The COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is often more severe in elderly (60+), people with lung and heart disease, people with conditions that affect the immune system and diabetics. Why is COVID-19 a challenge for diabetic patients?
#ShutDownAcademia #ShutDownSTEM
Today, June 10th 2020, marks the day in which the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) communities were called to #ShutDownAcademia and to #ShutDownSTEM for the day to focus on educating ourselves on the realities of systemic racism and biases in STEM. The goal, as described by one of the organisers was to “reflect on … Continue reading #ShutDownAcademia #ShutDownSTEM
Is your brain 90% glue?
I bet you have already heard that humans only use 10% of their brain. This has even been theme for many movies and series in which super humans or drugs are able to unlock the full potential of the human brain, granting amazing abilities (yes, I am referring to the movies Lucy and Limitless). I’m … Continue reading Is your brain 90% glue?
Ex vivo model systems in cancer: an out-of-body experience
From tumor slices to cancer-on-chip. Get to know the fascinating recent models in cancer research and how they are used to study the disease.
The inner balance
Dissecting the complexity of biology to find the balance in you. An "east-meets-west" opinion... For hundreds of years, we, Vietnamese people, have carried the belief that everything is kept in harmony by opposite, yet equal forces. This principle must have originated during hundreds of years of Chinese colonization, when the famous Yin Yang philosophy was … Continue reading The inner balance
The Circle of Life: Part Human, Part Microbe
The human-microbiome balanceThe 'Circle of Life' is a concept that all life exists in a delicate balance. It is the idea that life is essentially an ecosystem in which one factor benefits from and provides for another. These essential relationships can have varying time periods, but most have existed for vast lengths of time. An … Continue reading The Circle of Life: Part Human, Part Microbe
Gut microbiota: A game changer for mental illness?
Over the last two decades, an ever increasing number of studies suggest that physical and mental health are largely governed by interactions between the gut and brain. In view of the effects that our gut health seem to have on our mental health and behavior, the term "gut-brain axis" was coined to describe the intimate relations … Continue reading Gut microbiota: A game changer for mental illness?
When science becomes fake
Fake news Has it ever happened to you that while scrolling through your social media feed, you come across a random post that reads: "Researchers conclude that drinking one glass of champagne a week prevents cancer", or "study says that chocolate is beneficial for pregnant women"? At least, it happens quite often to me. It … Continue reading When science becomes fake
Chasing a dream: Nobel Prize?
Understand some of the rules for selecting laureates and how the scientific community's most famous prize works.
SciFact 