By: Jenny Lausch As humans, we are composed of more bacterial cells than human cells.1 These bacteria take up residency in our mouth, skin, and intestines from the day a person is born and establish a cooperative relationship with their human host that allows them to persist over time. These co-evolved strains make up the … Continue reading Friends, Food, and Fighters: How Biotics Shape Your Microbiome
wellness
How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
By Vanshika A. Patel Have you ever wondered how a favorite song can lift you up when you're down or transport you back in time? Music has a remarkable power to engage emotions, evoke memories, and even affect our well-being. Recent studies in neuroscience investigate the complex relationship between music and the brain, showing how … Continue reading How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
By Victoria Vernail We are nearing the arrival of springtime. Flowers blooming, birds chirping, and – wait – one less hour of sleep? Thanks, Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the period from March to November where most of the United States turns the clocks forward one hour ahead of Standard Time (ST). … Continue reading Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
OMG! What’s with all these OTCs?
By: Elise M. Rizzi We’ve all been there - you wake up with a pounding headache, stuffy nose, body aches, chills, the whole nine yards. You head to the store to see what meds you might be able to find to help. The pharmacy aisle (Figure 1) is so overwhelming, with bright labels and long … Continue reading OMG! What’s with all these OTCs?
Want to read an article about electrolytes? Na, K then.
By Gaelyn Lyons The other weekend, I took a trip to Target, my place of solace and self-care. As I passed the personal care aisle, I noticed a sale on Liquid IV, my go-to electrolyte powder for pre-run hydration. As I browsed the different aisles, I noticed bottles of Gatorade, packets of powdered Propel, and … Continue reading Want to read an article about electrolytes? Na, K then.
The menopausal puzzle: piecing together hormones, health, and aging
by: Katie Kimbark The term “menopause” was first described in the early 1800s by French scientist Charles Pierre Louis de Gardanne.1,2 Despite its descriptions in the preceding millennia, he was the first to designate menopause as a medical phenomenon, distinct from any other stage in a woman’s life. Although women are often attuned to the … Continue reading The menopausal puzzle: piecing together hormones, health, and aging
Naturally Misleading: Uncovering What’s Hiding in Our Food
By: Jenny Lausch Imagine you are doing your weekly shopping at Aldi on a Saturday afternoon. You are a graduate student just trying to get by and do your best to stay healthy despite your crazy hours in lab and (very) limited free time. You are trying to limit your soda intake, so instead you … Continue reading Naturally Misleading: Uncovering What’s Hiding in Our Food
Magic in the Mushrooms: Exploring the Health Benefits of Ergothioneine
By: Abbey Rebok Mushrooms are a vital part of any healthy ecosystem, but are they also a vital component to human health? Mushrooms possess various environmental roles such as decomposing plant matter to recycle nutrients, generating symbiotic relationships with other organisms, breaking down environmental pollutants, and in some species, controlling pest populations. While most people … Continue reading Magic in the Mushrooms: Exploring the Health Benefits of Ergothioneine
Buying Supplements: 5 Red Flags to Never Ignore
By Christina McAninch Fig 1. Pills, pills, and more pills. Dietary Supplements | FDA A (not so) fun fact: everything is regulated…except the supplement industry. In 1905, muckraker Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, an exposé on the horrors of the American meatpacking industry. This harrowing book depicted working-class poverty, harsh working conditions, and food handling … Continue reading Buying Supplements: 5 Red Flags to Never Ignore
Lions Talk Science 