Tag: Health

p53 is both your genome’s guardian and weakness against cancer – scientists are trying to repair or replace it when it goes awry

Understanding Science

Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, University of Pittsburgh (from The Conversation) Cancer arises when your cells grow uncontrollably and refuse to die when they should. Normally, your body is equipped with regulatory processes to prevent this chaos. One such mechanism involves a protein called p53. Often dubbed the “guardian of the genome,” this protein plays a pivotal role in ensuring that your cells grow, divide and die…

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Wildfires: Increasing frequency and intensity

Featured Article

Wildfires are in the news literally every day. Fire seasons are starting earlier and ending later. In recent times, Canada, Greece, Brazil, Hawaii, Chile, Oregon, and California–among many other places–have faced record-breaking and devastating fires. Featured article: *Cunningham, C. X., Williamson, G. J., & Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2024). Increasing frequency and intensity of the most extreme wildfires on Earth. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 8(8), 1420-1425….

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Added sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners in food: children, health, and effects later in life

Intersections

People consume many different types and amounts of sugars from the foods and beverages in their diet. “A high intake of sugar is linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.” Does a high-sugar diet early in life lead to negative health consequences in later life? And, are some sugars healthier than others? For background, see — *Iqbal,…

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“Forever chemicals”, farmland, and cancer

Intersections

For many years, farmers across the United States have been encouraged by the Federal Government to spread sewage from homes and factories on farmland as fertilizer. This sludge, obtained from wastewater treatment plants, was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sewage out of landfills. But research now shows that this black sludge (called “biosolids”) can contain heavy concentrations of chemicals that can increase…

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Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling

Intersections

Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis (from The Conversation) Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing economies billions of dollars in reduced productivity of employees and an overall drop in the work force. The intense scientific effort that long COVID sparked has…

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Binge drinking is a growing public health crisis − a neurobiologist explains how research on alcohol use disorder has shifted

Intersections

Nikki Crowley, Penn State (from The Conversation) With the Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” in U.S. theaters as of May 2024, the late singer’s relationship with alcohol and drugs is under scrutiny again. In July 2011, Winehouse was found dead in her flat in north London from “death by misadventure” at the age of 27. That’s the official British term used for accidental death…

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