Sahana Sitaraman, PhD

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD

Sahana is a science journalist based in Lausanne, Switzerland. She holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Delhi, India and a master's and PhD in life sciences from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, India. Sahana enjoys writing about health and neuroscience, mental health and women in STEM. She also dabbles in illustrating findings that tickle her brain.

Articles by Sahana Sitaraman, PhD

An illustration depicting the fundamental relationship between sound and life. It shows sound waves merging with a DNA helix, over a background of mouse cells.

Sound Waves Can Change Fat Cell Fates

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 2 min read

Large clumps of bacteria (pink) entrapped by webs of DNA (green) released by neutrophils in human urine.

When a Urinary Tract Infection Strikes, What Protects the Kidneys?

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 5 min read

Time-lapsed pictures of a starfish oocyte with light-induced pinching on one end of the cell.

Round Cells Square Up with an Optogenetic Switch

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

A human somatosensory pathway recreated in a dish.

Neural Assembloids Recreate a Key Pain-Sensing Circuit in a Dish

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

An illustration showing diverse protein domains, represented as squiggly gray structures, on a black background.

Unstable Protein Variants Linked to Many Human Diseases

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 4 min read

An abstract concept of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease depicted using the loss of leaves from a tree in the shape of a human face.

A Protein Ratio Could Predict Alzheimer’s Disease Progression Decades in Advance

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

An infant thinking and possibly forming memories.

Babies Form Memories. Why Do Adults Forget Them?

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

An illustration of the human intestinal microbiota. Hypoxic guts can help avoid fungal blooms post antibiotic treatment.

Hypoxia Makes the Gut Healthy

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 4 min read

Epithelial cells (green) produce electrical signals in response to laser-induced wounds (bright spots).

Skin Cells Create Neuron-Like Electric Signals

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

An artistic rendition of polycystic ovarian syndrome, showing ovarian cysts represented by paper balls.

An Anti-Malarial Drug Could Ameliorate PCOS Symptoms

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 4 min read

An illustration of a mouse cochlea showing hair cells, neurons and the synaptic connections between them.

Trippy Hearing Aids: Psychedelics Spur New Synapses in Mouse Ear Cells

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

A slice of rat brain showing various labelled proteins, such as the neurotransmitters dopamine (yellow) and acetylcholine (magenta).

A New Protein-Labeling Technique to Study Intact Organs

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

A person scratching an itch on their arm.

Why Do We Scratch an Itch?

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 5 min read

A picture of the main building of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Freeze on NIH Grant Reviews Leaves Scientists Confused and Frustrated

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 3 min read

A woman with long, brown and curly hair, as seen from the back.

Why do Humans Have Long Scalp Hair?

Sahana Sitaraman, PhD | | 4 min read

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Image of a woman in a microbiology lab whose hair is caught on fire from a Bunsen burner.

April 1, 2025, Issue 1

Bunsen Burners and Bad Hair Days

Lab safety rules dictate that one must tie back long hair. Rosemarie Hansen learned the hard way when an open flame turned her locks into a lesson.

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Conceptual image of biochemical laboratory sample preparation showing glassware and chemical formulas in the foreground and a scientist holding a pipette in the background.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Quality Control Standards

Learn how improving sampling, standardization, and calibration streamlines quality control processes.

An illustration of PFAS bubbles in front of a blue sky with clouds.

PFAS: The Forever Chemicals

Learn how to accurately test environmental samples for PFAS substances.

Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

Unlocking the Unattainable in Gene Construction

In this webinar, Benoit Derrien will discuss new strategies using enzymatically synthesized DNA for gene construction.

Concept illustration of acoustic waves and ripples.

Comparing Analytical Solutions for High-Throughput Drug Discovery

Choosing between plate reader-based assays and mass spectrometry solutions is a key decision for scientists when evaluating technology options for their laboratories.

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Singleron Biotechnologies and Hamilton Bonaduz AG today announced the official launch of Tensor under their strategic partnership.

Zymo Research Launches Research Grant to Empower Mapping the RNome

Zymo Research is proud to introduce the RNome Disruptive Research Grant, that is designed to empower scientists mapping the RNome and advance our overallunderstanding of RNA.