Health and wellness news gotscience.org

How Does Tissue Regenerate?

November 6, 2018March 25, 2019 Science Connectedregeneration, skin, wound healing

By Noeline Subramaniam (@spicy_scientist) Regeneration often sounds like science fiction—Wolverine’s healing superpowers probably spring to mind. But you don’t have to be a mutant to be able to regenerate. In fact, humans have the ability to regenerate in utero until the beginning of the third trimester. With the exception of our liver and digit tips, we largely lose this capacity as adults—but why? Let’s turn to the animal kingdom for answers. Is regeneration lost through evolution? Before we get to the species that, for the most part, are unable to…

Biology Health Technology

Ultrafast Camera Freezes Time

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 Science Connectedbiotech, camera, fastest camera, imaging, Photography

By Kate Stone (@GotScienceOrg) A new camera technology is making it possible to see extremely fast phenomena, even light, in slow motion. Called T-CUP, the world’s fastest camera can capture ten trillion (10 exp 13) frames per second. To put that into perspective, high-speed cameras capture around 250 to 1,000 frames per second. Let’s think about that for a moment. CUP stands for compressed ultrafast photography. The operative word here is ultrafast. This new camera technology is so fast and so precise that it operates on a scale far beyond…

Biology Environment Health

Why Plastics Are Dangerous to Our Health

October 12, 2018October 12, 2018 Science ConnectedBPA, BPAs, disease, health, plastic

By Emily Folk (@EmilySFolk) It is almost impossible to avoid plastics today. They’re used to package our food, hold the water we drink, and even print our receipts at the grocery store. Though plastics have made life more convenient than ever before, could there be a downside to their prevalence in our world? Scientists are trying to find out. One area of research focuses on how regular contact with plastic might harm the human body, especially because people unknowingly ingest plastic practically every day. To quote the Graduate, “I just…

Animals Biology Health Videos

Will You Still Eat Raw Fish After Watching This Video?

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018 Science Connectedbiology, fish, it's okay to be smart, marine biology, parasites, videos

Sushi, sashimi, and poke are delicious. Why? It’s because they’re all made of raw fish! But, have you ever noticed that warning about raw or undercooked seafood at the bottom of restaurant menus? Have you ever wondered why it’s there? It’s there because fish carry a ton of parasites. And if the fish aren’t prepared correctly, then those parasites can make it into your body. This fishy intersection with the wild world of parasites can teach us a lot about how these moochers help keep ecosystems healthy, and why we…

Biology Health Videos

How Habits Are Formed

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 Science Connectedbiology, habits, it's okay to be smart, neuroscience, videos

Got a bad habit you just can’t seem to break? That’s because a habit is literally wired into your brain. Every single thought, action, and feeling changes your brain. When repeated enough times, a habit is formed. Some are good, some are bad, but you’re not likely to forget any of them without serious effort. Millions of people, every day, wake up and brush their teeth. Why do we do this? Because we formed a habit. But how do habits form? Well, it all comes down to neuroscience and the…

Biology Education Health Videos

Science with Sophie: Scab Science

August 30, 2018March 25, 2019 Science Connectedbiology, health, science experiments, Science with Sophie, student science experiments

Scab Science It’s happened to all of us. You’re running or riding your bike, you slip, you fall, and you skin your knee. After a few days, you notice that the cut where you skinned your knee has formed a scab. What happens to our bodies when we get hurt? Why do we get cuts, and why do we get scabs afterward? Learn how white blood cells, proteins, and skin cells work together to help you get better after you get hurt in this episode of Science with Sophie! Do…

Biology Chemistry Education Health Videos

Science with Sophie: Tears and Snot

August 2, 2018March 25, 2019 Science Connectedgeneral science, science comedy, science experiments, science video, Science with Sophie, snot, tears

To do the science experiment with Sophie, you’ll need: Borax (find it in the laundry aisle of a grocery store) Water Equal parts clear school glue and water (for example, 1 cup glue and 1 cup water) Food coloring 2 bowls 1 Spoon Your hands About Science With Sophie Science With Sophie is an interactive science comedy series for all ages. This fast-paced show invites viewers to explore science all around them and remember that they are brave, curious, funny, smart scientists every day. Hosted by science educator/actor/comedian Sophie…

Health

Depression May Speed up Brain Ageing

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018 Science Connectedaging, brain age, depression

By Kate Stone Psychologists at the University of Sussex have found a strong correlation between depression and the speed at which the brain ages. Although scientists have previously found that people with depression or anxiety have an increased risk of dementia later in life, this is the first study that provides comprehensive evidence for the effect of depression on the decline in overall cognitive function (also referred to as cognitive state). The researchers behind this new study are hoping that their work will lead to greater public awareness of the…

Biology Health

New Ebola Vaccine in Development

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Science Connectedebola, fruit bats, health crisis, health safety, outbreak, vaccines

By Michelle Dookwah @mtdookwah Only a few summers ago, “Ebola” became a household word as the worst outbreak of the virus in history ravaged its way across western African nations and threatened health safety worldwide. It became easier to not think about the Ebola virus once the urgency of the crisis passed, and now news media is filled with other medical emergencies such as Zika or measles outbreaks—although there is a vaccine for the latter (cough, cough). However, several research groups haven’t forgotten about the devastation caused by the hemorrhagic…

Biology Environment Health

Plastic Pollution: An Emerging Threat Beneath Our Feet

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 Science Connectedmicroplastics, oceans, plastic, pollution

By Emily Rhode @riseandsci Tiny plastic particles that can barely be seen by the human eye have made their way from our soil into everyday items we know—from earthworms to honey to the beer that we drink—bringing toxic chemicals with them wherever they go. The saying goes that what we can’t see can’t hurt us. Yet, what if these unseen particles are not only hurting us but also changing the entire course of biological evolution? Researchers in Germany have issued a new warning that these human-generated “microplastics” could potentially be…