The Winter Edition · 2025 · The first edition
Our first edition: the researchers, labs and questions that make Washington a science city, from microglia and dopamine to plasma, forensics and nuclear policy.
The stories that started The Catalyst, written, edited and designed by students.
Op-Ed
Listen. As a proud multicellular organism, I am of full belief that every (healthy) cell contributes value and supports global homeostasis. The complexity of cellular collaboration to enable and facilitate biological processes is astonishing and beautiful. If…
By Naama Ben-Dor · Dec 5, 2024
Profile
Professor Christopher Cahill, a distinguished multidisciplinary professor at George Washington University, is a leading expert in inorganic and materials chemistry, specializing in actinides and their role in nuclear processes. Leveraging his unique position…
By Lori Preci and Yair Ben-Dor · Dec 14, 2024
Feature
Washington, D.C. holds the title of the world’s first LEED Platinum City, yet beneath its green skyline lie pressing challenges like urban heat islands, flooding, and biodiversity loss. This feature explores the sharp environmental disparities between…
By Ginger Taurek · Dec 14, 2024
Op-Ed
STEM curriculums are no joke; there is no room for error or opinion, only facts and uncertainties. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter used by the brain, plays an important role in our motivation to do difficult tasks; while the tasks themselves don’t become easier…
By Naama Ben-Dor · Dec 23, 2024
Interview
While many scientific careers involve structured pre-professional programs and a clear long-term vision of your desired end goal, there are many opportunities to discover your interests along the way. In a conversion about his journey from his graduate…
By Naama Ben-Dor · Jan 10, 2025
Op-Ed
With the ever growing amount of information in the world, our understanding of the most complex systems can be enhanced through interdisciplinary connections. The following work explores Complexity Science, examples of collaborations, and ways to begin to…
By Aidan Schurr · Jan 19, 2025
Interview
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future” - Steve Jobs.
By Aidan Schurr · Jan 28, 2025
Feature
Three researchers in Washington, D.C., are currently shaping our future through groundbreaking advancements in technology and medicine. From revolutionizing computing with brain-shaped technology and developing innovative treatments for multiple sclerosis to…
By Yair Ben-Dor · Feb 6, 2025
Profile
The position of working in the Capital of the United States offers unparalleled opportunities for those who want to effect change in medicine. Dr. Brent Harris is a physician-scientist whose work in neuropathology, brain sampling, and ALS has helped millions…
By Aidan Schurr · Feb 15, 2025
Op-Ed
Nestled in the d-block of the periodic table, transition metals profoundly shape the vibrant world we see. While organic chemistry often captures the spotlight with its intricate molecules and reactions, the dazzling contributions of transition metals remain…
By Lori Preci · Feb 24, 2025
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