Archive

Johns Hopkins and Howard University have launched the NeuroTech Harbor technology accelerator, a partnership that will fast-track groundbreaking, equitable, and accessible technologies for neurological conditions. More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and migraines. “Potentially life-saving and lifechanging solutions addressing neurological conditions are…

Awards and Honors Three Whiting School assistant professors received Young Faculty Awards from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The DARPA program is focused on “developing the next generation of engineers, mathematicians, and academic scientists who will focus a significant portion of their careers on national security issues.” Awardees and their projects include: YINZHI CAO,…

For groundbreaking research in imaging technologies to improve breast cancer detection, Muyinatu Bell, the John C. Malone Associate Professor in electrical and computer engineering, was named an inaugural recipient of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s 2022 Science Diversity Leadership Awards. Presented in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the award recognizes the…

It was an invention that made news around the country, capturing the imagination of burrito lovers eternally tired of messy mealtimes. Tastee Tape—an edible, adhesive tape, designed to keep your burrito from falling apart—not only was a stand-out student project at last spring’s Engineering Design Day, it also was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions…

In the United States, making buildings code-compliant and fire-resistant costs tens of billions of dollars annually. Despite these expenditures, major knowledge gaps still exist about how fires affect structures. Filling those gaps could allay costs while further enhancing safety. “Fire is this very basic hazard that’s been with us forever, and yet we still don’t…

With its 86 billion neurons and more than 100 trillion connections, the human brain is sometimes described as the most complex object in the universe. It comes as little surprise, then, that treating disorders of the brain has proven frustratingly difficult. About a decade ago, the United States government accordingly launched the BRAIN (Brain Research…

“These findings could inspire new treatment for mucus-related illnesses, including chronic lung diseases and mucinous cancer, the deadliest subtype for lung and ovarian cancer.” — Yun Chen Human cells are surrounded by biological fluids like mucus and saliva that have varying degrees of thickness and stickiness. Patients with certain kinds of cancer and those with life-threatening…

Wind power produces over 8% of our nation’s electricity, but one impediment to increasing reliance on this clean, sustainable power source is the vast size of many windfarms and the challenge of understanding turbine-turbine and turbine-atmosphere interactions. High performance computer simulations can help by providing detailed insights into fluid mechanical effects associated with turbine placement,…

Plastics are known for being robust and flexible, but most aren’t particularly good conductors of electricity; in fact, they are often used to insulate power cables. A team of Johns Hopkins engineers led by Howard Katz, professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, used a new polymer (plastic) material combination to…

It could be the world’s tiniest EEG electrode cap, created to measure activity in a brain model the size of a pen dot. Its designers expect the device to lead to better understanding of neural disorders and how potentially dangerous chemicals affect the brain. This engineering feat, led by Johns Hopkins University researchers and detailed…

When you have a headache and reach for a pain reliever, you’re probably not thinking about your body position when you swallow that pill. But a new study by Johns Hopkins engineers finds your posture can make a big difference in how quickly your body absorbs the medicine. The findings are based on what’s thought…

“By measuring what genes are being expressed in what cells while maintaining the spatial organization of the cells in tissues, we can begin tackling important questions in clinical oncology.” — Jean Fan   There is a certain class of pediatric brain cancers that is “universally deadly,” with a median survival of 15 months and few, if…

Seemingly overnight, Lauren Gardner went from an unassuming engineer to a global voice championing the value of data science in public health.

When first-year students come to Homewood, they step into a world of boundless possibility, but they also leave behind their family and community, their cultural customs, and treasured traditions. In the stories that follow, six Whiting School students share how they were able to maintain, define, and redefine their sense of identity at Johns Hopkins.

Growing up, Katya Echazarreta MS ’22 was fascinated by space, an interest inspired by Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, which was her favorite book. But as a teenager, she kept quiet about her dream of working at NASA. When she voiced her aspirations, she saw doubt in people’s eyes, so she stopped talking about it. “I remember…

The rhythmic ping of steel hammers echoing behind the Wyman Park Building announces the presence of the Blue Jay Blacksmithing Club, a new student group dedicated to the timeless craft of working hot metal with hand tools. At the group’s third working meeting, six members in leather aprons take turns shaping small steel rods into hooks….

Astronauts on future NASA missions will explore complex terrains on the moon and Mars wearing next-generation spacesuits designed to provide improved ranges of motion. However, these crewmembers’ increasingly demanding forays outside their vehicles put them at high risk of ergonomic injuries. In an effort to prevent such injuries, fourth-year biomedical engineering student Rene DeBrabander spent…

The Black hair industry is flourishing, and wigs and hair extensions, which are fueling what The New York Times called a “fantasia of Black hair innovation,” are a big part of the market. The global hair wig and extension market is valued at $5.8 billion and is expected to reach $13.3 billion by 2026, according…

Toothpaste. Play-Doh. A plate of hash browns. “I can get inspired by very common things,” admits Allen Y. Wang MS ’06, PhD ’08, the Global Technical Lead at Ethicon Biosurgery, Johnson & Johnson MedTech. “I look at a lot of things in my daily life,” says Wang, a native of Taiwan. “My brain is always…

When Atif Kureishy MS ’04 was a kid in the 1980s, enjoying a fast-food lunch was simple. His parents would pull into a single-lane, fast-food drive-through, order, and pay in cash. Within minutes, he’d be tucking into a meal of hot chicken nuggets with barbecue dipping sauce, crispy fries, and an icy soft drink. Quick-service…

Through this issue’s three feature stories, I believe one can see how resilient we are, even in the most challenging times.