Science Communication
My journey into science writing did not begin as a journalist. When I decided that I wanted to write about science instead of doing it, I first joined SciComm projects in Brazil and in the U.S. From writing video scripts to help debunk scientific misinformation and explain health topics for the Brazilian SciComm YouTube channel Nunca Vi 1 Cientista, to writing about wildlife for the Montana Natural History Center, these initiatives to promote science beyond academia fuel my commitment to make science accessible to anyone interested in learning more about it :)
Video Script Writing
Scientists Finally Know What Killed Billions of Sea Stars
Beginning in 2013, billions of sea stars along the west coast of North America started to die from a mysterious disease that caused their arms to twist and fall off and their tissues to melt. The disease, known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD), was responsible for one of the largest die-offs of marine animals in recent years.
Cancer Cell Mitochondria: Sneaky Agents that Reprogram Healthy Cells Into Cancer Buddies
If people were asked to name an organelle inside the cell, the word “mitochondria” would certainly pop into most people’s heads. While we always remember that mitochondria are central to energy production in cells, these bean-shaped organelles also have the amazing ability to move between cells, a phenomenon known as horizontal mitochondrial transfer (HMT).
A Bee’s Guide to Overwintering
Winter in Montana is not for the faint of heart—and that goes for wildlife, too. While we cover ourselves inlayers of clothing and stay cozy in our homes, some animals use their fluffy feathers or fur for insulation. Others hibernate or even migrate to warmer places, leaving the frigid winds and snow behind.
A Spotted Coat of Concealment
Summer brings more than blue skies and hot days to Montana. It’s during this time of the year that white-tailed deer fawns are born. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to see a few fawns in my backyard. Sometimes they seemed like well-behaved kids following their mom as she browsed and rested under the trees. Other times, they leaped and chased one another—what I came to consider a deer v...
A Shot at Treating Cancer: Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines in the Spotlight
Finding effective ways to treat different types of cancer has been a long-standing goal for scientists all over the world. In this quest, many have turned their attention to vaccines...
#FEMSmicroBlog: Tackling drug-resistant bacteria with quorum sensing quenchers
For decades, antibiotics have helped us successfully fight many diseases. Their overuse and misuse, however, have led to the emergence of bacteria that no longer respond to these drugs. This makes antimicrobial resistance a significant public health threat around the world and requires us to find alternative treatments.
Under the brain tumor spell
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of cancer that accounts for nearly half of all primary malignant brain tumors in adults...
This Is Your Brain In Love
Just like any other emotion, love has more to do with the brain than you might think.
Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that progressively impacts a person’s cognitive functioning and behavioral capacities, leading, ultimately, to the disruption of that person’s daily life. In the past, doctors could only make a definitive Alzheimer’s diagnosis by directly examining the patient’s brain tissue in a post-mortem autopsy. But, thanks to researchers, a lot has changed.
Do animals feel empathy?
From a dad hugging his daughter who lost a sports game to a husband trying to alleviate his wife’s distress by listening to her, humans have the capacity to adopt others’ points of view and relate to others’ emotions.
How the Gut Microbiome Alters Fear Extinction
Learning to avoid a threat as well as knowing when something is no longer dangerous is crucial for an organism’s survival. Being able to shake off fearful memories after a threat has passed is so important that deficits are linked to several neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over the last decade, evidence has shown that changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) microbial community, collectively known as gut microbiome, influences brain-related proc...
Can computer games help us to cope with trauma?
Nowadays, experiencing shocking and dangerous situations in which you think yours or someone else’s life is in danger is not rare. People who are exposed to, or have witnessed life-threatening circumstances, may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that manifests in re-experiencing a traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, often resulting in the avoidance of trauma-associated cues, negative changes in mood, and a state of increased alertness...
