Category: Biology

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2019: Cancer Cells Turned into Harmless Fat Cells in Mice

We are built from cells that form tissues and organs. The free-radical theory of aging says the accumulation of cell damage from oxygen (ROS) generated in metabolism eventually ends the balancing act of life. Crudely, we rust faster than we repair. Biological longevity is sometimes seen as a balance between cells that die too fast (senescence) and cells that reproduce too fast (cancer), but both are part of the same problem: the idea of antagonistic pleiotropy says that we animals have a hard time making structures which are effective in youth for growth and reproduction which also can handle cumulative (oxidative) stress of aging. Increased cell reproduction (hyperplasia) of healthy cells is a normal stress response but pushed too far it can becoming neoplasia, excessive cell growth (cancer). Under too much stress, especially among vertebrates if cells are not fairing well after prolonged inflammation, some can go on strike […] Read More

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2017: Scientists Just Observed Epigenetic Memories Being Passed Down for 14 Generations

Scientists have made some incredible new discoveries on how our minds can literally affect our biology, especially through the study of epigenetics, the branch of science that looks at how inherited changes of phenotype (appearance) or gene expression are caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. Instead of looking at DNA as the only factor controlling our biology, scientists are also looking at what’s actually controlling the DNA, which includes our thoughts. We receive genetic instructions from our DNA, passed down through generations, but the environment we live in can also make genetic changes. One of the more recent studies that explored this concept was conducted by a team led by scientists from the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in Spain. Scientists Prove How Far Environmental Genetic Changes Can Be Passed Down Through Generations To figure out how long the environment can leave a mark […] Read More

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2017: Giant Frankenstein Viruses Discovered in Austrian Sewer

It’s called “waste” water for one big obvious reason, but researchers in Austria decided not to let the water go to waste, so they trudged through the sludge in hope of finding a new bacteria that might turn ammonia into nitrate. Instead, they found a giant Frankenstein virus that may turn the study of viruses upside down. In case you’re looking for places to avoid on your next vacation in Austria, the giant viruses were taken from the a waste-water treatment tank in Klosterneuburg, Austria. They were then sent to the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California, to a lab where JGI postdoctoral researcher Frederik Schulz, DOE JGI Microbial Genomics Program lead and study co-author Tanja Woyke and National Institutes of Health evolutionary and computational biologist Eugene Koonin took a look at the wastewater. The wastewater treatment plant in Klosterneuburg, Austria Well, not just […] Read More

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2016: cientific study claims: Human DNA carries a message from Extraterrestrials

According to scientists from Kazakhstan, the human DNA was encoded with an extraterrestrial signal by an advanced ancient alien civilization in the distant past. In a study called “The “Wow! signal” of the terrestrial genetic code“, researchers Vladimir I. shCherbak and Maxim A. Makukovfrom the a Department of Mathematics, al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan and the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan respectively believe in the existence of a “Biological SETI” as they are calling it, which is a mathematical code located within the human DNA, something that cannot be explained by the process of evolution as traditional theories claim. And all of a sudden the Ancient Astronaut theory and the idea that humans are in fact an engineered species doesn’t sound as provocative as it did in the past. Ancient Texts mention how humans were created in the image of the “Gods”, now science is a […] Read More

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2016: The Argus ii Bionic Eye Is Coming And It Will Make Us Superhuman

It has been estimated that 285 million people across the world spend every day coping with some visual impairment. There are a wide variety of treatments already on the market to treat mild visual impairments, but as of yet, no one has come up with the complete solution to cure total visual impairment or blindness. However, hope is on the horizon with an invention straight out of science fiction – the bionic eye. NEW BIONIC EYES COULD CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER Bionic eyes, also referred to as retinal prosthesis systems, bridge the gap between the light that enters the eye and the optic nerve, which translate and communicate images to the brain. There is currently a bionic eye on the market in the United States. The FDA-approved device is called the Argus II and is manufactured by a company called second sight. It uses a camera, integrated into a […] Read More

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2015: Neuroplasticity: The Brain that Changes Itself

Based on the best-selling book by Toronto psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Norman Doidge, a look at how we view the human mind. An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable, and proving that it is, in fact, possible to change your brain. This program offers a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain. “The Brain That Changes Itself” is the inspiration behind Annie Hopper’s work in helping thousands heal from chronic and mysterious illnesses using her Dynamic Neural Retraining System rehabilitation program.  

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2015: The Dark Quest to Reanimate the Dead

Death, it seems is an immutable fact of life. We are tethered to it, destined for it, and indeed fearful of it. Throughout history mankind has sought to cheat this inevitable end. It seems we have a very strong urge to stave of death’s grip or at least in some cases to return from it. There have been many who have gone through great efforts to staunch the tide of decay and entropy; to drag the dead from the dark clutches of eternal oblivion and pull them back into the light. These attempts have run the gamut from freakish, ghoulish experiments like something out of a horror novel to more sober, scientific discussion on the matter. Here we will delve into the real life history of mankind’s desire to reanimate the dead. Serious efforts to clinically confront and defy death date back to at least the 18th century. In […] Read More

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2013: LECTURE III. BIOLOGY

This part is heavily annotated with my commentaries. Looking at the past history of life, we see that it takes about 10^6 years to evolve a new species, 10^7 years to evolve a genus, 10^8 years to evolve a class, 10^9 years to evolve a phylum, and less than 10^10 years to evolve all the way from the primeval slime to Homo Sapiens. If life continues in this fashion in the future, it is impossible to set any limit to the variety of physical forms that life may assume. What changes could occur in the next 10^10 years to rival the changes of the past? It is conceivable that in another 10^10 years life could evolve away from flesh and blood and become embodied in an intrstellar black cloud (Hoyle, 1957) or in a sentient computer (Capek, 1923). Here is a list of deep questions concerning the nature of […] Read More

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2013: Sсiеntiѕtѕ find new giаnt Pаndоrаviruѕ unlikе any known

VIDEO GONE Bу Jоhn Thоmаѕ Didуmuѕ Sсiеntiѕtѕ hаvе diѕсоvеrеd a nеw gеnuѕ of viruѕеѕ, thе biggеѕt ever. Pаndоrаviruѕеѕ аrе tеnѕ tо hundrеdѕ of times thе size of other knоwn viruѕеѕ. The wеirdеѕt thing about them is thаt 93 реrсеnt of thеir gеnеѕ аrе unlike those of оthеr knоwn viruѕеѕ For all thаt ѕсiеntiѕtѕ can tеll frоm thеir gеnеѕ, they juѕt lаndеd from planet Mаrѕ. Pandora Viruses hаvе massive DNA consisting of оf over 2,500 genes соmраrеd with аbоut 13 genes found in influеnzа viruѕеѕ. Measuring аbоut оnе miсrоmеtеr in lеngth, раndоrаviruѕеѕ аrе tens tо hundrеdѕ оf times biggеr thаn оthеr viruѕеѕ. Thе discovery оf thе nеw genus fоllоwѕ the ѕurрriѕing discovery оf viruѕеѕ оf the genus Mimiviruѕ, аbоut 0.7 micron, and Megavirus сhilеnѕiѕ. Timе reports thаt according tо Chаntаl Abergel, оnе of thе аuthоrѕ оf thе nеw ѕtudу, when ѕсiеntiѕtѕ firѕt discovered giаnt viruses they wеrе so bаfflеd thаt […] Read More