Category Archives: Science Communication

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Bird’s Eye View: A Look Into the World of Bird Neuroscience and Human Machinery

Posted on November 27, 2019 by | Leave a comment

 

Hummingbird, zebra finch, and pigeon. All images sourced from Flickr

The brain is an intricate and complex structure that takes a lifetime to understand completely. You may be slightly familiar with the human brain, but have you ever wondered how the brain of an animal functions? We had the opportunity to interview lead researcher Dr. Andrea Gaede to discuss her groundbreaking bird brain research. The study, based in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia in 2018, was conducted to investigate how bird species process visual motion in their brain and to find out if these processes are dependent on the way the bird species flies. First, they captured the birds, then injected their brains with a fluorescent dye, and finally analyzed the individual brains with imaging software.

Dr. Gaede’s findings show that bird species with distinct modes of flight will have significantly different ways of processing visual motion within their brain. By using advanced imaging, you can actually see the different visual flow patterns in their brain! 

Figure 7 from Dr. Gaede’s paper

The results of Dr. Gaede’s study suggest a relationship between bird size, unique flight behaviours, and the location in the brain that responds to visual stimuli. 

In the interview with Dr. Gaede, we were able to learn more about her research study and why she is so interested in the bird brain. From acquiring the birds used in the experiment, to discussing what her findings mean for the future of technology and neuroscience, Dr. Gaede gives us insight into the whole process. For all the details, listen to the podcast below!

Why Hummingbirds: How is the hummingbird brain different from all other brains?

A hummingbird mid-flight. Image sourced from Flickr

Dr. Gaede used hummingbirds, pigeons, and zebra finches in her study, but the main focus of her research was to understand hummingbirds. Special characteristics in the hummingbird brain can be attributed to their unique flight patterns. Hummingbirds have the ability to maneuver rapidly in all directions, in a way no other birds can. They have a physical sensitivity to movements in their surrounding environment. Instinctively, they hover backward when something is approaching, and forwards when they see open space in front of them. Additionally, a portion of their brain, called the LM (lentiformis mesencephali), is enlarged in comparison to the size of their bodies. This enlargement is expected to be a neural specialization for hovering, therefore studying this region is a main focus of Dr. Gaede’s study.

Bird Neuroscience and Human Technology — Why Does It Matter to Us?

Dr. Gaede mentioned in her interview that her research can be used to make advancements in technology for drones and autonomous aerial devices. Machines based on nature and animals rarely disappoint, and this can potentially be the case with a drone based on a hummingbirds’ structure and flight pattern. Hummingbirds have unique modes of flight, and are extremely light, which makes them an ideal model for a drone. Previously, attempts have been made at creating drones similar to hummingbirds; however, they failed. After some time, a breakthrough was made and a drone that is based off of a hummingbird finally took flight, and it did not disappoint!

Watch the video below to see how this innovation was made possible:

Future Research

Dr. Gaede is continuing to research the bird brain, and is currently working on a study about cell stimulation during different activities. The study is conducted by putting an animal through a certain behaviour, for example perching or hovering, and then euthanizing them immediately after. Afterwards, she uses advanced techniques to determine which cells in the brain were used to perform that behaviour. This would help us to further understand how visual information is processed into motor-function output during flight, therefore promoting improvements in the technology of hummingbird drones! 

Written by Francine Flores, Eric Hsieh, Alexandra McDonald, and Pawan Uppal

 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Outreach Project, Science Communication, Science Communicators, Science in the News

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Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: A Potential Cure for Cancer

Posted on November 26, 2019 by | Leave a comment

A research team led by Professor Chris Orvig at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have recently developed new techniques that can potentially make cancer treatment more effective and affordable. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men around the world, accounting for approximately 360,000 deaths in 2018 alone. Consequently, millions of dollars have been invested into prostate cancer research, in order to develop better techniques for both cancer diagnosis and therapy. In particular, a form of cancer treatment known as targeted radionuclide therapy has proven to be a highly effective method for both identifying and killing cancer cells in the body. 

Currently, one of the most common forms of cancer treatment is chemotherapy, however some researchers believe that it can be doing more harm than good when treating a patient. Despite this, targeted radionuclide therapy is not utilized nearly as much as other forms of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy.

To hear why, take a listen to the podcast below, featuring Dr. Chris Orvig, a professor of chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at UBC.

It is clear that targeted radionuclide therapy has great potential to become a main form of cancer treatment.

So, how does it work?

Targeted radionuclide therapy utilizes radioactive atoms called radionuclides that emit large amounts of radiation. The radiation emitted by these radionuclides can be utilized to kill cancer cells, however it can also damage other cells in the body. Therefore, the radionuclides must be carefully delivered or targeted to the area containing the cancer cells, which can be done by pairing them to specific molecules that are destined for the cancer-ridden area such as the prostate. The role of chemical compounds known as chelators is crucial in this process, as they act like a glue, allowing for the radionuclides and specific molecules to come together as one whole unit and successfully make their way to the cancer cells. 

Dr. Chris Orvig and his research group specializes in chelators and their applications for targeted radionuclide therapy. Recently, they have developed a new chelator called H4pypa that has the potential to replace commercial chelators currently used today for targeted radionuclide therapy.

To learn more about what a chelator is and how H4pypa works, click on the video below! 

“I don’t know if we will be successful, but it’s certainly worth a try” says Dr. Orvig when asked if the chelator H4pypa will become commercialized and used for targeted radionuclide therapy in the future. 

Regardless, many researchers including Dr. Orvig are trying find better ways to improve targeted radionuclide therapy, as it has the potential to help millions of cancer patients around the world. 

Written by Justin Kim, Grant Li & Zahra Ghodsi

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Posted in Science Communication, Science in the News

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Use the cold night sky to make electricity!!!

Posted on November 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

photo from:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-21/stargazing-how-to-photograph-night-sky/9776494

How many times has your phone shut down in the cold air? Imagine if instead of your phone turning off you could use the cold to charge it.

Researchers at Stanford University and University of California, have found a way to use the cold air at night to generate electricity similar to using solar light. In their research which was published on September 12th, they claim that their “work highlights the many remaining opportunities for energy by taking advantage of the cold of outer space as a renewable energy resource.”

This device works by covering one side with aluminum paper and facing it towards the sky, then covering the aluminum plate with a transparent sheet and insulting all around the device to prevent heat from getting in. This method allows them to use a technique called radiative sky cooling which uses a thermoelectric generator that utilizes the difference in heat in the device compared to its surrounding to generate electricity. As heat enters the space between the aluminum plate and the transparent covering that has a temperature lower than the surrounding it is put out by thermal radiation; this transfer of energy is how this device makes electricity.

photo from digitaltrends

Interestingly, the making of this device has only cost them $30  and has generated enough electricity to light a small LED light bulb.

This finding can help provide power to remote areas, low income areas, and when you are on the move. However, this device is still at elementary stages but with further research and improvements it can be a beneficial low cost path of generating electricity.

In the video below lead researcher Raman and other researchers on his team explain how this process works and how it can also be used as an alternative to air conditioning for cooling buildings.

 

-Zahra Ghodsi

 

 

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science Communicators, Science in the News

Mother Nature: The Ultimate Bioterrorist

Posted on November 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Global Pandemic.
Source (Flickr)

There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and pandemics. While it may seem that humanity is making great strides in the medical sector in terms of advanced vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and devices for primary health care, you would be surprised to find that the risks of millions dying due to pandemics are higher than ever. Bill Gates, an American businessman and philanthropist is one of the believers that a global pandemic is coming and the world is severely underprepared.

“People rightly worry about dangers like terrorism and climate change (and, more remotely, an asteroid hitting the Earth). But if anything is going to kill tens of millions of people in a short time, it will probably be a global pandemic,” Bill Gates wrote in his annual “What I learned at work this year” letter.

To understand why Bill Gates and an international panel of experts assembled by  the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that viral diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and flu would potentially kill millions and destabilize economies as well as national security according to the  Global Preparedness Monitoring Board(GPMB), it is essential to have an  idea of how pandemics start and spread.

How pandemics start and spread globally

Types of Microbes. Source vecton

Pandemics start at the microscopic level where among the major types of microbes, bacteria and viruses cause the deadliest infections. The ability for a bacteria and virus to move from one living organism to another makes them candidates for the cause of  an inevitable pandemic.

In particular, viruses that infect animals may spillover to humans becoming new types of viruses known as zoonotic viruses. For instance, the H1N1 virus that caused the Spanish flu pandemic which killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims in 1918, is a zoonotic virus that resulted from the combination of influenza A virus from birds and from humans in a pig. What makes zoonotic viruses more lethal than other infectious viruses is that they contain parts (specific to animal immune response system) that the human immune system would not be able to detect hence enabling them to evade immune responses by the human body. In addition, their ability to mutate fast only worsens the human immune system’s situation as a losing side in this life or death microscopic warfare.

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In our modern world, technology has been the primary facilitator for the spread of these viruses globally. For instance, SARS spread to over 17 countries on three continent within a few week due to fast globally widespread air travel. Although SARS outbreak did not end up becoming the worst pandemic that humanity has seen, it was surely a clear sign that the next pandemic will be able to spread in a few days.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent the impending doom?

While it may be impossible to stop global human movement and improvement of transport technology, the best chance to preventing a pandemic would be controlling the spread at its source. For instance, the CDC deployed detectives  to caves in Uganda to understand how bats could spread Ebola related viruses to humans directly or through other animals. In addition, governments around the world should invest in the innovation for prevention early even when everything seems fine now!

By Flipos Tadese.

 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Outreach Project, Science Communication, Statistics, Uncategorized

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Information, stored for eternity!

Posted on November 17, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Many of the great works of ancient civilization did not stand the test of time and information has been destroyed through decay. This is very unfortunate because mankind might have missed out on some crucial information from ancient ideas. Through time we understand it is important to keep information safely kept. In this Age of Information, we have made great progress with the method of data storage by storing everything in servers instead of physical files. However, the current method of storing information in computers is not perfect and is actually quite fragile with many flaws. 

Data stored in the Cloud (Cloud Storage internet service) are actually stored in massive warehouses filled with industrial-sized hard drives, called data centers. In order to prevent losing the saved data, these hard drives must be maintained and consistently operated with a power source plugged in at all times. Not only it is vulnerable and prone to be damaged by natural disasters, but it is also very costly for maintenance and not very environmentally friendly. This is how information is being stored nowadays, and it gets problematic as more data storage is in demand for the future.

A look into Google’s data center

You may imagine, what is the ideal architecture of data storage? Picture this: a small environmental footprint, no environmental damage, low-cost, durable, and zero electricity consumption. How great is that? Well, Microsoft’s Project Silica has the ability to do just that. This technology engraves data with a laser into a piece of glass (specifically quartz glass). It can be stored away without any cost, put it in your back pocket or something because it is durable, and could last for centuries before data begin to deteriorate. It can withstand scratches and up to 1000 degrees Celcius without any negative impacts! Want to erase the data? Melt it away and create new glass for more storage!

 Breaking free of data center

How does the technology work?

The laser beam will focus on little nanostructured 3-dimensional blocks called “voxel” in the glass for storing data. The laser will then make physical changes, as a way to encode many bits of information, into one of these voxels permanently. Information is encoded as 2-dimensional layers stacked on top of each other to fill up the 3-dimensional tiny voxels. It will be like stacking up layers of paper to form a block of paper. To read the data, a source of light will be shining through the glass then changes with the light will be picked up by a camera sensor in the receiving end.

Although this is currently in the concept stage with some technical difficulties, the concept has been proven. They have successfully stored a copy of the “Superman” movie into the quartz glass. It is said that over 100 zettabytes of data are in demand for cloud storage by 2023. This revolutionary technology is absolutely necessary, and we could see it being used in the near future.

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