kNOW-SCIENCE participates in the Rockefeller University Science Saturday

The Rockefeller University's Parents & Science initiative hosts numerous events throughout the academic year. kNOW-SCIENCE participated with its own booth to the Science Saturday Open Day in May 2014, sharing the excitement of science with children and adults alike!

 

Cancer. What is it, where does it come from and can you increase your chances of avoiding it?

Cancer, a word that has more than 700 million hits on Google, that features in 100 million news articles and affects, directly or indirectly, the majority of the world population, still remains a mystery to us. So, what is cancer and where does it come from?

Our very own Simona Giunta, from the kNOW SCIENCE team, explains the basics of cancer. To read the full article, click here.

kNOW-SCIENCE launches new website

Scientists from the Rockefeller University launch a new online interface for the kNOW-SCIENCE.org initiative, educating non-scientists and the public about the latest research topics and scientific information. Our in-house web-developer, Alistair Field is re-shaping the kNOW-SCIENCE website and building some cool animations to make science more accessible to the public. Want to book one of our amazing presentation? Click on the Presentations tab above! If you have any issues using our new website or spot any mistakes, please let us know @ info@know-science.org

kNOW-SCIENCE partners with Genspace for community science outreach

kNOW-SCIENCE and Genspace join forces in tackling science literacy in the general public. The collaboration will feature a series of monthly lectures at the Genspace community laboratory delivered by kNOW-SCIENCE's scientists on a variety of topics. Want to attend the lectures and/or to know more? Watch this space or subscribe to our email list by emailing us @ info@know-science.org

What is a Cell?

Trees in a forest, fish in a river, horseflies on a farm, lemurs in the jungle, reeds in a pond, worms in the soil — all these plants and animals are made of the building blocks we call cells. Like these examples, many living things consist of vast numbers of cells working in concert with one another. Other forms of life, however, are made of only a single cell, such as the many species of bacteria and protozoa. Cells, whether living on their own or as part of a multicellular organism, are usually too small to be seen without a light microscope. 

Cells share many common features, yet they can look wildly different. In fact, cells have adapted over billions of years to a wide array of environments and functional roles. Nerve cells, for example, have long, thin extensions that can reach for meters and serve to transmit signals rapidly. Closely fitting, brick-shaped plant cells have a rigid outer layer that helps provide the structural support that trees and other plants require. Long, tapered muscle cells have an intrinsic stretchiness that allows them to change length within contracting and relaxing biceps. 

Still, as different as these cells are, they all rely on the same basic strategies to keep the outside out, allow necessary substances in and permit others to leave, maintain their health, and replicate themselves. In fact, these traits are precisely what make a cell a cell.[cit. Nature.com]

How does our Brain work?

The brain performs an incredible number of tasks including the following:

• It controls body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
• It accepts a flood of information about the world around you from your various senses.
• It handles your physical movement when walking, talking, standing or sitting.
• It lets you think, dream, reason and experience emotions.

All of these tasks are coordinated, controlled and regulated by an organ that is about the size of a small head of cauliflower.
Your brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves make up a complex, integrated information-processing and control system known as your central nervous system. In tandem, they regulate all the conscious and unconscious facets of your life. The scientific study of the brain and nervous system is called neuroscience or neurobiology. Because the field of neuroscience is so vast -- and the brain and nervous system are so complex -- this article will start with the basics and give you an overview of this complicated organ.
We'll examine the structures of the brain and how each section controls our daily functions, including motor control, visual processing, auditory processing, sensation, learning, memory and emotions. [Source: Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. and Robynne Boyd]