Understanding Science Archives - Strategian: Science Magazine

Why some storms brew up to extreme dimensions in the middle of America – and why it’s happening more often

April 24, 2025 Kevin Engel Understanding Science

Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton (from The Conversation) A powerful storm system that stalled over states from Texas to Ohio for several days in early April 2025 wreaked havoc across the region, with deadly tornadoes, mudslides and flooding as rivers rose. More than a foot of rain fell in several areas. As a climate scientist who studies the water cycle, I often get questions about…

p53 is both your genome’s guardian and weakness against cancer – scientists are trying to repair or replace it when it goes awry

March 1, 2025 Kevin Engel Understanding Science

Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, University of Pittsburgh (from The Conversation) Cancer arises when your cells grow uncontrollably and refuse to die when they should. Normally, your body is equipped with regulatory processes to prevent this chaos. One such mechanism involves a protein called p53. Often dubbed the “guardian of the genome,” this protein plays a pivotal role in ensuring that your cells grow, divide and die…

Open educational resources (OERs) and science

June 13, 2022 Kevin Engel Understanding Science

“Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and which also carry legal permission for open use. Generally, this permission is granted by the use of an open license (for example, Creative Commons licenses) which allows anyone to freely use, adapt and share the resource—anytime, anywhere.” “An OER can be any teaching & learning resource…

What is the microbiome?

March 6, 2022 Kevin Engel Understanding Science

The human microbiome involves the microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that live within or around the human body. Damage or changes or abberations of this “microbial organ” may affect human health and lead to disease. The microbiome, especially the microorganisms that inhabit the human gut, is seen as a key part in the initiation, regulation, and termination of all immune responses in the human body….