|
Written by Olivia Woodford-Berry, '19 Edited by Hannah Ngo, '21 Facebook is an increasingly integral part of how individuals interact with each other, from shopping in Facebook’s market-place to private messaging, and privacy problems created by this platform pose a threat to individual privacy and political stability. The Cambridge Analytical scandal represents an ethical challenge rooted in Facebook’s privacy protection policies.
In this case, the integrity and security of Facebook was called into question after a whistle-blower revealed that a British data firm, Cambridge Analytica, purchased improperly collected data on 50 million Facebook users to create political profiles without the users’ knowledge or informed consent. Users who believed they were taking a Facebook quiz were redirected to a Qualtrics questionnaire that did not reveal it was collecting personal information: “The first step for those filling out the questionnaire was to grant access to their Facebook profiles. Once they did, an app then harvested their data and that of their friends.” [1] Although Facebook claims the researcher responsible for selling the data to Cambridge Analytica, Aleksandr Kogan, was the problem, Kogan argues that Facebook has created a situation that makes users extremely vulnerable to this sort of privacy breach. [2] This violation of data security represents a prominent ethical dilemma since, according to the United Nations, the right to privacy online is a human right
0 Comments
Written by: Holly Zheng '22 Edited by: Shailen Sampath '20 In the final season of the 2018 comedy TV series “Mozart in the Jungle,” the protagonist, a conductor of a prestigious orchestra, hears about a mysterious composer who has just completed Mozart’s “Requiem,” Mozart's final work that he did not finish before his death. The news claims that this mysterious composer finished the piece exactly how Mozart would have done it. When the maestro later meets the composer, he is shocked and confused -- the composer turns out to be an AI-powered robot.
Although this scene is from a fictional TV show, the reality of some recent technological advancements is not too different from it. Written by Olivia Woodford-Berry, '19 Edited by Hannah Ngo, '21 Stem cells, or cells that exhibit the capacity to create other cell types, are a heavily researched topic in the field of regenerative medicine. Unlike organisms like salamanders, humans have very little regenerative ability despite the existence of adult stem cell populations. [1] Such adult stem cell populations are a major research target for tissue engineering, as they lack the controversy that surrounds research using embryonic stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a type of stem cell capable of forming fat, bone, tendon, and muscle tissue, is especially promising. [2] Bone marrow- derived mesenchymal stems cells have been thoroughly researched for clinical applications. However, the invasive procedures required to isolate these cells pose limitations for their clinical utility. By comparison, the relative accessibility of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs), or stem cells derived from fat, have made them an exciting subject for stem cell therapy research.
Written by Ashley Nee, ‘22 Edited by Jess Seveston Since its discovery by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has frustrated scientists and physicians alike. The cause of this memory-robbing illness as well as the development of a therapeutic treatment to either stop or reverse its effects remain elusive. [1] Several hypotheses point to or include genetic differences as a part of the disease etiology. A recent study implicates five new genomic loci in causing AD. [2] Published in Nature Genetics, it is the largest of any investigation into the genetic factors underlying AD. By Kaitlyn Lew '20  Credit: Roy Scott/Getty Images “WARNING: May contain peanuts,” reads the label. Every person with a food allergy is familiar with the sinking feeling of reading the allergen-containing food label, including me. Although it is important to scrutinize the ingredients of all foods for certain allergens to avoid adverse, life-threatening reactions, there are also strict restrictions on an individual's food options and behaviors that may divide social circles. People with severe food allergies often have limited food choices. Moreover, children and young adults while growing up may also be prohibited from sitting with friends at other tables for fear of inadvertent allergen exposure and are thus prevented from entering such foodie social circles.
By Rishi Patel, '21
Edited by Rahul Jayaram, '21 Cancer is an exceptionally significant disease in today’s world. Based on data from the National Cancer Institute, the incidence of cancer in 2011-2015 is 439.2 cases per 10,000 people [1]. A prominent method used in cancer treatment has been to identify oncogenes – genes that can change a normal cell into a tumor cell when exposed to particular conditions [2]. The methods to identify oncogenes till now have had certain limitations, however, researchers at the University of Queensland and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have collaborated to develop an innovative, statistical method, Oncomix, that identifies oncogenes in a way that could overcome these limitations. Written by Holly Zheng, '22 Edited by Shailen Sampath, '20 If you read to Alexa the headline “China proposes removal of two-term limit, potentially paving way for Xi to remain president” in a standard American accent, Alexa will mostly understand your sentence with few mistranscriptions of words.
If you read the same headline to her in a non-native English accent, however, she will think that you said: “China proposes removal of two time limit for ten shirley pain way folks eight remind president.” [1] By Malika Ramani '21 Edited by Jess Sevetson  Traditional open-heart surgery is both invasive and dangerous, and yet for many patients, it has been the go-to option for valve replacement. Two recent large clinical trials, however, have proven that a far less invasive – albeit “daring” procedure – may lead to better outcomes for a wide range of patients with cardiovascular complications.
Written by Sumaiya Sayeed, '19.5 Edited by Lauren Anderson, '21 In a sample of many types of cells amidst a body of fluid, it can be difficult to capture the tiny objects for diagnostic purposes. What if we could squeeze these cells through tiny pores? Researchers have done just that.
By Malika Ramani '21 Edited by Jessica Sevetson According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults between the ages of 18 and 64 should sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night. [1] Yet almost all adults have experienced it: an insanely busy week when sleep is temporarily relegated to the back burner. Many of us then hit the snooze button once Saturday rolls around, convincing ourselves that we are taking care of our bodies by sleeping in to make up for several days of sleep deprivation. The results of a recent study, however, suggest quite the opposite – that sleeping in on weekends can actually have a detrimental effect upon health and disrupt our quality of sleep during the work week. [2]
|