A note from...
Bijal Trivedi
Science and Technology Editor
It’s finally October and that means not just pumpkins, but Nobel Prize season. Monday the Nobel committee announced the winners of the prize for Physiology or Medicine. The three recipients, two Americans and one Brit, won for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to low levels of oxygen, a state called hypoxia.
Sadeesh K. Ramakrishnan, a professor of medicine, explains why the win thrilled his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh and why understanding how cells deal with oxygen fluxes – caused by exercise, injury or even high altitudes – has implications for many diseases, including cancer and anemia.
Oxygen is vital for life, so much so that cells can sense when there isn't enough and adapt almost instantly. So how do they do it? The winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize for Physiology figured it out.
Ping Chen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Kathleen Mullan Harris, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The teen years are filled with fun for some, but many youth begin to experience serious depression, which can set them up for recurring bouts. A new study offers hope: Support and understanding help.
Tom Wickizer, The Ohio State University; Evan V. Goldstein, The Ohio State University; Laura Prater, The Ohio State University
A new study looks at whether deaths by suicide could be lowered with mental health care. To a small degree, yes. But a look at the costs suggests there may be better ways to prevent shooting deaths.
Trey Malone, Michigan State University; Brandon McFadden, University of Delaware
Meat producers are lobbying in many states to keep the word 'meat' off labels of plant-based products like the Impossible Burger. But this may not clarify shoppers' choices.
Douglas L. Kriner, Cornell University; Eric Schickler, University of California, Berkeley
Investigations often damage the president's approval rating, particularly if the inquiry drags on for a long time. But that may not matter to a historically unpopular president like Trump.
The gunmaker's move to stop selling AR-15s to civilians is not a response to concerns about gun control. Instead it's a reflection of how prevalent the AR-15 and comparable weapons are in the US.
John D. Cameron, Dalhousie University; Robert Huish, Dalhousie University
Development assistance has its problems. Nevertheless, it's crucial for reducing extreme poverty. And it fosters important international relations that benefit all Canadians.
