Blog Buzz: April 13 – April 19

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In this week’s Buzz: The US Supreme Court hears arguments related to breast cancer, patents and genes. The Digital Public Library of America is open and ready for you to make amazing discoveries.

There have been many responses on social media to the US Supreme Court hearing arguments in the case involving patents held by Myriad Genetics for BRAC1 and 2 gene tests, as covered by the BBC here. Reporter Lyle Denniston recapped the arguments on the SCOTUSblog, and Amy Howe offered this breakdown of the proceedings in plain English. Here are two personal responses from breast cancer survivors, Who owns our genes? and, from the Huffington Post, Nancy Stordahl on …Why Everyone Should Care.

The Digital Public Library of America, an online collection of resources from libraries, archives and museums around the country is now online and open for you to explore! There are ways to explore by date or by location, peruse a variety of online exhibitions, or use an app that enables simultaneous searches of DPLA and Europeana (an online collection of European cultural heritage resources). Imagine all the amazing material that will continue to be added!

The BRAIN Initiative

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On April 2, President Obama announced a new initiative to “revolutionize our understanding of the human brain”.  It is hoped that the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative will “accelerate the development and application of new technologies that will enable researchers to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show how individual brain cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought”.

Interested in more detail? Susan L. Nasr provides an in-depth look at what brain mapping is and what it can do for us. Continue reading →

Do You Know? Earth Day 2013

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On Monday, April 22nd, more than one billion people will take part in the 43rd annual celebration of Earth Day! Will you be one of them?Check out some of the earth-friendly activities and initiatives happening right here at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center:

MSK Earth Day Fair
Stop by the West Dining Room of Memorial Hospital’s cafeteria (main campus) on April 22nd, 11am to 12pm. Activities include games, snacks and prizes!

Paper Reduction Contest
MSK employees may submit ideas to the Green Team via the Intranet until midnight on the 22nd. One of last year’s winners came from the Library (we’re very proud!). Will this year’s come from you?

Sustainability at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Learn about MSK’s sustainability projects which include energy efficiency, green cleaning products, and donating medical supplies to clinics in need.

“Greening the OR” LibGuide
Browse the Library’s collection of informational resources on managing the environmental impact of the operating room (OR).