Researchers unveil the mystique surrounding T. Rex’s appearance
By Sam Siomko, Staff Writer Many of us recall watching Jurassic Park – and the huge Tyrannosaurus rex with its menacing roar was quite a sight for many. But the movie’s “thunder lizard” would not have looked nearly as ferocious if its scales were pink or blue, or if it had a tuft of feathers coming out of its head. It might be a ridiculous image, but researchers have never had a way to definitively find out what dinosaurs looked...
Changes to the EPA under the Trump administration
By Graham Alabdulla, Staff Writer The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was officially established in 1970 by America’s then-leader, President Nixon. The EPA’s Administrator is appointed by the president. This agency was formed to protect human health and the environment through regulations. Notable legislation enacted by the EPA includes the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 1970 and subsequent Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1972. About half a...
Scientists engineer first ‘batbot’ as bat populations decline
By Sam Siomko, Contributing Writer Back in elementary school, robotic animal toys were all the rage. Most of them performed a few preprogramed tricks or could be guided by remote control. Others, like the Furby, were just plain annoying to some. But little did we know that our FurReal Friends and our Zhu Zhu pets were just scratching the surface of what animal robotics would become. Researchers at the University of Illinois and...
Researchers say they have created metal hydrogen, but critics are skeptical
By Aphra Murray, Staff Writer On January 26 2017, in the midst of an array of news about the presidency, Science featured an article that claimed scientists had finally achieved the goal of turning hydrogen into a metal. Researchers from Harvard University claim that under a pressure 4.9 million times that of atmospheric pressure, they observed a shiny quality to hydrogen: one of the defining features of a metal. This, they say, is...
Bumblee species declared endangered
By Sam Siomko, Staff Writer If you have ever eaten, you have to thank a bee. Why? Bees are one of the most prolific pollinators in the continental United States. Natural pollination from bees saves farmers over three billion dollars per year—that is the amount of money it would require to artificially pollinate our crops. But our friends, the bees, are in trouble. Human carelessness mixed with an increased vulnerability due to climate...
Free EpiPen alternative Auvi-Q to hit the markets
By Kayla Britt, MST Editor This past September, Mylan Specialty, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures EpiPens, was riddled with controversy. The EpiPen is a life-saving drug that, if injected at the right time, treats anaphylactic allergic reactions. The price of the pharmaceutical drug has skyrocketed to 461 percent of its original cost over the past eight years; in 2007, you could buy a pack of EpiPens for around $100, but...
