September 2019]. YouTube video. Posted [September 2019]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4b9dqvhSAQ. Aiva. “Upload Influence - Demo”. Filmed [September 2019]. YouTube video. Posted [September 2019]. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-4b9dqvhSAQ. Barreau, Pierre, “Composing the music of the future.” Medium, September 24th, 2016. https://medium.com/@aivatech/composingthe-music-of-the-future-4af560603988?sour ce=---------5------------------. NVDIA. “I Am AI Docuseries, Episode 1: AI with the Heart of a Composer - Aiva”. Filmed [December 2017]. YouTube video. Posted [December 2017]. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CPh0bKcXgLo. TED. “How AI could compose a personalized soundtrack to your life”. Filmed [October 2018]. YouTube video. Posted [October 2018]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYb3Wimn01s.

Health & Wellness 1. Prioritize Self-Care Today for a Healthy and Productive Tomorrow Goadsby, P.J., Holland, P.R., Martins-Oliveira, M., Hoffmann, J., Schankin, C., and Akerman, A. (2017). Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing. Physiological Reviews, 97(2), 553-622. Migraine. (2019). Retrieved from https://

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc20360201 Migraine Research Foundation. (2019). Retrieved from https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/ Rubin, G. (2009). The Happiness Project. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. 2. Alcohol and the Brain https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/27187682 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403183048.htm https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4089997/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5657304/ https://www.soberlink.com/alcohol-affects-brain/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3543070/ https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh272/186-196.htm https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/insidethe-mind/human-brain/alcoholism4.htm https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5657304/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4040959/ Images: Synapse- https://www.pinterest.com/ pin/398357529511759731/ Neuron- https://www.npr.org/sections/healthshots/2018/03/07/591305604/sorry-adults-nonew-neurons-for-your-aging-brains Prefrontal cortex- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prefrontal_cortex_(left)_-_ lateral_view.png Cerebellum- https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/brains/definitions/def-cerebellum Amygdala and Hippocampus-http://www.londonhypnotherapyuk.com/glossary-amygdala/ Pituitary gland and hypothalamus- https:// sites.google.com/site/theendocrinesystem06/ home/the-hypothalamus-and-pituitary-gland VTA- https://www.pinterest.com/ pin/72690981464020073/ Brains in alcohol- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2016/ december/how-does-alcohol-get-you-drunk. html 3. e-Cigarettes Shanahan, E., & Paybarah, A. (2019, October 8). Bronx Teenager’s Death Is the Youngest Vaping Fatality in U.S. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes. com/2019/10/08/nyregion/vaping-death.html Surgeon General (2019). Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-cigarette Use Among Youth. Corum, J. (2019, October 30). Vaping Illness Tracker: 1,604 Cases and 36 Deaths. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www. nytimes.com/interactive/2019/health/vaping-illness-tracker.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article Kaplan, S. (2019, September 18). Teenage Vaping Rises Strongly Again This Year. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.

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