Author: SITNFlash

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Are microglia the hero or the villain in Alzheimer’s disease?

by Gizem Terzioglufigures by MJ Park Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and despite years of research efforts, there is still no cure. However, recent studies have highlighted the crucial roles of microglia, the resident immune cells of our brain, in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. But the question remains: do microglia defend our brain against … Continue reading Are microglia the hero or the villain in Alzheimer’s disease?

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Keto – It’s Probably Not Right for You

by Ya’el Courtney In 2022, the majority of Americans (52%) followed a particular diet or eating pattern, primarily motivated by two things: a desire to protect long-term health and a desire to lose weight. According to data from the International Food Information Council, 23 million Americans chose to follow a ketogenic, or “keto”, diet last year to work towards these goals. This number has more … Continue reading Keto – It’s Probably Not Right for You

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On the Basis of (Fish) Sex  

by Emily Goeringfigures by Andrea Luviano Did you know that sea lampreys are more likely to grow into males if they aren’t fed enough food? Or that one type of shrimp produces male offspring in the long days of summer, but females in shorter fall days? Sexual determination systems are the methods by which organisms produce offspring with differing biological sexes. Although all vertebrates evolved … Continue reading On the Basis of (Fish) Sex  

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My Doctor Told Me I Have High Cholesterol, Now What?

by Isabella Del Priorefigures by Carlos Morales We’ve all heard it before: high cholesterol is bad and can increase your risk for heart disease. Though there is a direct association between cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol, there exists controversy and confusion over treatment options. What counts as “high” cholesterol, do I really need to cut out eggs, and which one is the “bad” one again?  … Continue reading My Doctor Told Me I Have High Cholesterol, Now What?

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Neuroplasticity: how lost skills can be regained after injury or illness

by Beatrice Awasthifigures by Shreya Mantri Loss of motor or cognitive skills can be a devastating after-effect of injury or illness. When things that used to feel easy suddenly feel impossible, a full recovery can appear completely out of reach. In many cases, persisting symptoms of pain, weakness, and fatigue can be due to dysfunction of the nervous system. Fortunately, the nervous system has an … Continue reading Neuroplasticity: how lost skills can be regained after injury or illness

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RNA plays a newly discovered role in the development of cancer

by Carlos Moralesfigures by Shreya Mantri Our cells perform extraordinary functions using information stored in their genetic material, known as DNA. Changes in DNA, known as mutations, can make cells behave erratically, which may lead to cancer. But how does cancer begin? A new model proposes that RNA — the molecular link between DNA and proteins — is at the heart of this phenomenon. How … Continue reading RNA plays a newly discovered role in the development of cancer

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Something in the Sewage: What watching our wastewater can tell us about infectious diseases

by Ya’el Courtneyfigures by MacKenzie Maugeredited by  Yuli Lily Hsieh January 2023 marked the third anniversary of the discovery of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that halted life as we knew it. It overwhelmed hospitals worldwide, and is still infecting around 250,000 people daily across the globe in February 2023. Over these three years, many countries have struggled to monitor the rapidly … Continue reading Something in the Sewage: What watching our wastewater can tell us about infectious diseases

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How this Long Bacterium Beats the Diffusion Limit

by Mara Casebeer Most bacteria, like the common E. coli, are around a micron in length – less than a tenth of the width of a strand of human hair and invisible without a microscope. Recently, scientists discovered a bacterium, Candidatus (Ca.) Thiomargarita magnifica, that is almost 10,000 times longer than E. coli. Ca. T. magnifica cells were found attached to sunken leaves in the … Continue reading How this Long Bacterium Beats the Diffusion Limit

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Leveraging Circadian Rhythm for Medical Advancement

by Benyapa Khowpinitchaifigures with Carlos Morales When your medication becomes less effective, the first thought you may have is to increase the dosage. But what if there was a way to increase the efficacy of the drug without needing to increase the amount? What if you could simply change when you took the drug? Indeed, the answer may lie in your biological clock. Biological clock … Continue reading Leveraging Circadian Rhythm for Medical Advancement

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How do scientists know whether to trust their results?

by Salvador Balkus Collectively, scientists conduct a lot of experiments. Whether they study addiction, air pollution, or animal populations, most basic scientific experiments have one thing in common: data.  To perform an experiment, scientists first formulate a hypothesis about how something works. Then, they collect data – measurements, sensor information, images, surveys, and the like – that either support their hypothesis or prove it false. … Continue reading How do scientists know whether to trust their results?

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