Health Elixir or Snake Oil: Is Kombucha Good for Your Health? Proponents of kombucha attribute a laundry list of health benefits to this beverage. Many of these have yet to be validated by peer-reviewed science (e.g. kombucha as the cure to cancer), while other claims (such as kombucha’s ability to enhance mental acuity, increase life expectancy, and promote weight loss) are … [Read more...] about Food for Thought: Kombucha (Part II)
Archives for 2016
Extraordinary Women in STEM: Liu Yang
"From day one, I have been told I am no different from the male astronauts. As a pilot, I flew in the sky. Now that I am an astronaut, I will fly in space." -Liu Yang Liu Yang is China’s first female astronaut to travel into space. Yang began her journey towards space when she enrolled in aviation school and later enlisted in … [Read more...] about Extraordinary Women in STEM: Liu Yang
Election Edification: The Revolution of 1800
This election was a rematch from 1796 and when the incumbent, John Adams, was defeated the power hierarchy in the United States would never be the same. This marked the first time in election history that there was a major power shift in terms of the system that governs a nation through peaceful means. This election showed why democracy works and two main aspects stood out as … [Read more...] about Election Edification: The Revolution of 1800
Bugs and Drugs: The Discovery of Penicillin
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The beginning of the modern era of antibiotics can be traced back to Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928. After returning from a family vacation, Fleming noticed that a plate of Staphylococcus bacteria had been contaminated with a … [Read more...] about Bugs and Drugs: The Discovery of Penicillin
Food for Thought: Kombucha (Part I)
Over the past decade, kombucha tea has catapulted from being an obscure home brew made by fermentation fanatics, to being a darling of the American health food scene. Now available to consumers in stores ranging from Whole Foods to the grocery section of the local Target, kombucha has gained a following because of its purported health benefits. But what exactly is … [Read more...] about Food for Thought: Kombucha (Part I)