All in Science & Nature

19 of the 20 fastest marathon times ever belong to runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. Here’s why.

19 of the 20 fastest marathon times ever belong to runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. Here’s why.

Ishan Gupta
Sports, Science & Nature

Of the 100 fastest marathon times in history, 89 belong to runners from Kenya or Ethiopia. Furthermore, of the top 20 fastest times, 19 have been run by athletes from this region. What is it about the runners from these two East African countries that makes them superior at long-distance events? 

In 2019, the global average time for this 26.2-mile race was 4:32:39, which is equivalent to a speed of about 10 minutes and 34 seconds per mile. The fastest officially recognized time¹, recently run by the late Kenyan distance runner Kelvin Kiptum, was 2:00:35, a staggering pace of exactly 4 minutes and 36 seconds per mile. This is a near full-on sprint for 26.2 miles. The marathon is not a sport that requires extensive finesse, strategy, or athleticism; it is a test of endurance – of how much one can push one's body – and at the highest level, with everybody pushing themselves to the absolute limit, there must be a scientific reason for why Kenyans and Ethiopians have unequivocally dominated the sport. 

Quantum Computing: The New Paradigm

Quantum Computing: The New Paradigm

Zoha Imran
Science & Nature

A quantum computer is a computing device that uses quantum bits (qubits), which can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition and be correlated through entanglement, enabling it to solve certain complex problems much faster than classical computers. 

The journey to quantum computing began with the early developments in quantum mechanics. Max Planck's pioneering work revealed the concept of discreteness at sub-atomic levels. J.J. Thomson's discovery of electrons in the cathode ray tube, followed by Rutherford's description of electrons orbiting the nucleus, laid crucial foundations. An unexpected source of insight came from a bad cigar, which played a role in uncovering the concept of spin as intrinsic angular momentum in electrons (Friedrich & Herschbach, 2003).

Preserving History Amid Climate Change: Heritage Site Conservation

Preserving History Amid Climate Change: Heritage Site Conservation

Ankita Nandi
Public Policy, Science & Nature

The ever-pervasive nature of climate change has impacted all facets of society and spurred scientific research into alternative energy sources, developing carbon-negative materials, and designing sustainable infrastructure, amongst many other research topics. These research directions seek to develop new technologies to tackle climate change consequences before they happen. However, along with looking towards the future, it is just as important to understand how we can preserve the past as climate change impacts historical items, materials, and architecture. Focusing on the impact of climate change on historical sites, cultural conservation research has evolved to include understanding how climate change impacts cultural heritage sites, and how we can continue to preserve these sites.

Gene Editing: What You Need to Know 

Gene Editing: What You Need to Know 

Siddharth I Sharma
Science & Nature

Beginning in the 19th century, the field of genetics saw significant growth in thought. Though concepts of heredity were postulated long before the term entered the scientific lexicon, it wasn’t until Gregor Mendel’s work on pea plants in 1865 that the concept of heredity was fully understood. By 1944, Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty discovered that DNA was the “transforming principle,” the fundamental chemical component of genes (“1944: DNA Is \"Transforming Principle\,"” n.d.).

Are We Ready for “Peak Oil”?

Are We Ready for “Peak Oil”?

KaraLeigh Eva Loya
Science & Nature

The roads we drive on daily, the technologies that run our world, the food we eat, and the products we purchase all rely upon fossil-based resources.  Our extensive use of fossils makes them necessary for a functioning society as we know it. The raw materials and all relevant supply chains are subject to government regulation and often centralized in international affairs.  The matter is highly politicized, with heavy debate surrounding climate change, energy independence, and a myriad of related topics.

There is, however, one incontrovertible truth underneath each discussion – the reality of peak oil. 

Leveraging AI and Machine Learning in DNA Sequencing for Tree Phylogenetics

Leveraging AI and Machine Learning in DNA Sequencing for Tree Phylogenetics

Aidan O'Leary
Science & Nature

Scientists have been able to uncover evolutionary relationships between different plant species utilizing DNA sequencing. Studying these relationships is beneficial for our understanding of biodiversity and conservation biology. Additionally, we can improve our conservation efforts, detect invasive species, and understand the effects of climate change. Today, artificial intelligence plays a crucial role. It helps monitor read alignment, variant detection and analysis, and Genome assembly. In addition, it serves other functions that we will further explore throughout the article.

Cuteness I: How Feeling Fuzzy Helps Your Mind

Cuteness I: How Feeling Fuzzy Helps Your Mind

Valeria Li
Science & Nature

The concept of “cute” is highly dependent on the cultural context. In essence, the concept can be defined as anything that seems appealing in a pretty or endearing way. Cuteness has long been a subject of research, even before a dedicated field was developed. Psychologists, neurologists, and anthropologists have all observed the way that cuteness as a concept is embedded into the human species.

Extinction By The Bowl

Extinction By The Bowl

Caroline Foltz
Science & Nature

To this day, a threat to our ocean and to our future lurks beneath the surface of global waters. Sharks—de-finned and slowly descending to the seafloor. Unable to move oxygen through their gills. Unable to escape an excruciating death. Familiar species, such as the Great Hammerhead, are already nearing extinction (Rigby, C.L. et al., 2019). The culprit is a long-established practice known as shark finning. The motivation is a bowl of soup.

The Role of Quantum Computing in Drug Discovery

The Role of Quantum Computing in Drug Discovery

Timothy Kilimo
Science & Nature

Quantum computing is an emerging field that promises to revolutionize numerous industries, particularly those involving complex computational problems.

One such industry is pharmaceuticals, where drug discovery involves sifting through vast chemical spaces to identify potential therapeutic compounds.

Traditional computational methods, while powerful, often fall short in handling the complexity and scale of these problems efficiently.

This analysis explores the potential impact of quantum computing on drug discovery, highlighting its advantages, current challenges, and future prospects.

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