Tickle your neurons with an array of fascinating articles about all things science.
Illustration by Aryaa Apotikar
GPCR: THE MOLECULAR TRANSMITTERS AND MESSENGERS OF THE CELL
Discover the fascinating world of cell signalling and communication in this article. G-protein Coupled Receptors transmit extracellular signals to the cell’s interior and elicit a response. They have diverse functions in physiological and biochemical signalling. Read more to understand the complex structure and intricate pathways associated with this protein!
The Role of AI and ML in Diagnosing Neurodegenerative Disorders
With a game-changing impact, AI and Machine Learning are reshaping the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. From early detection of Alzheimer’s to analysing the symptoms of Parkinson’s, these technologies promise early intervention. Read more to explore the transformative power of AI in unlocking the future of healthcare.
Warfarin: A double-edged sword
Drugs whose disadvantages overshadow the benefits seem to be quite common in the field of medicine. Warfarin, a blood thinner, falls under this very category. Read this interesting article to know more!
Eavesdropping on Neuronal Gossip
It has been theorized and proven that synchronizations of neuronal activity in different parts of the brain lead to neural oscillations, more commonly known as “Brain Waves.” But what are these “brain activities,” and how do they originate? Read this interesting article to find out more!
The ‘G’-lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is well-known for its role in the body’s defence system against internal as well as external threats. But that’s not all. Along with its defence-oriented functions, the lymphatic system plays a major role in maintaining fluid balance in the body. The central nervous system or CNS is characterized by a disproportionately high…
The Millennium Problem – Protein Folding
Predicting the three-dimensional structure of proteins can have a wide range of applications which include the synthesis of novel drugs, enzymes to digest plastic and even sequestering carbon dioxide from the air to produce biofuels. But the process of prediction has been one of the longest-standing challenges in science, with protein folding being one of…
Mosaicism and chimerism
Extensive research which followed the discovery of DNA, to know more about its structure, function and mechanisms, led us to believe that each cell of our body contains the same DNA molecule – which is exclusive for each person. Due to this understanding, the possibility of encountering any instance of intra-organismal genetic variation was a…
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Shifting Paradigms
By Aarushi Chitkara Jeffery Schwartz once commented on habits, stating that “the brain does not distinguish between beneficial and destructive; it merely responds to how you behave, and then generates strong impulses and urges that compel you to perpetuate your habit (learned behavior).” (Schwartz, The Mind and The Brain, 2002) The more often you act…
THE ROAD TO DEVELOPING THE FIRST ANTIBIOTIC
The discovery of Penicillin has been credited as a major breakthrough in the field of science. Not only did it introduce a novel technology to destroy microorganisms like bacteria, but it also revolutionized the medical world. One of the first chapters in the science textbook of any 7th grader often starts off by saying how…
The Telomerase Theory Of Ageing And How Diet Can Help You Stay Young
What is ageing and can we slow this process and live longer, more productive lives? To answer this, we must first understand what causes humans (and other organisms, in a broad sense) to age.
Book Review: An Elegant Defense by Matt Richtel
A book review of: ‘An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives’ by Matt Richtel.
Genetic Algorithms: An aid to evolution.
Naturally, we relate an algorithm to mathematics or computers; however, algorithms have vast applications to other fields. Any problem can be solved if one figures out the perfect algorithm for it! One such application that this article focuses on is the utilization of algorithms in genetics.
Unravelling COVID-19
About a year ago, a small cluster of people in the city of Wuhan, China started showing pneumonia-like symptoms. We now know this as COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) caused by a Betacoronavirus, namely SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus-2). The burning questions that all of us science enthusiasts are asking are: How does this virus actually…
Conservation Science: A Brilliant Career Window!
There’s science and there’s art, and blurring of the boundaries between the two leads to a myriad of dazzling opportunities. Out there in a world that’s turning more and more towards interdisciplinary research, it’s a pity to not explore the interface of such contrasting fields. Conservation science is one such window for interdisciplinary adventures. A…
Miracle or Mandate: Is Life Inevitable?
As a kid did you ever annoy somebody with an incessant series of “why” questions? I know that I did, and I haven’t stopped. “Why” is one of the most fundamental forms of scientific questions, and there’s no bigger “why” in biology than “why did life arise?” The questioning of our own existence is widely…
Chaining Together the Blocks of a New Technology
You may have often come across the word ‘blockchain’, most likely in the context of the financial world, where it is referred to almost interchangeably with ‘Bitcoin’ and ‘cryptocurrencies’.These cryptocurrencies make use of blockchain technology; however, this is just one of its use cases. On the other hand, blockchain is a whole new world, a…
Peek to Peak
“To be or not to be, that is the question.” Hamlet used it to contemplate life. Unfortunately, in addition to this, several physicists use it to attempt coming to grips with the reality of their lifelong passion, or maybe that is why they use it for themselves as well, one shall never know.
SciXplore 