biological sciences
Science comes alive for middle school students during Vanderbilt lab visit
Mar. 13, 2012—The Art2STEM students were divided into groups to participate in several hands-on activities. Some grew protein crystals and learned how to use X-rays to determine structures. Liquid nitrogen is often used to protect crystals from X-ray damage, so the students had the opportunity to observe some dramatic experiments involving liquid nitrogen and rubber objects. Some...
Vanderbilt biologist recognized by entomology society
Feb. 27, 2012—Julian Hillyer is the 2012 recipient of one of the Entomological Society of America’s annual recognition award.
Undergraduate students conduct research in the Stubbs Lab
Dec. 13, 2011—Learn about an unusual research lab on Vanderbilt’s campus which employs almost entirely undergraduate students. Read more: Biology Lab Utilizes Undergraduate Research to Study Protein Diseases Produced by Vanderbilt student Harrison Dreves.
Let there be light and melatonin
Nov. 4, 2011—Light and the hormone melatonin may play important roles in the developing brain.
Robot biologist solves complex problem from scratch
Oct. 13, 2011—A team of scientists has taken a major step toward developing robot biologists. They have shown that their system, the Automated Biology Explorer, can solve a complicated biology problem from scratch.
Cell phone bee mortality link: sensationalism not science
Jun. 14, 2011—Vanderbilt graduate student Cassidy Cobbs has investigated recent news reports linking cell phone emissions with bee mortality and found that there is no scientific basis for the claims.
Bad buzz about blue-eyed cicadas
Jun. 2, 2011—Have you heard the latest buzz going round that scientists at Vanderbilt are paying as much as $3,000 for specimens of the rare blue-eyed cicada? If you have, I hope you haven’t spent a lot of time checking out cicadas’ eye color, because it is a hoax. Most cicadas have red eyes, but a very...
Laboratory throws away cookbooks in pursuit of discovery
May. 20, 2011—In an educational environment increasingly characterized by canned and virtual science experiments that always come out right, Vanderbilt’s alternative introductory biology laboratory (BSC 111c) stands out because the students are asked to design experiments as well as conduct them and, above all, because they are given the freedom to fail. “This gives the students a...
What scientists know about cicadas
May. 19, 2011—Periodic cicadas, like those currently emerging in Middle Tennessee, play an important role in the local ecosystem.
Vanderbilt University honors top students during Commencement
May. 13, 2011—Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos presented the Founder’s Medals to the top scholars from Vanderbilt University’s undergraduate and professional schools during Commencement on Friday, May 13.
New insect repellant may be thousands of times stronger than DEET
May. 9, 2011—Discovery of a new class of insect repellant raises the possibility of formulations that are thousands of times more effective than current repellants.
Could bacterial hitchhikers influence formation of new host species?
May. 5, 2011—Vanderbilt researchers are exploring what role, if any, bacteria play in environmental diversity, with the aim of answering one of biology's most fundamental questions.