By Luiza Skowronski Flynn What if growing older doesn’t mean growing slower? While aging is not “curable”, scientists are looking for ways to slow its process so that with time, our minds remain sharp. A recent study published in June 2023 by the Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology Department at the University of California, Berkeley examined […]
Put Away Your Crossword Puzzles! Scientists Edge Closer to Finding Solutions for Neurodegeneration
By Luiza Skowronski Flynn What if growing older doesn’t mean growing slower? While aging is not “curable”, scientists are looking for ways to slow its process so that with time, our minds remain sharp. A recent study published in June 2023 by the Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology Department at the University of California, Berkeley examined […]
Like Mother, Like Child: How South African Families Uncovered the Effects and Formation of Trauma Through Prenatal Stress
By Emilie Morales As we remember tragic events throughout history and watch ongoing conflicts rock our world through our television and newspapers, we overlook the lasting effects they can have on future generations. Dr. Andrew Kim, assistant professor at UC Berkeley’s Department of Biological Anthropology, partnered with other American and South African researchers to conduct […]
How the Brain Encodes Music
By Sarah Barton Consider Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”. Initially, it presents a moderate tempo, accompanied by a consistent guitar and drum beat. However, a shift occurs as the vocals enter after the first bar. Infused with a hint of anger and resentment, the energy escalates with a declaration of heartbreak: “If you don’t love me […]
Climate Change Creates the Perfect Conditions for Emerging Diseases
By: Eemai Holt The warming of our planet raises growing concerns about the health of the land and the well-being of the living beings that depend on its natural resources. A study published by the Department of Biology at Stanford University in December of 2023 “Taking Climate Change and Deforestation to Protect Against Vector-borne Diseases” […]
New hope for a rare type of dementia: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
By: Naomi Lenchner Background A study published in February 2023 by researchers at the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) Memory and Aging Center identified genetic markers that could aid in diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). Titled “PRNP expression predicts imaging findings in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,” the study introduces a potential novel diagnostic technique for […]
First of its Kind: The New Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Seventy years ago, for the first time, humans saw the shape of the molecule containing each of our unique genetic information. The twisted, ladder-like structure of DNA is an image that many of us are familiar with today, but this discovery revolutionized molecular biology and continues to impact the world today. We now live in […]
A Look Into the Mysterious “Fever Effect”: Temporarily Reducing Symptoms in Autistic Children
A remarkable list of urban myths exists regarding the alleged benefits of falling ill with a fever, with some parents believing fever episodes will even help their children grow taller. Amongst the myriad of colourful ideas, there are many that seem less credible than others despite being demonstrated multiple times over the past few decades […]
Unveiling Silent Struggles: Women’s Health Challenges Behind Bars
Step into the world of “Orange is the New Black,” a cult favorite show where the complexities of life in an all women’s prison unfold before our eyes. While the show does a great job of combining drama, humor, and advocacy, it barely scratched the surface of the intricate healthcare issues faced by incarcerated individuals. […]
PERC: A Geneticist’s Cocktail for CRISPR Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) Delivery
There are three elements that make up a cocktail: the core (base spirit), the balance (sugar), and seasoning (bitters). In the relentless pursuit of a multiplex delivery method that deems possible many cell therapy features at once, the research led by Ross Wilson, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of […]