Fluorescence microscopy shows how living cells form vesicles to transport cargo like growth factors
Cells have a clever way to transport cargos like growth factors across the cell membrane and into the cell. It is called clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Molecules of the protein clathrin gather on the inside of the cell membrane, and they deform the membrane to make what looks like a pit as seen from the outside. After […]
The consequences of climate change in the Alps are visible from space
Global warming has a particularly pronounced impact on the Alpine region. Like the Arctic, this European mountain range is becoming greener. Writing in the journal Science, researchers from the University of Lausanne and the University of Basel have now used satellite data to show that vegetation above the tree line has increased in nearly 80% […]
The Biggest COVID Issues People Bring Up In Therapy
Even if it feels like we are in “post-pandemic” times, we’re certainly not. Not only are case rates still high, we’re seeing mental health implications. Therapists are just starting to unpack the last two years with their clients. Experts are working harder than ever trying to accommodate patients with spiking mental health concerns as a […]
Opinion | ‘Fentanyl Is Like the Boogeyman’: What We Heard This Week
“Fentanyl is like the boogeyman, it’s ubiquitous, it’s everywhere. It’ll creep in your mask, and there’s nothing you can do.” — Jon Zibbell, PhD, of RTI International in North Carolina, on a CDC video used to warn of fentanyl threat to police that may mislead officers about their risk of exposure and overdose. “Otherwise, these […]
A Reminder That Mental Health Disorder Is Not Synonymous With Being Violent
Like many people, Bethany Purves, a 23-year-old writer living in England, had been idly watching Johnny Depp’s defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. At least, she was up to a point. Eventually, she had to turn it off: It was upsetting to hear the intimate accounts of the couple’s four-year relationship. Depp and Heard […]
Some Common And Not So Common STDs
Like many great things in life, sex has a not-so-glamorous side. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are the uncomfortable (and sometimes painful and ugly) side effect of getting your freak on.
Flip-flop genome
Our DNA acts like a blueprint for the cellular machinery that lets cells, organs, and whole organisms function. Mutations in the DNA can result in genetic diseases. Such genetic variation can include point mutations at a single site, as well as deletions, duplications, and inversions. The term ‘inversion’ describes a piece of DNA flipping its […]
The Pandemic Warped Our Sense Of Time. Here’s How To Gain It Back.
At this point of the pandemic, it still feels like we’re stuck in a bit of a time warp. Yes, offices are opening back up and many people are carrying on with their events and travel plans. But there’s still a layer of uncertainty about what might happen next with COVID and when the pandemic […]
DIY digital archaeology: New methods for visualizing small objects and artifacts
The ability to visually represent artefacts, whether inorganics like stone, ceramic and metal, or organics such as bone and plant material, has always been of great importance to the field of anthropology and archaeology. For researchers, educators, students and the public, the ability to see the past, not only read about it, offers invaluable insights […]
Opinion | Are My Coping Skills a Result of My Emergency Medicine Training?
In the wake of a harrowing year, I’m left wondering: Is a career in emergency medicine worth it? Like so many of my colleagues, I suffered personal tragedies during the pandemic that exacerbated the incredible stress at work. My brother died in March 2021, 3 weeks after receiving a diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer. Just […]