Esther Wang, Author at Sampan

Esther Wang

Education March 21, 2025 0

‘Cracking’ the Code: Boston Researcher Jing-Ke Weng Aims to Use Plant Science, AI to Unlock Mystery of Peanut Allergies

The peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the world, and yet there is still much that we don’t understand about it. This puzzle is precisely what researcher Jing-Ke Weng, a professor of chemistry and bioengineering at Northeastern University, is aiming to solve. In an interview with the Sampan, Weng revealed more about his research on peanut allergies—what pushed him to pursue this particular subject, the work he’s hoping to achieve, and his research’s potential implications […]

Immigration March 7, 2025 0

How Asian Americans Fought Key Battles for Immigrant & Civil Rights

Tens of millions of immigrants in the U.S. are now, as long promised, in the sights of the administration of Pres. Donald Trump, who is carrying out his threats of mass deportations. The administration is also using various executive orders in attempts to boot certain visa holders from the U.S. and to end Constitutionally protected rights, such as birthright citizenship. Some of these very rights are the same that throughout history Asian Americans have fought hard for, in a long […]

Boston February 21, 2025 0

All Immigrants Have Rights, Say Attorneys

Despite the fear and chaos created across the U.S. as immigration raids detain and deport more and more people, those living in the U.S. still have constitutional and legal protections, such as against illegal searches and warrantless home entries. That was a key takeaway from the media briefing “ICE Is Knocking. What Are Your Rights?” conducted by Ethnic Media Services. Just in the past few weeks, more than 200,000 people have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and at […]

Health February 7, 2025 0

Panel of Doctors Agree: Climate Change, Vaccine Distrust Pose Grave Health Risks

Climate change, the rise of the “anti-vaccination” movement and several viral diseases are current threats to healthcare and humans, according to a diverse panel of doctors who presented at a Jan. 10 Ethnic Media Services online briefing.The panel of guests included Dr. Nahid Bhadelia from the Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases at Boston University, Dr. Peter Chin Hong from University of California San Francisco, Dr. Benjamin Neuman from Texas A&M University, Dr. Maurice Pitesky from UC Davis, and Dr. William […]

Features November 22, 2024 0

Some Immigrant Families Fear 2nd Trump Presidency

Central to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory on Nov. 5 was his harsh stance on immigration.Now that Trump is due to regain the presidency in January, anti-immigrant sentiment has dominated much of the news. Trump has pledged to hire 10,000 more border patrol agents—and it looks like the president-elect will hold true to his promise, as he and his team moves forward on a plan to divest certain Americans of their citizenship, part of a so-called “denaturalization” project has been in […]

Business November 8, 2024 0

‘Amnesty’ Offered to State Tax Payers, but Some Say More Help Is Needed

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue is offering taxpayers a little breather through Dec. 30: The tax amnesty program will waive penalties for certain eligible taxpayers as long as they pay the tax and interest owed before the end of the year. In order to enter the program, the taxpayer will have to submit an Amnesty Request, pay the total amount owed, and submit all required returns by December 31, 2024. Those who have received prior amnesty relief, are in active […]

Boston October 25, 2024 0

Gov’s Emergency Gun Rule Triggers Debate Around Second Amendment Rights in State

Gov. Maura Healey signed an emergency preamble early this month that effectively put a new gun law into immediate effect, expanding Massachusetts’ preexisting firearms regulations—already some of the strictest in the country. The move will crack down on private-made “ghost guns”; criminalize possession of “bump stocks” and trigger cranks; require a gun license for live-fire training; prohibit people outside of law enforcement from carrying guns at schools, polling places, and government buildings; ban the possession, transfer, and sale of assault […]

Features October 11, 2024 0

WWII Pvt. Woo Returns for Burial After Nearly 80 Years

A full 79 years after his death, Private Kwack Keung Woo of the U.S. Army has finally been brought home to Agwam, Massachusetts. After falling in action in Biesdorf, Germany, in 1945, the private’s remains were not recovered until 1951 and only identified recently. “Once a soldier is identified, the family is given the option to have their loved one buried in a designated overseas military cemetery or repatriated to the United States to a local cemetery or a veterans […]

Health September 13, 2024 0

New Screening Tech Could Address Racial Disparities in Cervical Cancer

For many women, Pap smears are an uncomfortable, even painful experience. While effective at screening for cervical cancer, the technique calls for the patient’s legs to be held apart and a metal speculum to be inserted into the vagina to scrape cells from the cervix. The process can cause physical distress and evoke mental trauma. Pap smears, however, might soon become a thing of the past. In May, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new method of testing for […]

Boston August 9, 2024 0

Report: State Sorely Lacks English as Second Language Classes for Immigrants

The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center is among several nonprofits in Massachusetts offering free English classes aimed at preparing immigrant students for college and jobs. But as the influx of immigrants to Massachusetts – including undocumented migrants – has increased, so has the demand for English lessons. And now many nonprofit groups like BCNC say Massachusetts is in a state of crisis when it comes to providing English classes to the people who need them most. Case in point: BCNC is […]

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