Touchpoint 1
Improving microbial phylogeny with citizen science within a mass-market video game
What is it?
There are 3 billion gamers on Earth. Scientists are making games to teach citizens more about science. A game called Borderlands Science was played by tens of millions of gamers. 4 million players have solved 135 million puzzles since the game came out in 2020.
Potential message to students:
Would you play it? Do you think scientists should pitch large gaming companies to include a little bit of science in every one of their games? If you played a first shooter game and got injured, would you be interested in science tasks to get your player healed and back into the game?
Touchpoint 2
Tagging project sheds light on the elusive white shark
What is it?
Researchers tagged white sharks along the Californian coastline with trackers and cameras. The tags stayed on for six days. Researchers learned that behavior changes based on time of day and where the sharks were along the coastline.
Potential message to students:
Do you think six days is enough to understand shark behavior? We all assume when a shark shows up, marine life changes its behavior. But are you surprised that such a fierce predator also modifies their behavior depending on location?
Touchpoint 3
AI Tool Predicts Responses to Cancer Therapy Using Info from Each Tumor Cell
What is it?
Cutting-edge cancer treatments are designed to use an individual’s cells to design a “precision” treatment. But we give the treatment and then wait to see if it works. Scientists are working on a way to monitor tumors at the cell level after treatment has begun and make adjustments as needed.
Potential message for students:
Do you think monitoring changes in cancer calls during treatments will be a breakthrough? Do you think treatments will be adjusted based on feedback from cells? Why do you think it’s taken this long for someone to realize the importance of cancer cell changes during the treatment period?