Katherine Unger Baillie

Leah Davidson, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, plans to pursue a career in business. But she wants to do so in an environmentally conscientious manner. So when, as a high school senior, she learned of an opportunity to visit one of the most untouched habitats on Earth, she jumped at the chance.

No one fully understands what causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the illness commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ailment typically crops up spontaneously, leading to dysfunction and death of motor neurons, slowly sapping strength until those living with the disease can become entirely paralyzed.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a devastating illness that gradually robs sufferers of muscle strength and eventually causes a lethal, full-body paralysis. The only drug available to treat the disease extends life spans by a meager three months on average.

Until recently, Etienne Benson, an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of History and Sociology of Science, has trained his academic eye on the history of conservation of large, charismatic wildlife, such as tigers, grizzly bears and orc

Etienne Benson, an assistant professor in Penn’s Department of History and Sociology of Science, has trained his academic eye on the history of conservation of large, charismatic wildlife, such as tigers, grizzly bears, and orcas.

Drugs intended to break apart the tangled plaques that cloud the brains of Alzheimer’s patients confront a biological obstacle: the blood-brain barrier. Tightly packed cells along this border between the brain and the bloodstream allow only small molecules to cross, effectively protecting the brain against pathogens, but stifling many treatment strategies.

Cancer involves a breakdown of normal cell behavior. Cell reproduction and movement go haywire, causing tumors to grow and spread through the body.

The body is structured to ensure that any invading organisms have a tough time reaching the brain, an organ obviously critical to survival. Known as the blood-brain barrier, cells that line the brain and spinal cord are tightly packed, making it difficult for anything besides very small molecules to cross from the bloodstream into the central nervous system.

Five faculty members from the University of Pennsylvania have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A bitter taste may elicit a grimace, and indeed many bitter substances are toxic and should be avoided. Yet some foods and drugs taste bitter but promote or protect health—think broccoli or quinine.