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Cover Story
Running on Empty
Bob Grant | Jun 1, 2017 | 10+ min read
Regularly taking breaks from eating—for hours or days—can trigger changes both expected, such as in metabolic dynamics and inflammation, and surprising, as in immune system function and cancer progression.
Features
The Celiac Surge
Catherine Offord | Jun 1, 2017 | 10+ min read
A rapid increase in the global incidence of the condition has researchers scrambling to understand the causes of the trend, and cope with the consequences.
Plastic Pollutants Pervade Water and Land
Ee Ling Ng | Jun 1, 2017 | 10+ min read
Contamination of marine and terrestrial ecosystems by microplastics is putting individual organisms at risk.
Contributors
Contributors
Contributors
Meet some of the people featured in the June 2017 issue of The Scientist.
Editorial
Is Less More?
Is Less More?
Diets: From art to science
Speaking of Science
Notable Science Quotes
Notable Science Quotes
March for Science, Trumping the EPA, the French election, and more
Notebook
A Snake Species Not Seen Alive for 64 Years Appears in Brazil
A Snake Species Not Seen Alive for 64 Years Appears in Brazil
Locals helped researchers find the extremely rare boa.
Mammalian Jaws Evolved to Chew Sideways
Mammalian Jaws Evolved to Chew Sideways
Parallel evolution in jaws and teeth helped early mammals diversify their diets.
Athletes’ Microbiomes Differ from Nonathletes
Athletes’ Microbiomes Differ from Nonathletes
Researchers are beginning to uncover a link between activity level and the microbial makeup of one’s gut.
The Search for Methods to Monitor Brain Cooling
The Search for Methods to Monitor Brain Cooling
Newborns deprived of oxygen have their temperatures lowered to protect against brain damage, but it’s hard to decipher the babies’ immediate response to the intervention.
Critic at Large
Opinion: Why I Published in a Predatory Journal
Opinion: Why I Published in a Predatory Journal
Our totally bogus case report swiftly passed muster, with only minor revisions requested.
Modus Operandi
Synthetic Stem Cells Regenerate Heart Tissue in Mice
Synthetic Stem Cells Regenerate Heart Tissue in Mice
These engineered “cells” were made from the secretions and membranes of human mesenchymal stem cells.
The Literature
Genes’ Composition Guides More-Optimal Diets
Genes’ Composition Guides More-Optimal Diets
Fruit flies and mice grow better and eat less when the amino acid balance of their food reflects that coded by their exomes.
Bone Marrow Isn’t the Only Source of Platelets
Bone Marrow Isn’t the Only Source of Platelets
Scientists have estimated that about half of murine platelet production occurs in the lungs.
Long-Term Memory Storage Begins Immediately
Long-Term Memory Storage Begins Immediately
In mice, cells in the prefrontal cortex—where memories are maintained long-term—start to encode a fearful experience right from the start.
Profile
Micronutrients, Macro Impact
Micronutrients, Macro Impact
At the interface of food, nutrition, and agriculture, Lindsay Allen’s research has been informing nutrition guidelines and policies around the world for decades.
Scientist to Watch
Amélie Gaudin studies how plants survive harsh environments
Amélie Gaudin studies how plants survive harsh environments
The UC Davis agroecologist grew up on a farm and now works to help farmers grow more resilient crops.
Lab Tools
Pinpointing the Culprit
Pinpointing the Culprit
Identifying immune cell subsets with CyTOF
Bio Business
Learning from Iceland’s Model for Genetic Research
Learning from Iceland’s Model for Genetic Research
The Scandinavian island’s unique combination of genetic homogeneity, genealogical tradition, and high participation in research make it a prime location for discovery and validation of drug targets.
Reading Frames
How Moral Disgust Can Simultaneously Protect and Endanger Humanity
How Moral Disgust Can Simultaneously Protect and Endanger Humanity
The human brain’s insular cortex is adept at registering distaste for everything from rotten fruit to unfamiliar cultures.
Foundations
Self-Experimentation Led to the Discovery of IgE
Self-Experimentation Led to the Discovery of IgE
In the 1960s, immunologists took matters into their own hands—and under their own skin—to characterize an immunoglobulin involved in allergies.