Originally a necessary life skill, swimming has evolved from basic protection against drowning to an enjoyable activity for many, and has become the fourth most popular recreational activity in the country. About 50 million Americans are swimmers taking to the many rivers, lakes, and oceans around the United…

Nonhuman primates—monkeys for the most part—are paving the way headfirst into exciting new research. They have always played a fundamental role in research that explores neuroscience concepts and sheds light on brain functions, cognitive processes, and neurological diseases. They are critical to finding new approaches to the treatment…

Could the key to certain brain disorder treatments lie in an aquarium? While different from us, fish may help us understand the human brain’s intricacies. Zebrafish, tropical freshwater fish named for their horizontal stripes, are genetically quite similar to humans. For “about 70% of human genes, you can…

Think of the last event in your life that you would describe as depressing. It’s probably not a pleasant thought–maybe something along the lines of a pet passing away or a loved one getting into an accident. The word depression is used a lot under different contexts. As…

What if your number on a waiting list determined whether you lived or died? Imagine you just learned you needed an organ transplant—a kidney, a heart, a liver, or some other organ—to regain energy to go to work, or attend school, or simply to stay alive and out…

Imagine the perfect summer day: You’re at the pool, a picnic, or a park, sharing delicious food and stories, while having a great time with your friends and family. Then, you hear the piercing, high-pitched buzz in your ear. You glance down and see mosquitoes swarming your arms…

Danny Fossati, an aspiring military man, was excited to embark on a journey. He was headed to Northwestern University on a U.S. Navy ROTC scholarship. Eager to pursue his education and ambitions in the Navy, he arrived at the celebratory ceremony where he was awarded a $250,000 scholarship.…

One weekend, I took a walk around my neighborhood in search of fresh air. I had just left my driveway when I noticed hazy dust raining down on me. Was it misting? No, my hair was dry. As the chalky powder hit my skin, I came to an…

When you hear the word cancer, you probably associate it with a family member, a friend, or even yourself. With more than 200 known types, cancer remains one of the most persistent challenges in medicine. Although chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often considered aggressive treatments for survival, scientists…