Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS) is exactly as the name suggests: one of the two children in a set of twins vanishes. It usually occurs during the first trimester of the pregnancy, and can sometimes be mistaken for a miscarriage. The cause of the syndrome is unknown, but some possibilities have yet to be eliminated such […]
Vanishing Twin Syndrome and Brain Damage: The Effects on the Surviving Twin Read More »
Despite the modernity of medicine and the advancements mankind has made in understanding human physiology, there is perhaps no greater mystery than the driving force behind our every action, thought, and feeling: the human brain. The physical structure of the brain is clear, but the origin of many of the existing neuronal pathologies is still
Are our brains self-sabotaging? The role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases Read More »
The rain is pouring outside. It’s only 1 p.m. on a Monday, yet you feel the day has already dragged on for ages. You’ve only made it through two lectures, an hour of unproductive studying, and about half a protein bar. Naturally, you end up at a local — new — coffee shop for a
For the first time, again: Investigating the neuroscience behind déjà vu Read More »
While wrinkle creams and wheatgrass shots may be all the anti-aging rage, the real secret lies within all of us. Put simply, aging is the slow progression of DNA damage. As cells replicate, approximately 100 base pairs of DNA are lost in what is known as the end-replication problem. Organisms have long developed a counter
Curing old age: How genetic regeneration could turn back the clock Read More »
While it is generally agreed upon that the stomach bug is unpleasant, most of us find comfort in the knowledge that the queasiness will pass. Unfortunately, for 14-year-old Lillian Brown, her three-day-long virus came with lifelong reminders. On the third day of her illness, the pain in her stomach was so intense that she had
Short-circuit: A truly negative feedback loop Read More »
It is commonly said that a sleep-deprived person has the mental performance of a person impaired by alcohol. However, the relationship between sleep and substances, such as drugs and alcohol, may be deeper than a simple comparison. Sleep itself is a significant factor in physical health and mental performance, yet many aspects of sleep remain
A waking nightmare: Sleep deprivation and circadian rhythms in the midst of addiction Read More »
Bright blues, radiant reds, and glimmering greens. Thanks to food dyes, we can expect a rainbow of selection each time we enter the grocery store. Not only does the added pigment attract the eye, but it also helps food maintain its shade as it ages as well as produce color-consistency within brands. We can rely
Taste the rainbow the natural way Read More »
DNA is the genetic information in each of our cells that encodes specific genes and characteristics. Although this source of genetic information seems like something that should be stable and unchanging, it can be influenced by the randomness of physics phenomena, and these resulting genetic changes can drive evolution. Spontaneous genetic mutations, potentially explained by
The quantum probability of genetic mutations Read More »
When you think of a cell, you might imagine a balloon-like structure with different organelles inside, each performing a specific function. Some might be breaking down molecules and producing energy while others could be storing information. One of the most important jobs in the cell is to produce proteins — in fact, it takes a
How thermodynamics folds proteins Read More »