Katerina Niemann and Karina Agadzhanyan The prospect of aging often instills fear, particularly among the younger generation as they cannot imagine a life of immobility, illness, and dependence. However, many of these commonly held stereotypes about aging are not entirely accurate, and the reality of growing older isn’t as daunting as portrayed by the media. In fact, numerous wonderful aspects of aging are overlooked. If you remain unconvinced that this stage of life is beautiful, perhaps you can be convinced to adopt measures that transform aging into a less intimidating and more empowering p ..read more

Ella Hou (Author) and Alice Xu (Mentor) Notes of Progress Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that impacts individuals’ interactions, communication, learning, and behavior (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one novel stereotype of the disorder is characterized by their lack of social interaction. Consequently, individuals with ASD are confronted with both direct and indirect ramifications stemming from their deficits in social interaction. This impact tends to intensify during ..read more

Alex Yeghikian (Author) and Sonya A. Ashikyan (Mentor) Walking around UCLA, you might hear the trill of a Bewick’s wren, the clicks of a California towhee, or the chirping of a dark-eyed junco. With a careful eye, you might even see one perched on a branch or flying swiftly by. We might not pay much attention to the birds around us during our day-to-day goings on, but they are no doubt an integral part of our natural surroundings. But can our feathered friends help us learn, focus, or feel better about ourselves? Science says they can! Although many people already view nature as something bene ..read more

Ashley Choy and Andrew Jun Lee (graduate student mentor) Close your eyes and try to imagine any kind of object. Now visualize how much of it you can see: its colors, depth, clarity, etc. The extent to which you can visualize the object relies on your capacity for mental imagery. Mental imagery has long been the object of scientific inquiry. Traditionally, mental imagery has been understood as a form of conscious experience. In the same way that we consciously experience an object through visual perception, mental imagery is analogous to perception without sensory input. “We use the term ‘menta ..read more

Lauren Imai (Author) and Alice Xu (Mentor) Lauren and her furry friends A Furry Prescription On April 15, 2013, Jessica Kensky was watching runners cross the Boston Marathon finish line when she was suddenly struck down by one of the bomb blasts. Unfortunately, both of her legs had to be amputated. Rescue, a black Labrador, was donated to Kensky and helps her with everyday tasks such as opening doors and putting on her prosthetic legs. But Rescue’s impact on Kensky’s life extends far beyond just helping her around the house. Rather, he serves as a source of great comfort, hope, and happiness ..read more

Mia Viola and Dillon Murphy Imagine this scenario: you’re returning home from a party late on a Friday night, only to be confronted by your mother. She’s worried about how you spent your night. In a panic, you lie and tell her that you were at a friend’s house. Over the next few weeks, your mother continues to ask about that night, and you stick to your lie, repeating it over and over. Months later, while talking to your friend, you mention the night you spent at their house. Your friend seems confused and reminds you that you both went to a party, not their house. You’re left feeling bewilder ..read more

In third grade, my mom handed me a frail copy of Are You There god? It’s Me, Margaret (AYTGIMM), by Judy Blume. The pages were discolored, the binding hanging on by a thread (literally). The state of the book mirrored my feelings after having “the puberty talk” at school, split by males and females, cramped in a classroom with the other third graders and a few teachers. After filing in, we watched a somewhat outdated video that described the pubertal changes that might occur in the coming years. I left the room nervous about the prospect of these impending changes – Would I still be a kid ..read more

Iman Haq and Dillon Murphy Every day, we encounter numerous faces of diverse genders, ages, and races, and our ability to identify them accurately is crucial. However, human facial recognition can sometimes be prone to errors, making it challenging for individuals to recognize and distinguish important people in their lives. Fortunately, advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have enabled machines to recognize faces as well. While Artificial Intelligence technology, a product of human ingenuity, can more effectively identify individuals based on their facial features (Fetzer, 1990), it a ..read more

Reva Bajjuri (Author) and Sonya A. Ashikyan (Mentor) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder which tends to be misunderstood and overlooked. Harmful misconceptions, rooted in disbelief of the legitimacy of ADHD, understate the breadth and complexity of its symptoms. 4.4% of Adults in the United States are clinically diagnosed with ADHD, and 32.7% of ADHD adults rely on stimulants for treatment (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022). Deconstructing the stigma surrounding people with ADHD, especially those who take stimulants, is a key step in effectively understanding ..read more