Science Shorts, Edition #1
A new ICJS newsletter series exploring many fields of research simultaneously with short-form summaries.
A New Newsletter Series
With this new series, our goals are to:
Provide a quick start for ICJS members to read and write about scientific research
Explore the key projects, questions, and approaches in different fields
Promote the exchange of ideas between different disciplines and help students rapidly identify fields of research and specific research projects that are of personal interest.
Want to contribute? It’s easy - just enter your summary draft into this Google Form [Click Here]
Each summary is roughly 1-200 words and is based on either a popular science article (for example, from the website ScienceDaily), or an academic publication from any field.
We recommend starting with the pop science articles and working your way up to reading and writing about academic publications over time. For guidance on reading the scientific literature, check out our science communication checklist.
Once you submit a draft, we will review and work it into an upcoming edition.
Research Review, Neuroscience
By Lukas Abraham (Suncoast Community High School)
Researchers at the University of Michigan, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the University of Pennsylvania have pioneered the first stem cell culture method capable of comprehensively modeling the early stages of the human central nervous system.
SOURCE: Human stem cells coaxed to mimic the very early central nervous system (ScienceDaily, February 2024)
The new method can generate a 3D human organoid that encompasses all three regions of the embryonic brain (forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain) and spinal cord, a significant advancement over prior models that only replicated parts of the central nervous system or were less well organized.
To build the model, the researchers adhered a row of stem cells onto a microfluidic chip, then guided their growth with a three-dimensional gel and chemical signals. This process successfully mimicked the organization and differentiation seen in embryonic development.
This new method of brain organoid production opens new avenues for studying human brain development and developmental brain diseases, albeit with limitations such as the inability to model neural tube closure disorders like spina bifida. The organoid system can also be used for laboratory testing of drugs that act on the brain. Moving forward, the researchers aim to enhance the model's complexity, potentially incorporating peripheral nerves and functional neural circuitry.
Research Review, Environmental Health
By Noel Chazhur (Suncoast Community High School)
Scientists at the University of Technology Sydney have discovered a link between tiny magnetic particles called magnetite and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
SOURCE: Tiny magnetic particles in air pollution linked to development of Alzheimer's (ScienceDaily, February 2024)
Magnetite particles are released into the atmosphere via air pollution. Alzheimer’s disease leads to memory loss and cognitive decline and impacts millions worldwide. Lifestyle factors are thought to play a major role, but scientists are still working out how different lifestyle factors influence risk for the disease and to what extent.
The research team analyzed the impact of magnetite on brain health by examining its effects on mice and human neuronal cells in the laboratory. The researchers found that magnetite prompted the human neuronal cells to react with an inflammation and oxidative stress response. And in mice, magnetite led to the loss of neuronal cells in the hippocampus and the somatosensory cortex. Exposure to magnetite also caused increased levels of stress and anxiety in the lab mice.
Importantly, these effects were more acute in mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease. The genetically predisposed mice also experienced the increased formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease progression.
These findings put further emphasis on the importance of clean air. They urge people to reduce their exposure to air pollution and for policymakers to regulate the release of magnetite (it is found in vehicle exhaust, wood fires, and coal-fired power stations, among other sources). Future research will analyze the specific molecular mechanisms by which magnetite damages the brain, potentially identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention.