Nicole Pettit

Nicole joined the AuntMinnie.com team in 2008. She has written and edited healthcare-related content for more than 15 years, covering a wide variety of research areas. Nicole has a bachelor's degree in biology from Boston College, and she also holds a master's degree in publishing and writing from Emerson College.

Articles by this author
Art 101: Studying paintings helps residents spot findings
September 11, 2017 -- To produce better radiologists, try some fine art, concludes a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Researchers from Yale University found that teaching residents how to analyze a painting improved their ability to identify abnormalities on images.  Discuss
Neb. radiologist tracks tornadoes to find the perfect image
January 18, 2017 -- Everyone has a way to unwind after a busy workday -- but for most radiologists, it probably doesn't include chasing tornadoes. Nebraska radiologist Dr. Derek Burdeny is the exception, tracking storms and photographing them up close and personal across the U.S.  Discuss
Just keep scanning: Project builds CT database of fish
October 25, 2016 -- Is it possible to scan all the fish species in the world, store the data, and give it all away for free? One University of Washington professor believes it is -- and he's come up with some novel scanning techniques to move the project forward.  Discuss
Can the reading room go from sedentary to svelte?
April 26, 2016 -- Stand up. Stroll. Fidget. These actions might seem small, but even minor steps can help radiologists counter the major health risks from so many hours spent sitting in front of screens. And it can be done without sabotaging performance, according to a recent article in the American Journal of Roentgenology.  Discuss
RSNA 2014 highlights 100 years of radiology history
October 30, 2014 -- This year marks the 100th annual meeting for RSNA, and the society is pulling out all the historical stops to celebrate. RSNA 2014 attendees will be able to diagnose vintage x-ray images, see Wilhelm Roentgen's laboratory, and check out antique equipment, kicking off a yearlong centennial celebration that will end at the 2015 meeting.  Discuss
RSNA to show x-ray 'nature scenes' by Dutch medical physicist
October 9, 2014 -- What happens if you combine x-rays, creatures large and small, and a diorama? You get a "biorama," as Dutch medical physicist and artist Arie van 't Riet, PhD, has termed his images. His artwork will be shown at the upcoming RSNA 2014 annual meeting in Chicago.  Discuss
Dinosaur vertebra fossil rises up in 3D from CT data
November 21, 2013 -- Noninvasive imaging techniques have long proved valuable for digging up the stories of fossils without damaging them. In a new study published online in Radiology, German researchers have gone a step further, making a carbon copy of a dinosaur vertebra using CT data and 3D printing.  Discuss
Stanford neuroimaging center highlights MRI-based artwork
June 28, 2013 -- While some people might wish to forget the experience of undergoing an MRI exam, others turn it into art. Inspired by scans of her own brain, California artist Laura Jacobson recently created a permanent collection of works for the Stanford Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging.  Discuss
Record label swaps x-ray film for traditional vinyl
March 15, 2013 -- If you're tired of reading x-rays, how about spinning them instead? Old medical x-ray films were literally pressed into service to form limited-edition discs of a new single from record label Third Man Records, founded by Jack White of the band the White Stripes.  Discuss
See Spot think: fMRI shows how dogs respond to rewards
May 18, 2012 -- Ever wonder what man's best friend is really thinking? Georgia researchers are perhaps a step closer to the answer: Using functional MRI (fMRI) for the first time in unrestrained, unsedated dogs, they found that a hand signal associated with reward led to activation in a specific part of the dog's brain.  Discuss