Category: Science Communication

Visions of Sound & The Synesthetic Spectrum

Post author By The Nerve
Post date April 13, 2026
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By Ava Nagy

When I was a kid, I had a violin instructor who could see sheet music come to life. To my astonishment, I had known her for three years before this information came up in conversation. I had been sitting in the eclectic, circular “music room,” in the back of her home, complaining about how difficult it was for me to sightread a piece of music for the first time. I remember I had asked her how she did it so easily, expecting to be met with one of her usual sayings – “practice makes perfect,” or one of its many variations – but this time she only smiled.

Neuroethics Science Communication

Animism Through AI

By Maya Zubrinsky

Jean Piaget, a pioneering psychologist, posits that during the pre-operational stage of cognitive development, children attribute lifelike consciousness, emotions, and intentionality to inanimate objects. According to this same theory, around seven years old logical reasoning begins to supersede this form of imaginative thinking, suggesting that we typically outgrow the egocentric tendency to see nonhuman entities as being relational to ourselves from a young age. Yet, artificial intelligence (AI) has presented a psychological regression to this premature stage of development with the way individuals are willing to see and trust their virtual assistants as ones of our own kind. The film Her tried to visually conceptualize a phenomenon where humans might form intimate connections with technology back in 2013, but only in recent years have we seen the lengths to which that dystopia has become a reality. Beyond romantic relationships being formed with chatbots, the surge in seeking out AI for emotional connection and support is fundamentally reshaping how vulnerability, relationships, and therapy are evaluated by the face of humanity.

Pharmacological Science Communication

MDMA: Street Drug Turned Medicinal?

Post author By The Nerve
Post date March 22, 2026
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By dhara Patel

MDMA, commonly referred to as ecstasy or molly, has dominated American club culture and continues to maintain a presence in modern rave and concert scenes despite its risks as a substance with high potential for addiction and abuse. Formally, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetically manufactured drug that stimulates the user’s nervous system while simultaneously inducing vivid hallucinations. Particularly appealing to younger audiences, MDMA produces a sense of increased energy and pleasure, along with emotional warmth and contentment; however, its use can simultaneously cause distorted sensations and time perceptions (NIDA, 2020). Additionally, researchers have noted that MDMA sold from street dealers is typically combined with other illicit drugs to amplify the effects people experience, adding to potential health risks.