VOLUME 2 STEM STUFF DECEMBER 2024
ZOE YOO EDITOR
About Us GWUOHS STEM CLUB
STEM Club is for students who are curious about science, technology, engineering, math, and everything in between. In each meeting, we dive into fascinating topics, explore real-world applications, and discover exciting career paths in STEM. We’re also planning to bring in guest speakers and do activities that will keep things fresh and interesting. The monthly STEM STUFF will cover everything from the latest STEM news and club activities to fun STEM facts, student resources like summer camps, competitions, and challenging math and science problems.
If you’re a student who shares a love for STEM, I hope you read this and discover just how much more inspiring STEM can be!
Best regards, Editor Zoe Yoo
A Stanford study redefines how dopamine and serotonin , two key neurotransmitters, interact to shape behavior. Previously thought to have independent roles, the study shows they work in opposition: dopamine promoting reward-seeking and serotonin moderating impulses for long- term thinking . Using genetically engineered mice, researchers observed these interactions in the brain's nucleus accumbens, a critical region for emotion and reward processing. The study tested hypotheses about their interplay, finding that both neurotransmitters are necessary for effective learning and decision-making. NEUROSCIENCE NEW STANFORD STUDY REDEFINES THE DOPAMINE-SEROTONIN RELATIONSHIP STEM news topic of the month
Experiments revealed dopamine signals increased with rewards, while serotonin signals decreased, reinforcing their "accelerator and brake" relationship. This balance proved essential for learning, as impairing either system disrupted reward-based learning entirely. The findings hold implications for psychiatric disorders like addiction and depression , where imbalances in these systems contribute to symptoms. Treatments could potentially target this interplay, dampening dopamine in addiction or boosting both systems in depression. The research also introduces new methodologies for investigating neuromodulation, with broad applications for neuroscience. These insights may pave the way for improved therapies for various brain disorders.
HTTPS://SCITECHDAILY.COM/NEW-STANFORD-STUDY-REDEFINES-THE-DOPAMINE-SEROTONIN- RELATIONSHIP/
DOCTORS INTRIGUED BY TREATMENT THAT MAKES DEAD BRAINS SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE
Scientists have discovered a method that revives basic cellular functions in brains previously thought irreversibly damaged, as demonstrated in a severed pig's brain . Using a chemical solution called BrainEx , researchers restored some activity to the brain four hours after decapitation. Although this
did not result in consciousness, the breakthrough challenges traditional
definitions of death and raises significant ethical questions. Debate continues over whether death occurs when the heart stops or when brain functions cease entirely, with some evidence suggesting brain activity can persist beyond cardiac arrest.
The team, led by Yale neuroscientist Zvonimir Vrselja, is cautiously exploring applications for human brains , focusing on medical treatments rather than reanimation. Ethical safeguards ensure the process avoids restoring organized brain activity indicative of consciousness. Potential applications include studying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and improving organ preservation for transplants. The findings also highlight how dying brains engage in massive "rescue efforts," which could inform future resuscitation techniques . This cutting-edge research offers hope for medical advances while navigating complex ethical terrain.
HTTPS://FUTURISM.COM/NEOSCOPE/DOCTORS-INTRIGUED-BRAINS-BACK-DEAD
EDITOR’S PICK MUST-READ SCI FI NOVELS IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN NEUROSCIENCE
FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON - DANIEL KEYES
Charlie Gordon, a man with intellectual disabilities, undergoes an experimental procedure to drastically increase his intelligence, only to come across the emotional and ethical consequences as the effects prove temporary.
THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX - GREG EGAN
A man wakes up every morning to find his consciousness stored in a "safe deposit box," leaving his body to operate without him. The story explores the fragile link between mind and body in a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking narrative.
BLINDSIGHT - PETER WATTS
Led by a narrator with half a brain, a crew of genetically and cybernetically enhanced specialists sent to investigate an enigmatic alien signal near the edge of the solar system.
AXIOMATIC - GREG EGAN
Axiomatic is a thought-provoking collection of science fiction short stories that explore the boundaries of human identity, consciousness, and reality through advanced technology and philosophical dilemmas.
MONTHLY DOSE OF SUMMER PROGRAMS
don’t forget to apply!
PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists) WHERE/ HOW LONG? Boston University Campus, 6 weeks HOW MUCH? $6,100, need based financial aid available WHICH GRADE? should have completed at least one year of high school INTERNATIONALS? YES (+ partnership program PROMYS India & PROMYS Europe) WHAT IS IT ABOUT? advanced mathematics, number theory, linear algebra, etc. lecture & problem solving based APPLICATION WHEN? Early January ADDITIONAL INFO https://promys.org/programs/promys/for-students/
SSP (Summer Science Program)
WHERE/ HOW LONG? location depends on the program, 39 days HOW MUCH? $8,800, need based financial aid available, need-blind, 100% meets demonstrated need WHICH GRADE? rising senior, a few exceptional rising juniors INTERNATIONALS? YES WHAT IS IT ABOUT? four programs: Astrophysics, Genomics, Biochemistry, Synthetic Chemistry lab research APPLICATION WHEN? Demeber 12th ADDITIONAL INFO https://summerscience.org/
SSRP (Summer Science Research Program
WHERE/ HOW LONG? Rockefeller University, 7 weeks HOW MUCH? free of charge, travel expenses covered, need-based stipend awarded WHICH GRADE? rising juniors & seniors INTERNATIONALS? YES (housing is NOT provided) WHAT IS IT ABOUT? lab-based biomedical engineering research APPLICATION WHEN? OPEN NOW ADDITIONAL INFO https://www.rockefeller.edu/outreach/ssrp/
The BioGENEius Challenge offers a platform to showcase innovative biotechnology research in fields like healthcare, agriculture, and the environment. Participants present their projects to expert judges, gaining invaluable experience and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Winners receive significant recognition, with prizes including scholarships, cash awards, and opportunities to present at global conferences. THE BIO-GENE-IUS CHALLENGE STEM COMPETITION DATE VARIES | ONLINE & IN-PERSON
LEARN MORE: HTTPS://BIOTECHINSTITUTE.ORG/BIOGENEIUS/
HARVARD-MIT MATHEMATICS TOURNAMENT STEM COMPETITION
9 NOV & 15 FEB | IN-PERSON
The Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT) is a highly competitive math competition for high school students, jointly organized by Harvard and MIT. It features challenging problems across subjects like algebra, geometry, and combinatorics in individual and team-based rounds. While there are no cash prizes, top performers gain prestige, trophies, and recognition within the math community, often enhancing their academic portfolios.
LEARN MORE: HTTPS://WWW.HMMT.ORG/
THE FOURTH DIMENSION FEAT. EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY, TOPOLOGY The more you know: fun STEM this & that
The concept of fourth-dimensional space transcends the boundaries of everyday experience, opening a gateway to a realm where conventional three-dimensional rules evolve. In Euclidean geometry, dimensions beyond three are mathematical extensions, defined by adding an additional axis orthogonal to all existing ones. While we can intuitively grasp length, width, and height, the fourth dimension is abstract, often described as "time" in physics or an extra spatial axis in mathematics. A striking feature of 4D space is the transformation of familiar 3D concepts. For instance, a "hypercube" or tesseract is a 4D analogue of the cube, capable of projecting fascinating 3D shadows, much like a cube casts a 2D shadow. The idea of mirror images also shifts dramatically—objects can be rotated through the fourth dimension to produce configurations that are impossible in 3D space, effectively "flipping" their chirality without the need for reflection.
Geometrically accurate sphere existing in fourth dimensional space
Vector analysis in four dimensions introduces a fourth componen t, making operations like the dot product or cross product more complex but still mathematically consistent. Similarly, 4D rotations rely on higher-dimensional analogues of trigonometric transformations, governed by structures such as quaternions and rotation matrices. In topology, the fourth dimension allows fascinating phenomena like the "unknotting" of seemingly impossible 3D knots or the existence of exotic spheres . Physically, theories like general relativity leverage the fourth dimension to describe spacetime , where the curvature caused by mass and energy governs the motion of celestial bodies. Though we cannot directly perceive the fourth dimension, its mathematical beauty offers profound insights into geometry, physics, and higher-dimensional thinking. By exploring 4D space, we expand our understanding of the universe and glimpse the infinite complexity of mathematical structures.
Optical trapping of chiral particles by dual laser beams, represented using fourth dimensional space
ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING LAST MONTH PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
LAST MONTH PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING
SCIENCE IS MAGIC THAT WORKS. STEM CLUB LEADERS
Fernando Gutierrez Ella Delgado Zoe Yoo STEM CLUB MENTOR
Mrs. Elloree Cox
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