The spectrum of human morality has driven the development of social systems and the evolution of civilization. Although the standard for morality deviates across time and culture, there have always been those that rigorously adhere to social conventions at the expense of their own well-being, and those that have no problem defying conventions if it is to their own benefit. In prose, poetry, and religion this dynamic entanglement between saint and sadist has set the stage for the battle between good and evil, which assumes the existence of free will. Insights from neuroscience highlight the highway between two destinations in the brain that guide moral action; the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the amygdala.
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Secrets to a longer life
Have you noticed that the most important jobs tend to be the least appreciated? We rarely gave enough credit to the parents that cleaned our rooms. Nor the garbage man that picked up our trash. There are things that you don't notice until one day they stop. Your laundry is all dirty, the toys are on the floor, the garbage bags pile up outside and start to stink. Through my studies I have gained a finer appreciation for the remarkable biologic system; autophagy. The cellular equivalent of housekeepers and garbage men.
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Myth-busting: The Covid-19 Vaccine
Imagine your body as an amazing castle; every castle has guards to protect what’s inside. That’s the job of your immune system: protecting against harmful attacks from organisms like viruses. The guards, our immune system, recognize harmful organisms and mount an attack. Immune cells eat the virus and spit out small pieces of it to other immune cells. This warns of the intruder, generates more immune cells, and specifies their attack. Looking back on 2020, we can see this isn’t a perfect system; sometimes our immune system needs extra help, either with medicine or a vaccine. What if those castle guards had the help of a secret messenger? One that warned them of the type of attack coming so they could better prepare for it? That’s how a vaccine works in our body.
Read MoremRNA Vaccines: our saviour from social distancing is a technology from the not-so-distant past
3… 2… 1… Happy New Years! The sound of champagne glasses clinking and cheers echoed as we entered the new decade. The sparkle of silver confetti on the floor dazzled, reflecting all of our hopes and dreams for what 2020 would bring. While many of us were sipping on bubbly, a virus that would wreak havoc on our once hopeful and shiny new year was rapidly infecting people all around the world. Flash forward to March 11, 2020 – the world was brought to a screeching halt as the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Public health emergencies were decried, and stay-at-home mandates were soon put into place.
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Science Fact vs Science fiction: How to tell the difference?
We are always hearing about a new study finding a chemical to be causing harm, or that new diet that’s supposed to prevent disease. How do we keep track of all this information and what information should we trust? It has become more common for people to look for alternative advice from other sources, such as news headlines and celebrities. In 2008, Gwyneth Paltrow started her company Goop which has grown into a large lifestyle brand complete with health blogs, and clothing and skin-care lines.
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