By Julia Turan

BRAIN. No longer just a word to describe the three-pound hunk inside your skull. As of April 2013, “BRAIN” is also a White House initiative- Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies. What exactly are researchers hoping to discover and how are they going about this? Chicago Council on Science and Technology hosted a panel discussion on the BRAIN Initiative this fall, and in it they set out to tackle these questions, and consider the current landscape of neuroscience research.

Continue reading “Rethinking the BRAIN”

By Julia Turan

The first day of classes is finally over. Trudging home, you lug a massive book-bag stuffed with your 7.6-pound copy of Principles of Neural Science. Jeez, you think, we must know everything about our brain.

Continue reading “Fail more and better”

Earlier this month, Dr. Kristina Martinez gave a wonderful talk as part of our C2ST Speakeasy series on the bacteria that live in our gut and how they might affect us. I caught up with her afterwards for some follow-up questions.

Continue reading “Interview with Dr. Kristina Martinez”

By Julia Turan

You just received news that your best friend has a “chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (1).  Would it surprise you that this is just a lengthy definition for addiction?

Continue reading “Synopsis of “The Neuroscience of Addiction””

By Julia Turan

As we go about our days, it’s easy to forget the cells, molecules, and organs silently ticking, keeping us alive and hopefully well. One of the most intricate of these biological teams is our immune system.

Continue reading “Synopsis of “Genes and Germs: The Battle that Defines Us.””