It’s not always easy to engage readers with stories about basic biochemistry. So when one of our faculty members mentioned in passing that his lab had named its microscopes after evil robots and 1980s action heroes, we jumped at the chance to use pop culture as a hook to draw people into a science story that they might otherwise pass by. “Action Heroes of DNA Repair” introduces readers to junior faculty member Joe Loparo and a handful of his trainees via the microscopes they custom-built and named after characters such as Robocop and Chuck Norris. Framing the scientists themselves as action heroes, the article describes how the team uses these microscopes to study DNA damage and repair, which has taught us about basic biology and disease and can help researchers improve treatments and technologies such as chemotherapy and gene editing. The story also touches on the scientific and cost-saving benefits of custom-building equipment rather than buying it out of the box.
From the Judges
This article captures the work of brilliant, goofy, scientists on the forefront of DNA research, while also revealing their personal sides. The judging panel felt this entry had everything a reader could ask for—scientific detail, heart, timeliness, and fun.
