Deadline Extended: There's Still Time to Enter! We've extended the deadline for the Synapse Storytelling Contest to midnight on Friday, July 10, 2026, giving current UCSF students one more week to ...

At the age of thirteen, my genetic disorder caused my growth to accelerate, leading to an unusually tall stature. My pediatrician predicted a height of at least 6' 4" after puberty, whereas the ...

This is part 3 of the limited series on the celebrated haute couture designer, Christian Dior. Christian Dior presented his first haute couture collection, named “Corolle,” in February 1947 at 30 ...

Human rights activists have been shocked down to their core as they received proof of the Chinese government’s horrific removal and trafficking of detained Uyghur Muslims’ organs. The investigation ...

After years of internal debate, I finally got my first tattoo. He’s a small lizard, with a topological map design inside, scaling the outer edge of my left ankle. His fine lines and tasteful detail ...

Originally published in Synapse on December 2, 1993. David E. Smith, MD, founder and director of the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics, began treating young people using LSD in 1967 and has been on the ...

Research shows laughter may be more of a social tool than a sign of enjoyment in conversations with strangers. Think of the last time you remember laughing. Maybe it was when you were showing someone ...

Hunger is a natural part of life, but have you ever stopped to consider why you’re feeling hungry? Understanding the difference between physiological and psychological hunger can help you make more ...

A week before I gave birth last February, the research team I work with published a study in a prominent scientific journal on how paid family leave affects maternal and child health. The study found ...

In our latest podcast episode, pre-med student and Synapse contributor Sarah Siddiqui talks to the co-presidents of the UCSF chapter of Med Students For Choice, second year UCSF medical student Neha ...

Originally published in Synapse on February 17, 1977. Inmates of California’s prison system are currently being used as subjects for medical experimentation. Although the inmates participate in the ...