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Diana Steele

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Diana Steele blends her science background with a rare talent for telling stories about complex research topics and sharing them with a broader audience.

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Recent News Articles

Scientists use synthetic platelets as ‘Trojan horse’ drug-delivery system

Scientists working to enhance brain-computer interface (BCI) technology—which allows people to control devices with their thoughts—have found they can improve the performance of electrodes implanted in the brain by targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs. …

Ancient cousins: New evidence that two early human species lived side by side

By analyzing recently found bones, researchers have finally solved a puzzle that's been around since 2009: Who did a mysterious 3.4-million-year-old foot belong to? The discovery changes how we think about our ancient human ancestors. Beverly Saylor …

Cleveland’s famous sea monster gets a scientific update

About 360 million years ago, the shallow sea above present-day Cleveland was home to a fearsome apex predator: Dunkleosteus terrelli. This 14-foot armored fish ruled the Late Devonian seas with razor-sharp bone blades instead of teeth, making it among the largest and most ferocious arthrodires—an…

Decades-old asthma theory challenged: Newly discovered molecules may be real drivers of disease

For decades, scientists have thought they understood the biochemical machinery that causes asthma—inflammation in the lungs that constricts airways and makes it hard to breathe. Molecules called “leukotrienes”—chemicals that get released from white blood cells when something irritates your airways…

Will vaccines transform cancer care?

More than 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, according to a National Cancer Institute estimate, and 618,000 people will die from the disease. But imagine if—after a standard course of treatment—patients could be vaccinated to prevent their cancer from…

Meet a researcher trying to see the birth of the universe

Johanna Nagy, Warren G. Rupp Assistant Professor of Physics Area of focus: Cosmology: decoding the secrets of the origin of the universe and how it has changed over time Johanna Nagy hopes to “see” the birth of the universe by mapping the fossil light that stamped the imprint of its earliest…

Climate change may create ‘ecological trap’ for species who can’t adapt

Even as autumn days grow shorter, a warming climate means Ohio winters aren't as cold as they were just a few decades ago, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. This increasing mismatch between hours of daylight and temperature could spell trouble for animals that…

New clinical trial to test sensory prostheses for people with upper-limb loss

Technology developed at Case Western Reserve University can restore a sense of touch that makes a prosthetic hand feel like a part of one’s own body instead of feeling artificial and disconnected. Now this technology will take a major step toward commercialization: in a new clinical trial, 12…

Emeritus orthodontics professor Bruce Latimer passes away

Bruce Latimer was a scholar who left a lasting legacy that furthered our understanding of the evolution of upright walking in humans. He was also a beloved colleague, friend and mentor who, according to his colleagues, wasn’t afraid to give someone the shoes off his feet or liven the evening in a…

Stellar minds: CWRU women astronomers map universe’s mysteries

Aug. 1 is Women Astronomers Day, highlighting the historical achievements of women in astronomy. The designation honors the birthdate, in 1818, of Maria Mitchell, the first American woman astronomer and professor of astronomy. At Case Western Reserve University, astrophysicists Idit Zehavi and…