Simply Stated

Simply Stated: Is gossiping a nasty habit or human nature?

January 16, 2025 by

While gossiping is often portrayed as a malicious activity, science shows that “spilling the tea” has significant roots in both evolutionary biology and social psychology.
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Simply Stated: What is 3D printing and how is it being used on campus?

December 19, 2024 by

If you have ever taken a peek inside the UC Santa Barbara Makerspace before, you might have seen a cluster of identical machines lined up against a wall, quietly at work creating parts of all shapes a...
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Simply Stated: How is randomness in nature plotted to form a simple bell curve?

November 21, 2024 by

Nature’s design can seem random upon first glance; however, a closer look reveals a common pattern that ties it all together, from the growth of a tree bark to the toss of a coin — the bell curve....
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Simply Stated: Can AI predict politics? Investigating the mathematics of election forecasting

November 5, 2024 by

Despite the overwhelming surplus of election predictions, many voters remain skeptical about whether it’s even possible to interpret the current political landscape through a scientific perspective....
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Simply Stated: Why do some people lucid dream and others don’t?

October 31, 2024 by

Imagine being immersed in a dream, aware that you're dreaming and able to shape and traverse the world around you with no limitations. This phenomenon is called lucid dreaming and is characterized by ...
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Simply Stated: Are ghosts real, or can science explain the supernatural?

October 24, 2024 by

From folklore to horror movies, the paranormal and its mysteries have been ingrained in society, but the scientific community largely remains skeptical about the existence of ghosts. So, what does sci...
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Simply Stated: The mind game of fantasy football

October 10, 2024 by

Fantasy sports are on an upward trend of popularity, but what are the psychological motivations and effects of this new form of gambling that is now becoming an American pastime? 
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Simply Stated: What are the effects of performance-enhancing drugs on an athlete’s body?

August 29, 2024 by

Like virtually all of its kind that precede it, the 2024 Summer Olympics has been rife with doping scandals. Chinese Olympic swimmer Pan Zhanle was the subject of doping accusations after he secured h...
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Simply Stated: What’s the science behind the mental strength of Olympic athletes?

August 29, 2024 by

The mind of an Olympic athlete is a finely tuned instrument where focus, resilience and neurological efficiency converge to produce peak performance. While Olympians’ physical prowess is the result ...
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Simply Stated: Is pulling an all-nighter for an exam worth it?

June 11, 2024 by

We’ve all been there — it’s the night before your 8 a.m. final and the library announces that late-night study is moving to the first and second floors. The question is: Do you get a good night...
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Simply Stated: The science behind blacking out

May 2, 2024 by

After a night of heavy drinking and regrets, one can experience fear and anxiety when all the memories of the previous night are nowhere to be found.
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Marijuana and munchies: A possible homeopathic solution

April 25, 2024 by

At the heart of cannabis culture, beyond the red eyes, giggles and relaxation, lies an indescribable feeling: the “munchies.”
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Simply Stated: Do we really only use only 10% of our brains?

April 11, 2024 by

Nestled within the fortress of our craniums, the human brain stands as one of the most complex structures in the known universe. It orchestrates our thoughts, emotions and behaviors with a level of so...
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Simply Stated: What is endometriosis, and why is it so much more than bad periods?

March 11, 2024 by

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to talk about this invisible but terrible disease. Endometriosis and all of its related chronic conditions like polycystic ovary sy...
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Simply Stated: How scientifically accurate are this year’s Academy Award nominees?

March 7, 2024 by

Warning: This article contains spoilers about several 2024 Academy Award nominated films. With the Academy Awards fast approaching, many are probably watching and re-watching the nominees, attempting ...
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