Bearing News

Sea level rise caused by world powers leave South Pacific islands vulnerable

Shubha Gautam • November 3, 2021

The western Pacific Ocean has experienced sea level rises two to three times greater than the global average, leading to almost 0.3 meters of net rise since 1990. Additionally, a high surf event in Dec. 2008 overwashed numerous atolls in Micronesia, devastating freshwater supplies and agriculture on 60% of the inhabited islands. Natural disasters such as this exacerbate the living conditions of the residents of these islands, but with countries like Kiribati contributing to just 0.6% of the world greenhouse gas emissions, they are not the root cause of the problem.

Wildfire smoke spreads across nation, contaminates air quality

Anjali Noel Ramesh • November 3, 2021

In the past five years, record breaking wildfires have plagued California, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The amount of land burned by the wildfires are at an all-time high, with over 10 million acres destroyed in 2020.

Second phase of brown-headed nuthatch reintroduction to the Missouri Ozarks begins

Shubha Gautam • November 2, 2021

In total, 56 Brown-headed Nuthatches were translocated to Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest from the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas between August and September of this year as part of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) effort to reintroduce the bird species to the state, Sarah Kendrick, state ornithologist with the MDC, said. The reintroduction plan commenced in 2020, bringing 102 of the once extirpated birds to Missouri throughout the last two years.

The future of COVID-19: variants impact the future of the global pandemic

Zay Yontz • November 1, 2021

The global pandemic continues to play a recurring role in many people’s lives even as things that are thought to be “normal” are reimplemented like in-seat learning and less preventative measures according to “As Life Begins To Return To Normal, Psychologists Say Expect Anxiety” by National Public Radio. Throughout the interview Vaile Wright, senior doctor of health care innovation at the American Psychology Association emphasizes the level of uncertainty in place as the country reopens. The role of the variants and vaccines are “unclear” in regards to the future of the pandemic according to Wright.

Pandemic intensifies violence against East Asian Americans

Sarah Ding • April 26, 2021

Vincent Chin was a Chinese American man in Detroit out celebrating his bachelor party with his friends on the eve of his wedding, in 1982. Two white autoworkers beat him to death with a baseball bat amidst shouted racial slurs. The men each received a $3000 fine and no prison time. Chin’s last words were “It’s not fair.”

Viewers’ perception of social media impacts health

Anjali Noel Ramesh • February 28, 2021

A clear and exact definition of body image, according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), is “a person's perception of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative or both, which result from that perception.” This impression is usually formulated by internal judgements, but can be impacted by external factors in the process.

The heart of healthcare

Sarah Ding • February 27, 2021

Dr. Flaker said the magnitude of his experience gives him a unique perspective on the advances in medicine and cardiology, as he’s seen how they have evolved.

Anti-vaxxers challenge U.S. health security

Nora Crutcher-McGowan • February 25, 2021

Even as inoculation has evolutionized through myriads of diseases and discovery and grown strong in the presence of modern science and technology, skeptics are hesitant to subscribe to the idea. Anti-vaxxers, or people who do not support vaccination, challenge the needed participation in mass vaccination as Americans continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neuroethics in law, science influences autonomy and crime

Shruti Gautam • February 25, 2021

A paper published in 2007 discusses the case of FK, a man in his late 50s. FK was arrested for gross lewdness and child endangerment due to public urination near a school. Despite no psychiatric history,...

Asian health practices whitewashed by Western wellness industry

Emma Stefanutti • February 24, 2021

While TCM and yoga have proven benefits for alleviating pain and stress, some have accused Western companies of profiting from a whitewashed version of wellness, one that disrespects or even erases their spiritual and cultural significance to make practices more palatable to white consumers.

Understanding love languages proves beneficial to relationships

Sarah Ding • February 12, 2021

Love languages, an idea pioneered by Dr. Gary Chapman in his book “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts,” are different ways of expressing and receiving love. These include words of affirmation, quality time, giving and receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch.

Online shopping demonstrates changes in consumer behavior since COVID-19 pandemic

Sarah Ding • February 8, 2021

Shopping can be a coping mechanism for people who are sad or scared, as they often feel they have no control over their lives. Making the choice whether to buy something gives them the control they lack. In a time where COVID-19 is taking over the world, the statistics show more people are turning to shopping and exercising their autonomy.