Julia Sklar
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Articles by Julia Sklar
AstraZeneca hopes to ‘achieve amazing things’ with new Kendall Square R&D center
AstraZeneca executives touted the benefits of further establishing themselves in Massachusetts’ biopharma “ecosystem” as the Big Pharma opened a new R&D center on Monday. The 570,000-square-foot site, which comprises lab space and offices, claims a high-octane corner of Kendall Square, the beating heart of the Boston area biopharma scene.
The Secret To Making Pasta Sauce Actually Cling to Your Noodles Original
Eating pasta at a restaurant can feel like such a luxury. The pasta has some bite to it, and the sauce is thick, glossy, and creamy—sometimes even without the help of dairy—and seems to effortlessly cling to the pasta, as if beholden to an "if it goes, I go" pact as you slurp up noodles. Back at home, the same meal can feel like a sad emergency dinner, as you twirl spaghetti around your fork and watch watery, lifeless sauce drip off the strands and plunk back down on the plate.
Meet the Mainers at the Bleeding Edge of the Home Electrification Revolution
THE FIRST INDICATION of the home electrification revolution in Maine was a yard sign with a phone number advertising "Heat Pump Cleanings!" just moments after crossing the state line. Condensers hung from many houses like rectangular barnacles. Residents in this state are installing heat pumps three times faster than the national average. One of them, powered by community solar, is attached to Anne Pappas's mobile home in Brunswick.
How chronic stress and racial trauma are related
While PTSD is a form of chronic stress where the initial stressful event has passed, other forms of chronic stress arise when the event is ongoing, such as racial trauma. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) overlooks this experience, despite plenty of people trying to figure out how to live with the effects of racial trauma in a resilient way—choosing a response to chronic societal stress that leads to growth rather than harm.
Is flavor really just an illusion?
Bite down on a perfectly ripe strawberry and the pure sweetness of the juice hits you first. Then comes something far more complex: Your tongue feels rough seeds punctuating soft fruit, and a hint of sour breaks through the sweetness. If you had to name it, the word “tang” may drift forward. This isn’t exactly a taste, but some intangible quality that makes a strawberry go so well with whipped cream and hold its own as a bastion of summer.
The World's Tiniest Insect Fights Off Crop Pests and Inspires More Efficient Computers
The fairy wasp is camp. Its wings are two vertical spoons tasseled like the sleeves of a suede rodeo jacket. Despite the wasp's showiness—and its presence on every continent except Antarctica—very few people have seen one in real life. That's because it's tiny. Unfathomably so. The smallest insect in the world is a blind, wingless fairy wasp called Dicopomorpha echmepterygis. At 0.139 millimeters, its total body length is the width of a human hair.
Some people don’t experience stress. Are they happier?
Susan Charles loves figuring out what keeps people happy. Throughout her career studying emotional processes across the adult life span, the professor of psychological science at University of California, Irvine has returned to this research focus again and again. Most emotions are experienced in a social context, so “what keeps us happy is often what keeps us safe,” she says.
The Future of Desalination Lies With Small-Scale Household Systems
Large-scale desalination is an enticing dream in a warming world with a dwindling supply of drinking water. If we could simply remove the salt, would become a potable pour. The dream isn't new. The first patent for a desalination system was issued in England in the 1600s, and the first municipal plants opened in the Caribbean and the Middle East in the early 20th century. But almost 100 years later, we still don't have a robust global desalination network.
The Awe-Inspiring Sounds of Earth
Contemporary life is replete with intrusive sounds. Think of the roar of a jet engine slicing through a hike. It's such a problem that in the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington's Olympic National Park, researchers set up a sanctuary for silence to keep quiet some small sliver of our planet as the din closes in.
How to Give Gifts Without the Waste of Wrapping Paper
The first Hanukkah of the pandemic was different, but not for the reasons you might assume. It’s true, I didn’t fill my tiny apartment with guests eagerly awaiting their first crunch of latkes; and I did light a menorah over Zoom, joining an agonizingly out-of-sync prayer. But what was truly memorable about Hanukkah 2020 is that it was the year I stopped using wrapping paper. Gift-wrapping traditions in the United States are a waste-producing nightmare.
Julia Sklar
How to Give Gifts Without the Waste of Wrapping Paper Millions of pounds of gift wrapping end up in landfills. A 1,300-year-old Japanese tradition offers another way.
Starting at Go: Protein structure prediction succumbs to machine learning | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Abstract This year’s Lasker Basic Science Award recognizes the invention of AlphaFold, a revolutionary advance in the history of protein research which for the first time offers the practical ability to accurately predict the three-dimensional arrangement of amino acids in the vast majority of proteins on a genomic scale on the basis of sequence alone [J. Jumper et al., Nature 596, 583–589 (2021) and K. Tunyasuvunakool et al., Nature 596, 590–596 (2021)].
She shined a light on CTE—the disease no one wants to see - NetWorthyNews
ByJulia Sklar Released September 6, 2023 – 9 minutes checked out Ann McKee has actually misplaced the number of human brains she’s held. “Probably 3,000, nothing more than that,” she states delicately. The majority of people have not held even one. One of the biggest collections of brains in the world lies nestled in the Boston location, and McKee is its steward.
She shined a light on CTE-the disease no one wants to see
Ann McKee has lost track of how many human brains she’s held. “Probably 3,000, not anything more than that,” she says casually. Most people haven’t held even one. But one of the largest collections of brains in the world lies nestled in the Boston area, and McKee is its steward.
The Secret to Making Pasta Sauce Actually Cling to Your Noodles
Eating pasta at a restaurant can feel like such a luxury. The pasta has some bite to it and the sauce is thick, glossy, and creamy — sometimes even without the help of dairy — and seems to effortlessly cling to the pasta, as if beholden to an “if it goes, I go” pact as you slurp up noodles. Back at home, the same meal can feel like a sad emergency dinner, as you twirl spaghetti around your fork, and watch watery, lifeless sauce drip off the strands and plunk back down on the plate.
Here’s Why You Might Love Almonds, But Hate Almond Extract
An examination of what this most divisive flavoring is actually made of. There’s a lot to love about almonds. They’re decently nutritious, and lower in unsaturated fat than other nuts, like cashews — and often cheaper, too. They offer a satisfying crunch, unlike softer nuts such as macadamias; and they can function as the perfect portable, non-perishable, non-squishable snack that can be squirreled away in a desk drawer or at the bottom of a backpack for future hangry emergencies.
Artificial intelligence can fuel racial bias in health care, but can mitigate it, too
by Julia Sklar health disparities technology While some algorithms do indeed exacerbate inequitable medical care, other algorithms can actually close such gaps, a growing body of research shows. Artificial intelligence has come to stay in the health care industry. The term refers to a constellation of computational tools that can comb through vast troves of data at rates far surpassing human ability, in a way that can streamline providers’ jobs.
Research: Artificial intelligence can fuel racial bias in health care, but can mitigate it, too
Artificial intelligence has come to stay in the healthcare industry. The term refers to a constellation of computational tools that can comb through vast troves of data at rates far surpassing human ability, in a way that can streamline providers’ jobs.
5 tips for covering racial bias in health care AI
The role of artificial intelligence is growing in health care, yet many patients have no idea their information is coming into contact with algorithms as they move through doctor appointments and medical procedures. While AI brings advancements and benefits to medicine, it can also play a role in perpetuating racial bias, sometimes unbeknownst to the practitioners who depend on it.
Artificial intelligence exacerbates and mitigates racial bias in health care
Artificial intelligence has come to stay in the health care industry. The term refers to a constellation of computational tools that can comb through vast troves of data at rates far surpassing human ability, in a way that can streamline providers’ jobs.
At Cancer Centers, Will Changes Prompted by the Pandemic Persist?
Cancer centers have changed the way they deliver care to face challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but will these changes stand the test of time?
At Cancer Centers, Will Changes Prompted by the Pandemic Persist?
Cancer centers have changed the way they deliver care to face challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but will these changes stand the test of time?
Can Quality of Life Assessments Predict PFS, OS Across Cancer Types?
Studies have suggested that quality of life (QOL) assessments can predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer, though this doesn’t appear to hold true for all cancer types or in all treatment settings.1-5 The prognostic value observed in some patients has prompted researchers to recommend more widespread use of QOL assessments in clinical trials.
Can Quality of Life Assessments Predict PFS, OS Across Cancer Types?
Studies have suggested that quality of life (QOL) assessments can predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer, though this doesn’t appear to hold true for all cancer types or in all treatment settings.1-5 The prognostic value observed in some patients has prompted researchers to recommend more widespread use of QOL assessments in clinical trials.
Can Quality of Life Assessments Predict PFS, OS Across Cancer Types?
Studies have suggested that quality of life (QOL) assessments can predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer, though this doesn’t appear to hold true for all cancer types or in all treatment settings.1-5 The prognostic value observed in some patients has prompted researchers to recommend more widespread use of QOL assessments in clinical trials.
Lymphoma Patients Show Continued Cognitive Decline After Chemotherapy
Patients with lymphoma may experience a continued decline in cognitive function 6 months after receiving chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1 The study showed no differences in cognitive function by lymphoma type or treatment regimen, but there were some “paradoxical” differences between the sexes, according to authors of a related editorial.2 The editorialists noted that most studies of cognitive decline among cancer patients have...
Coronavirus has caused a huge spike in ‘cybersickness’
The GLP Needs Your Help It is easier than ever for advocacy groups to spread disinformation on pressing science issues, such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. No, vaccines are not harmful. Yes, the use of biotechnology, GMOs or gene editing to develop antigens for treatments including vaccines are part of the solution. To inform the public about what’s really going on, we present the facts and challenge those who don't. We can’t do this work without your help.
Endless scrolling through social media can literally make you sick
Researchers have found that virtual reality (VR) headsets can cause cybersickness, which manifests as dizziness and nausea akin to motion sickness. As engagement with digital devices from laptops to smartphones increases, some users are now reporting cybersickness outside a VR headset. Illustration by Victor de Schwanberg, Science Photo Library Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Digital Mammography Drives Higher Detection Rates of DCIS
The past 15 years have seen a near universal switch from film-screen mammography to digital mammography as the standard diagnostic tool in breast cancer screening. The digital version offers vastly improved contrast, making it far easier to detect the types of calcifications that are key to diagnosing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a preinvasive form of breast cancer that the American Cancer Society estimated accounted for about 15% of newly diagnosed female breast cancers in 2020.
Is Menopause Causing Sleep Apnea?
After surgeons smoothly operated on Shirley Gabre’s right knee, nervous nurses buzzed around the edges of her convalescence. Although the procedure had gone off without incident, her postoperative oxygen levels remained far too low. She was struggling to come out of sedation and to breathe on her own again. Gabre, who lives in Westlake, Ohio, hasn’t actually spent an entire day breathing without assistance in almost a decade.
Neoantigen Vaccine for Melanoma Reaches Beyond Its Target
A personalized, long-peptide vaccine that can target up to 20 personal neoantigens per patient has been successful in preventing melanoma in patients at high risk for recurrence, according to the findings of a phase 1 study published in Nature Medicine.1 The vaccine helps the body mount a robust response to the disease by training a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancerous signals, with increasing detection over time.
New Podcast: "Making Sense of Science"
Episode 1: "COVID-19 Vaccines and Our Progress Toward Normalcy" Bioethicist Arthur Caplan of NYU shares his thoughts on when we will build herd immunity, how enthusiastic to be about the J&J vaccine, predictions for vaccine mandates in the coming months, what should happen with kids and schools, whether you can hug your grandparents after they get vaccinated, and more.
A Doctor Who Treated His Own Rare Disease Is Tracking COVID-19 Treatments Hiding In Plain Sight
Episode 1: "COVID-19 Vaccines and Our Progress Toward Normalcy" Bioethicist Arthur Caplan of NYU shares his thoughts on when we will build herd immunity, how enthusiastic to be about the J&J vaccine, predictions for vaccine mandates in the coming months, what should happen with kids and schools, whether you can hug your grandparents after they get vaccinated, and more.
REGISTER NOW
Episode 1: "COVID-19 Vaccines and Our Progress Toward Normalcy" Bioethicist Arthur Caplan of NYU shares his thoughts on when we will build herd immunity, how enthusiastic to be about the J&J vaccine, predictions for vaccine mandates in the coming months, what should happen with kids and schools, whether you can hug your grandparents after they get vaccinated, and more.
Here's What It Looks Like to Seek Therapy for Climate Change Anxiety
Treatment for climate change anxiety looks different from treating generalized anxiety in that the concerns have a legitimate basis, therapists say. Three months after Gretchen bought a house in Grass Valley, California, the most destructive and fatal wildfire in the state's history ravaged the towns about 40 miles northwest of her.
There’s a Reason You Feel Numb Right Now
Sitting at her kitchen table on January 20, smartphone in hand and headset over her ears, Anna McDermott watched intently as the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris streamed from Washington, D.C. into her home in Olympia, Washington by way of YouTube. For the 38-year-old disabled artist, the last four years have been a particularly extreme source of anxiety, as she worried constantly about the government barring her access to disability insurance and Medicare.
Much of America's seafood comes through this city. Here's how it controlled COVID-19.
At the heart of Fishing Vessel William Lee is a miniscule area to share meals. Crew members pack around a table just a few inches from an electric stove—outfitted with metal guards to stop piping-hot cookware from sliding onto them as the boat rocks on the Atlantic Ocean. About seven people will spend anywhere from 10 to 12 days at a time sharing these close quarters below deck as they search for scallops, a famously lucrative and sustainable New England fishery.
Much of America's seafood comes through this city. Here's how it controlled COVID-19.
ByJulia Sklar Photographs byTimothy O'Connell Published February 8, 2021 • 25 min read New Bedford, MassachusettsAt the heart of Fishing Vessel William Lee is a miniscule area to share meals. Crew members pack around a table just a few inches from an electric stove, which is outfitted with metal guards to stop piping-hot cookware from sliding onto them as the boat rocks on the Atlantic Ocean.
Oral Contraceptives Found to Protect Against Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer for up to 35 Years After Discontinuation
Though oral contraceptives (OCPs) have been available for approximately 60 years and have consistently been associated with a lower risk for subsequent ovarian and endometrial cancer across studies, data on the time-dependent, long-term correlations between OCP use and breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer have been limited.
How to Melt Butter the Right Way for Every Recipe
Melting butter on the stove is a deceptively complex chemical experience, but an easy cooking one. By Julia Sklar January 11, 2021 I grew up without a microwave so my reference point for anything that needs to be heated in a recipe is almost always to use the stove as my go-to tool, which is why it floored me the first time someone asked me how to melt butter without a microwave. But this is actually a deceptively complex question.
Does It Matter In What Order You Add Wet and Dry Ingredients?
Recipes usually specify an order, which can make home bakers nervous about messing up. By Julia Sklar December 22, 2020 You're baking a cake and halfway through the preparation realize you added the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, when the recipe specifically asked for the opposite: "Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer … In another bowl, combine the oil, eggs, and vanilla.
Does It Matter In What Order You Add Wet and Dry Ingredients?
Recipes usually specify an order, which can make home bakers nervous about messing up. By Julia Sklar December 22, 2020 You're baking a cake and halfway through the preparation realize you added the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, when the recipe specifically asked for the opposite: "Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer … In another bowl, combine the oil, eggs, and vanilla.
Why Do Recipes Call for Both Unsalted Butter and, Later, Salt?
Wouldn't it be easier to just call for salted butter? By Julia Sklar December 21, 2020 Recently, someone asked me something that floored me in its simplicity: How come most recipes ask you to use unsalted butter, but then turn right around and also ask you to add salt? Wouldn't it be so much more efficient to simply call for salted butter? I honestly sputtered a little while trying to answer this question.
A Tool Meant to Catch Distress in Patients With Breast Cancer May Overlook the True Needs of Black Women
Within well-intentioned and well-validated health care tools, misfires hide in plain sight. To physician-researchers at Duke University, one such oversight is the Black women who fall through the cracks of a widely used measure of distress in cancer patients that is meant to trigger extra support for patients who need it most.
Pocket’s best of 2020 | Pocket
2020 It's been a year. Pocket users discovered, saved, and shared millions of compelling surprising intriguing articles. But here's what fascinated them the most ...
Black women entrepreneurs sell the medical wigs other companies won’t
© Andrea Seward, Habakkuk Media Services Coils to Locs cofounders Pamela Shaddock (left) and Dianne Austin (right) with curly wigs supplied by their company for cancer patients. The specialty shop for cancer patients at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center may be called Windows of Hope, but as Dianne Austin stood outside it, looking through the glass, all she felt was frustration.
On-Body Injections of Pegfilgrastim May Not Always Be Preferred — But They’re On Schedule - Cancer Therapy Advisor
Having neutropenia — a diminished level of white blood cells — is an ever-looming concern for patients undergoing chemotherapy. As an anticancer treatment works its way through the body in a bid to blitz cancerous cells, it can also damage neutrophils, a type of white blood cell essential to a functioning immune system. Without enough of them, the body is unable to fight off infection — bad for anyone, but especially bad for a cancer patient.
Why It’s Been So Hard to Conclusively Link Environmental Factors to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
In June 2020, after decades of back and forth over whether a key ingredient in the herbicide Roundup causes cancer in the agricultural workers and home gardeners who use it, Bayer agreed to spend $10 billion to settle the approximately 95,000 lawsuits that had accrued over time. The lawsuits are primarily against Roundup’s original producer, Monsanto, which Bayer purchased in 2018.
Here’s Why You Might Love Almonds, But Hate Almond Extract
There’s a lot to love about almonds. They’re decently nutritious, and lower in unsaturated fat than other nuts, like cashews—and often cheaper, too; they offer a satisfying crunch, unlike softer nuts such as macadamias; and they can function as the perfect portable, non-perishable, non-squishable snack that can be squirreled away in a desk drawer or at the bottom of a backpack for future hangry emergencies.
The Secret to Making Sauce Actually Cling to Your Pasta Noodles
This simple trick can turn jarred tomato sauce and dry spaghetti into a restaurant quality meal. By Julia Sklar Updated August 30, 2019 Eating pasta at a restaurant can feel like such a luxury. The pasta has some bite to it and the sauce is thick, glossy, and creamy—sometimes even without the help of dairy—and seems to effortlessly cling to the pasta, as if beholden to an “if it goes, I go” pact as you slurp up noodles.
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