DR. MORGAN BROOKE SCHOER, MD

Plain English
The study looked at how the rate of a surgery called clitoroplasty, which is used to change the appearance of the clitoris in babies with a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, has changed over time. Researchers examined records from 45 patients born between 1979 and 2013 and found that 67.5% had the surgery before, but this rate has been decreasing due to input from patient advocates. This is important because it shows how listening to patients can lead to better medical practices that prioritize their needs and feelings. Who this helps: This helps patients and their families by promoting more thoughtful and less invasive treatment options.

Plain English
University students improved Wikipedia's coverage of chronobiology (the study of biological clocks and daily rhythms) by editing 15 articles and adding 3 new ones, citing nearly 350 scientific studies to back up the information. The students spent about 9 hours each evaluating scientific research and deciding which Wikipedia pages needed the most work, and their improvements made these pages rank at the top of search engine results. The project benefited both the public—who now have better access to accurate information about chronobiology—and the students themselves, who gained real skills in reading scientific papers, evaluating their quality, and writing clearly for a general audience.