Features

The Celiac Surge

Plastic Pollutants Pervade Water and Land
Lab Tools

Pinpointing the Culprit
Identifying immune cell subsets with CyTOF
Foundations

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.
Scientist to Watch

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.
Profiles

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.
The Literature

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.

Bone Marrow Isn’t the Only Source of Platelets
Scientists have estimated that about half of murine platelet production occurs in the lungs.

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.
Modus Operandi

Synthetic Stem Cells Regenerate Heart Tissue in Mice
These engineered “cells” were made from the secretions and membranes of human mesenchymal stem cells.
Notebook

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.

Athletes’ Microbiomes Differ from Nonathletes
Researchers are beginning to uncover a link between activity level and the microbial makeup of one’s gut.

Mammalian Jaws Evolved to Chew Sideways
Parallel evolution in jaws and teeth helped early mammals diversify their diets.

A Snake Species Not Seen Alive for 64 Years Appears in Brazil
Locals helped researchers find the extremely rare boa.
Speaking of Science

Notable Science Quotes
March for Science, Trumping the EPA, the French election, and more
Editorial

Is Less More?
Diets: From art to science
Contributors

Contributors
Meet some of the people featured in the June 2017 issue of The Scientist.
Reading Frames

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.
Bio Business

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.
Cover Story

Running on Empty
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.
Critic at Large

Opinion: Why I Published in a Predatory Journal
Our totally bogus case report swiftly passed muster, with only minor revisions requested.