Imagine a hypothetical contest comparing the intelligence of all organisms with a brain. It can be reasonably guessed that the winner would be the human brain. Yet, what makes our brains superior to other organisms if it’s not the largest or even the most complex? To answer this question, researchers face the daunting task of […]
From caveman to modern man: The development of the human brain Read More »
In a world plagued by war and pestilence, heart disease remains the leading cause of death across every continent. However, emerging experimental therapies using stem cells may provide the solution to keeping the heart of the world beating. Stem cells are cells that precurse more common cells in the body, such as blood cells and
A synthetic beat: Keeping your heart beating through stem cell research Read More »
Life on Earth today is fantastically diverse, as even within just the animal kingdom more than 1 million species have been discovered. They all have their own role in the ecosystem, defined as their niche. While organisms have always had their own niches in the environment, prior to the geological time period known as the
The living bomb and its aftermath: Radiation of life during the Cambrian explosion Read More »
It might sound like science fiction, but the future of 3D-printed organs is closer than one would imagine. New innovations in printing technology are making leaps in implants or grafts possible. One day, it might even be possible to replace major sections of the heart using cells from a patients’ own body. One day, it
The present and future applications of 3D printing in cardiac surgery Read More »
On paper, it sounds pretty easy to determine if something is alive or not — within the medical field, though, it is far more complicated. Because of outside pressures of lawsuits, religious objections, and state-to-state legislation, it can be a minefield when trying to correctly meet the criteria for death. The Universal Determination of Death
Few organs are held in as high regard as the human brain. It’s incredibly complex with many mysteries that still puzzle researchers. As the keeper of all thoughts, emotions, memories, and senses of self, it’s what makes humans human. Traditional in vitro models can be useful, but they fail to imitate communication between the different
Cerebral organoids raise ethical questions of consciousness Read More »
Loss of taste and smell, persistent cough, stubborn fever, chills and aches, and maybe blue toes. These are typical symptoms of COVID-19 that we have all come to know too well; yet, much of the virus still remains a mystery, like why some experience no symptoms while others suffer enormously. Many are quick to claim
Is COVID-19 damaging our hearts? Read More »
Telepathy may no longer be pseudoscience. New technological frontiers are pushing the boundaries of human capability, edging scientific fiction closer to scientific reality. One such feasible experience is direct brain-to-brain collaboration. In 2015, researchers at the University of Washington explored such information exchange but were limited by the need for physical interaction with interfaces (taking
Telepathy may be a reality: Brain-to-brain collaboration Read More »
Therapeutic hypothermia, as the name suggests, is a method of purposefully lowering a patient’s body temperature to approximately 93 degrees Fahrenheit in an effort to increase survival rate and decrease the likelihood of further damage to the brain. Take for example, a patient who’s suffered cardiac arrest and, after an intense round of CPR, has
In cold blood: All about therapeutic hypothermia Read More »