The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $12.2 million grant to Cornell and six other institutions to develop a social networking site that will connect biomedical researchers across the country. Think Facebook, but rather than updating your profile with your “Halloween 2009!” photo album and relationship status, you would post research interests, current projects and your latest journal publications.

The reality of Bryan Christy’s life may be stranger than fiction.

This reptile boy turned lawyer turned journalist turned author presented a reading from his debut book, The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World’s Greatest Reptile Smugglers, to a crowd of fans and curious Cornellians last Tuesday in Uris Auditorium. Christy discussed the peculiarities of his life, his research and the illegal business of reptile smuggling.

According to Christy, The Lizard King is the product of two passions: reptiles and writing.

“When I was a boy in South Jersey, what I cared about was reptiles,” he stated. “On my street, if you had a snake, you were king.”

The word “autismus”, which once described the symptoms of schizophrenia, was coined in 1910 by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, who may have referred to modern day autism without even realizing it. Today, scientists certainly know more about autism than they did 100 years ago, but the demand for further research remains high. Organizations throughout central New York have been working persistently on research regarding the disease for years. With a recent lecture “Autism in Central New York: Research and Practice” and a new study being conducted, Cornell University has become a welcome addition to the group.

To the Editor:

Re: “The Science Behind Sexual Attraction,” Opinion, Oct. 28

As a gay man on campus, I am incredibly offended by the Science Section’s treatment of sexual attraction in this article. In theory, I wouldn’t mind a piece that discussed the nature and evolution of heterosexual behavior; however, I would prefer that said piece contain at least SOME acknowledgement of other forms of sexual behavior, even at a perfunctory level.

Wow! Bro, I don’t want to kill your buzz, or anything, but you got to hear this. I just found out how beer is made!

As a selling point on school tours, a staple in every pre-frosh publication, and a popular spot during Ithaca’s few warm months, the gorges are a major part of Cornell culture. While “Ithaca is gorges” t-shirts are seen by the dozens daily, many students are unaware of how these beautiful waterfalls came to be.

Few are immune to the trend. It brings you closer to fifth-grade friends, peers and even parents, for better or worse. Xanga, MySpace, Friendster, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook — what is the science that makes social networking such a staple of 21st century life?

In a world where both climate predictions and gas prices seem increasingly volatile, many hope for greater fuel mileage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through the use of “hybrid car” technology.

If only memorizing material for a prelim, recalling where you left your keys, or remembering the name of last night’s date were easier. There are certainly ways to help improve one’s memory. Memory is simply the mental ability to store, retain or recall information, and understanding the way it works is key to making it sharper.

With a Starbucks in Collegetown and the locally beloved Collegetown Bagels down the street, it isn’t surprising that every day thousands of Cornellians give in to temptation and order a delicious, steaming cup of Joe. Many of them have been told that the caffeine in coffee is unhealthy, and that it may lead to high blood pressure. But how much truth is there to those accusations directed at this seemingly innocent drink? What really is the science behind caffeine?