Duke Vertices

Our Fall 2025 issue of Vertices is now published!

This issue brings together four compelling undergraduate research projects that span molecular biology, cognitive science, marine physiology, and health policy. Across vastly different systems and scales, the articles in this issue share a common goal: to understand how complex biological and social processes shape development, cognition, health, and access to care.

Thank you to the amazing researchers, faculty, editors, and the entire Vertices team for your dedication and support.

Check out all four articles through the link in bio!

What if humans could find a way to reverse aging?

Philosophers and scientists have been asking this question for centuries. With advances in science and medicine, this once magical idea is becoming closer to reality. In her debut article, Lara charts the history of research on the aging cell and how future studies may capitalize on epigenetic modifications to reverse the aging process.

All these questions and more at the link in bio!

📸: Courtesy of Goldberg et al.

Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky contends that free will is a myth–that every action we take is the only one that could occur.

In his debut article, Harrison sits down with Duke researchers Dr. Nicole Schramm-Sapyta and Dr. Minna Ng to consider what the free will debate means for education, addiction research, and the nature of human connection.

📸: Courtesy of NewScientist.