Red blood cells (RBCs) are the single-most important factor in gas exchange with the environment and the key to sustaining life. With approximately 70-80 trillion red blood cells present in human bodies at any given time, these cells constitute 70% of all the cells in the body. RBCs are flat and disk-like, featuring indentations on […]
CRISPR’s sickle cell revolution: A key to life Read More »
The slimy and smelly seaweed known to repulse many swimmers and beachgoers may serve as a key mitigation strategy for climate change in the near future. A species of red macroalgae known as Asparagopsis taxiformis has been shown to reduce methane emissions in livestock. Methane is 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than
Seaweed and cow burps: A potential solution to climate change? Read More »
Currently affecting millions of people worldwide, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious and chronic mental health condition whose prevalence has only been exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Symptoms include consistently low mood, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, and suicidal thoughts and feelings. A variety of biological, environmental, and psychological factors
Treatment of depression through spinal cord stimulation Read More »
For millions of people around the world, COVID-19 was not just a week-long scare; it became a chronic condition. The most familiar symptoms of COVID-19 resemble those of the common cold, but it had a much farther reach than respiratory or muscular difficulties, especially in adolescent communities. Newer concerns are coming to light regarding how
Beyond the senses: COVID-19’s influence on brain maturation and the aging process Read More »
Glaucoma is an eye disease where rear optic nerve damage causes a loss of vision. This damage can be caused by the buildup of fluid in the eye due to the inability to drain such fluid out of the front of the eye. The fluid normally travels through the trabecular meshwork in the anterior chamber,
The physical aging process is commonly dreaded; not many look forward to the decline of their strength or increased susceptibility to various diseases. These natural side effects of aging seem inevitable, but a recent study regarding the development of a novel therapeutic mechanism reveals that this may not be the case. A team of researchers
On February 4, 2023, Boston hit the coldest temperature recorded since 1886 at minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. While most of us were snug in our blankets with a warm mug of tea in hand, others were not as lucky. Lithobates sylvaticus, commonly known as the wood frog, is a fascinating vertebrate model of freeze tolerance
Biological antifreeze: Wood frogs and organ cryopreservation Read More »
When we think of pathogens, our minds jump to evil little microorganisms — be it viruses, bacteria, or parasites — that infect and wreak havoc on us from the outside. But we hardly think that such pathogens can originate within our own bodies and that they do not even have to be alive. Deadly prion
Protein prions: The strangest pathogen of them all Read More »
Cloning is evolving from sci-fi movies into laboratories. The idea of creating life — or even creating products of life — has always enticed humanity. Despite this fascination, the concept of cloning; whether of cells, animals, or humans; still fills most with unease and even disgust. Despite its unsettling connotations, billions of dollars have been