Curious Science Writers is an innovative program hosted by Americans for Medical Progress that selects a group of high school students through a highly competitive application process. Students who are curious, creative and committed to advancing the art of science communication can apply to become writers, editors, graphic…

“No more naan,” they said. A bread that served as a centerpiece of my Pakistani culture was, for the first time in my life, restricted. Seeing my disappointed face and relatively empty stomach, my mom brought out what seemed to be a more measly-looking batch of naan. “This…

I grew up loving the movie The Fault in our Stars, which is about a 16-year-old’s battle with thyroid cancer. I thought it was a heartfelt but rare story, and only recently understood the traumatic nature of pediatric cancer on kids and their families. Every year, around 400,000…

You may know someone who takes blood thinners; over 3.2 million Americans have prescriptions. However, there are problems associated with these medications. Not only is a person who takes blood thinners unable to live life to the fullest, they must also be cautious about nearly all day-to-day physical…

In less than 20 years, autism rates have tripled to the point where one in 44 children are diagnosed with the disease. And yet, the causes of autism remain largely unknown and no treatments or preventative methods exist. David Amaral, a professor of psychiatry and director of the…

In dark rooms, surrounded by illuminated screens, figures scuttle, duck, and navigate through twisting corridors and mazes. This isn’t the elaborate setup of a teen gaming lair; rather, it’s a high-end virtual reality system built for neuroscience’s favorite mammals: rodents. Tour a neuroscience lab fifteen years ago and…

As children, we were all prodded to “eat our fruits and vegetables.” But in the future, will we be injecting plant life as well? Based on several discoveries to date, this very well may happen. Plants can be used in medications, including vaccines. Although plants also have numerous…

Maitê Ghazaleh Bucher, Ph.D., a Biology Professor at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, has been awarded the Curious Science Writers Inaugural Educator Fellowship. Curious Science Writers (CSW) is an innovative science communications program for high school students hosted by Americans for Medical Progress (AMP), a…

Imagine you are a seasoned astronaut floating through the mystical blue abyss that is space, documenting the thousands of bright white stars that buzz relentlessly above your head. Suddenly, a shape you don’t recognize appears close by. Is it a rock? An alien spacecraft? A piece of debris?…