I have read a lot of fiction over the years. Inevitably, the drama would achieve its maximal impact when the protagonist had to make a decision. And this decision would take the form of a fork in the road, with one direction signifying success and the other failure. However for me, the most important decision I’ve made in my academic […]

Johnny pulls over at the end of his shift as a New York City taxi driver. He’s just dropped off his last customer (who he cheated out of the correct change) and sits alone in his taxi. Suddenly it’s quiet, he’s alone and the reality of his miserable life starts to surface. It’s obvious in his face and the look […]

Dear Dr. Universe, Do animals have the same types of bones and muscles as humans? – Lydia, 8 Dear Lydia, The short answer is yes, said my friend Leslie Sprunger, a veterinarian and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. But, as always, there’s a catch. When I visited Sprunger in the anatomy lab, she explained […]