Science is connecting the dots between diet and brain function through an unlikely route: your intestine. Researchers at Oregon State University have found new evidence that fats and sugars alter brain function via changes in the microbiome – a complex mixture in the digestive system of about 100 trillion microorganisms.
Stunning images of rare zooplankton garner worldwide citizen input.
We can learn a lot by going back in time, but scientific methods for looking at the past can take, well, a lot of time. Ancient ash, pollen and chemical changes in ocean sediment cores give us glimpses into a long-gone world, but they also provide clues to our future. And yet, analyzing these cores takes weeks, if not months — until now.
With the array now deployed and already gathering data, a new world of scientific possibilities has opened. The Endurance Array contributes to a network of global ocean observing systems with partners such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the United Nations. Other systems are in place off South America, Europe and Asia.
Years of knitting together a network of strategic partnerships have shown me that focusing mostly on proposal writing can limit your research horizons. If you’re trying to build something big, engaging more broadly in what I call “opportunity creation” may be something to think about.
Making connections and advocating for students who seek real-world research practice is Kevin Ahern’s focus as the university’s director of undergraduate research.