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Cockroaches save human lives – Cyborg Cockroaches

Lucy Choi
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Cockroaches save human lives – Cyborg Cockroaches

Would you believe it if I said that cockroaches can save human lives? Yes, the bug cockroaches that we detest. Today’s post is about how rapid development in technologies have resulted in application of science in insects like cockroaches can help humans.

Japan has begun developing cyborg cockroaches. Ultra-solid computers (4-micrometer ultrathin solar cell film) and antennas are combined with biological tissue to create cyborg cockroaches. When current flows to the right side of the antenna, the cockroach turns left, and when both sides are stimulated, it moves backwards. It also uses an infrared camera to distinguish whether it is a person or not. Why is Japan making cyborg cockroaches? In  2011, the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami destroyed tens of thousands of buildings and triggered a tsunami that battered Japan’s east coast, including Fukushima nuclear power plant. This caused another disaster which caused an estimated total of 18,000 casualties and missing people. During this time, Professor Sato, a researcher at UC Berkeley, realized the desperate and tragic events that resulted from difficult search and rescue process in the building rubble and decided to create something that could find survival vehicles by squeezing into even the smallest spaces – cockroaches.

A team of Japanese researchers developed a rechargeable cyborg cockroach that can be remotely controlled for use in searchand-rescue and other missions. In experiments led by the state-backed institute, the team attached 4-micrometer ultrathin solar cell film to the backs of Madagascar cockroaches, which are around 6 centimeters long and easy to handle because they do not fly.

Cockroaches controlled by humans can enter even the narrowest gaps and check whether humans survive. Cockroaches are particularly characterized by avoiding obstacles on their own and helping their fellow roaches even without human instructions, so when we set them to follow a leader, a group of 20 all do the same. It seems that the time is not far away when the cockroaches so many of us hate, will help save our lives.

Sources 1 / 2

Image Pixabay

Making Ethical Choices with Your Wardrobe

Helen
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Making Ethical Choices with Your Wardrobe

With the recent rise of fast fashion trends, people have been buying more and more – leading to the mass production of clothing and various environmental impacts. This article will discuss how we can choose to be more ethical with our clothing choices – from what we buy to how much we wear. 

First off, how does the clothing industry affect our environment?

There is an overconsumption of natural resources – from the water and land used to grow cotton and other fibers in clothing. For just one cotton shirt, around 2700 liters of water is needed, which is equivalent to what one person drinks in 2.5 years. Moreover, the production of clothing pollutes water – around 20% of the globally clean water is polluted due to dyeing. In addition, clothing contributes to microplastics within our food chain from laundry loads. As these microplastics bioaccumulate in organisms like our fish, this problem could be coming back to affect ourselves. 

How can we make more ethical choices regarding our clothing?

  • When buying a product, ask yourself whether or not you would wear it 30 times. This means you have to consider the versatility of the product – could you wear it with a lot of different items already in your closet?
  • Additionally, ask yourself whether or not you could wear it all year round. Depending on the weather where you live, opt for clothing that will be keep you warm or vice versa.
  • Once you buy a piece of clothing, try to maintain the longevity of the clothing. Even if you buy high quality pieces, how you maintain them will be essential in the long run. 
  • Live by the one-in, one-out policy- for every clothing you buy, you have to donate another piece of clothing.  

Sources: 

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/a41158/how-to-be-sustainable-fashion/

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographics

https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Folder2/Folder27/Folder1/Folder127/Bioaccumulative__Persistent_Chemicals_FINAL.pdf?rev=17c45be4398546268a90de04f50f25e4

Atomic Habits – A Summary of the Most Famous Productivity Book

Jeanne Y
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Atomic Habits – A Summary of the Most Famous Productivity Book

Ironically, I found out about this famous productivity book while rotting in bed, scrolling on Instagram Reels. Although I was a bit skeptical at first, I managed to get it on Libby as a Skip-The-Line book and tried to read a chapter a day.

It changed my life.

But the book is quite hard to get a hold of unless you buy it or you get lucky (like I did). So here’s a brief summary of what I think was most useful for students, and what I found was most applicable in my own life.

1. Compound

Similar to why we brush our teeth every day instead of for 24 hours for one day per year, it’s important to deconstruct our goals into daily habits instead of wanting to finish the whole thing at once. It’s really crucial to change our mindsets from focusing on results and the end goal to the process that must be taken to get there. Without doing what needs to be done to get to that dream, it remains exactly as it is – a dream.

If we put in a few minutes of work every day, it will eventually compound into a lot of time that has been put toward the end goal. But we need to put in that time, and consistency is difficult… unless you make it easy. But how can we do that?

2. 2 Minute Rule

Many people know this rule as telling yourself that you’re only going to do an unappealing task for two minutes as a way of reducing your hesitancy. After all, it’s only two minutes so it can’t be that bad right?

James Clear, the author of the book, explains it a little differently. Instead of setting really big goals for the habits that you’re going to form, you should plan for each of your habits to be completed in 2 minutes max. This is the “atomic” part of Atomic Habits. The habit is really small.

For example, if your goal is to get in shape, instead of telling yourself that you’re going to run for an hour every morning, reshape that habit into something shorter. Maybe your habit will just be to put on your running shoes and jog down your driveway. That takes less than 2 minutes. Chances are, you’ll probably end up going on the jog since you’re already there.

3. Make it Obvious

It’s easy to ignore, forget, or excuse ourselves for not doing our habits. You didn’t study because you forgot there was a test tomorrow. Didn’t do the assignment because you forgot the deadline. You decided not to the gym because you left your gym bag at home.

In order to avoid excuses like this, try to make your habits more obvious. Schedule a reminder as soon as the teacher tells you about the assignment. Leave your textbooks on your bed, lay out your pencil and assignment on your desk as soon as you get it. This way, whenever you walk past, you’ll be reminded. Leave your gym bag at the door the night before you go to the gym. Make it impossible for your excuse to be “I forgot.”

4. Track Your Habits

Oftentimes I’ll log into Duolingo and do a lesson for the sake of not losing my 375-day streak. Similar to how Duolingo encourages its users to keep their streak, or how SnapChat has a Streaks feature, try to track your habits. Leave rewards for yourself for being consistent.

Some ways you can do this:

  • Print out a calendar and markup each day that you’ve done your habit
  • Keep a tally sheet
  • Create a social media account and upload videos of yourself doing your habit
  • Journal

This is useful because on those days when you really don’t feel like doing anything, you’ll still be motivated by your streak. It gives you a final push to do your 2-minute habit, because after all you didn’t come this far to only come this far, right?

TL;DR

James Clear wrote an incredible book called Atomic Habits. It’s changed a lot of people’s lives, including mine. One of the most useful takeaways from the book is that the best way to achieve a goal is to focus on the process. You can take different measures to make the process a little easier on yourself, which will encourage you to actually finish the process and get to the goal.

Top 10 things to do in New Jersey

Diya Kunisetty
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Top 10 things to do in New Jersey

Hey everyone! My name is Diya, and I am currently on vacation in New Jersey. If you didn’t already know, New Jersey is a state in the USA (United States of America). So while I am here, I might as well share some amazing places you can go to, if you ever decide to visit. Whether you are a thrill seeker, foodie, or tourism enthusiast, I am positive that you can find a place and activity that suits you and your travel buddies. By the way, this list is in a new particular order, so feel free to visit wherever, and whatever.

10. Atlantic City Boardwalk

This boardwalk is the prime connection between the sea and the land! (Haha you see what I did there?) It provides access to a multitude of hotels, restaurants, shops, casinos, and more.

The Official Website of City of Atlantic City, NJ - About Atlantic City

Image from: AC-Boardwalk.jpg

9. Six Flags Great Adventure

Rollercoasters, funnel cakes, bumper cars, and Ferris wheels. Who doesn’t like a fun day at an amusement park? For all those thrill and adrenaline seekers out there, this place is for you.

Visitors Guide to Six Flags Great Adventure

Image from: sfga.jpg

8. American Dream Mall

Not everyone in this world loves malls, but who wouldn’t love this all-inclusive mall located in the northeast, bordering New York? Unlike many other malls you find around you, this mall has an indoor theme park, water park, and even ski slopes!!! That’s a whole lot of fun packed into one, isn’t it?

Timeline of New Jersey's American Dream megamall and how it got built

Image from: 106158010-1571762043827preview.jpg

7. Cape May Beach

Cape May is a beautiful beach situated on the coast of New Jersey. Who doesn’t enjoy building towering sandcastles, swimming in cool water, and playing some good old beach volleyball? Overall, Cape May Beach is a great place to spend time with family, friends, and others you love!

Top 10 Things to Do in Wildwood, New Jersey

Image from: wildwood-crest-beach-from-above-807036492-e97da39d27ec4ffeb416114c82620d23.jpg

6. Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center is, as the name implies, a center in New Jersey dedicated to science. It has countless amounts of exhibitions, shows, and even films dedicated to science! Basically, this center is the perfect attraction for all you science geeks out there.

Liberty Science Center :: About Liberty Science Center

Image from: af93f0c05dafa887c8cb7bb11ab367f2.jpg

5. Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is a famous family-friendly park located right here in the heart of New Jersey. If you have little ones who need to release their energy, or elderly who might need to take a break, Liberty State Park is the place for you to head to. It includes bike paths, nature habitats, playgrounds, and awesome picnic areas.

Liberty State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Image From: 20190627-105156-largejpg.jpg

4. Grounds For Sculpture

Although the name may sound quite a bit boring, Grounds For Sculpture certainly proves otherwise. It has about 300 pieces of contemporary that are situated across 42 acres of land. Indoors, there are temporary exhibitions created by both established and emerging artists. It’s also a great place for pictures for all the photographers or Instagram enthusiasts out there.

7 Things to Know About Grounds For Sculpture

Image From: grounds-for-sculpture-princeton-nj-scu-1-scaled.jpg

3. Morey’s Pier and Beachfront Water Parks

Located near the cool and crisp coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Morey’s Pier and Beachfront Water Parks are bound to make your day at the coast a little bit more fun. There are a great variety of amusement park rides to choose from, along with numerous water slides and rides to go on. And don’t you worry, all of this is very family friendly too, so no need to worry about the kiddies! If you’re feeling hungry, there are also around 5 on-site restaurants for you to enjoy.

Morey's Piers and Beachfront Water Parks | Water park, Beachfront, Wildwood nj

Image From:54caeefe63cc2bfd9ba0b218ca91c88f.jpg

2. Adventure Aquarium

Just like how many creatures big, small, short, and tall on the land, there are also animals lurking in the wet depths below. Luckily, aquariums do us the pleasure of making them come to us rather than us going to them. I bet you didn’t know that Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey has over 7000 different species of fish and 15000 aquatic animals submerged in 2 million gallons of water. Overall, if you are intrigued by sea creatures and are hoping to get a closer look while you’re in New Jersey, this place may be fit for you.

Adventure Aquarium - Wikipedia

Image from: 1200px-Adventure_Aquarium_(53572702368).jpg

1. Princeton University

Princeton University is widely regarded as one of the best universities in the whole entire world. It offers astounding secondary education programs, making it as prestigious and well-known as it is today. If you are stopping by in New Jersey, especially if you are a high schooler, why not take a pit stop at who knows, maybe your future university? You are welcome to take tours around campus to really engulf yourself in the college life too!

24 Hours in Princeton: How to spend the day in one of N.J.'s most charming small towns - Jersey's Best

Image from: Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Happy-Birthday-Jon-Bon-Jovi-9.jpg

Conclusion

To conclude, if you ever find yourself in New Jersey and don’t want to just sit around, check out the surrounding sites to lighten up your day! Whether you like thrilling amusement park rides, art, animals, or pictures, I am sure that there is something to do in New Jersey suited for you. See you there!

 

Bird Flu… in Cows?

Jeanne Y
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Bird Flu… in Cows?

The avian flu, more commonly known as the bird flu or H5N1, has been around for over a century. It’s caused outbreaks in birds, namely poultry livestock and some bird wildlife, and hasn’t posted much of a threat to humans… until now.

A few weeks ago, on May 23, 2024, a 59 year old Mexican man died from bird flu. There have been many other human deaths and infections found in Cambodia, India, and China. With the increased reliance that the west has on Asia for production and manufacturing, it was only a matter of time before the avian flu found its way into North America and began infecting bird livestock here as well. But this has been happening for a while.

Recently however, scientists have found strains of avian flu in dairy farms. Although most infections do not result in death, the cows have a lower milk yield. The milk they do yield has strains of H5N1, and many who have drank the unpasteurized milk have become infected.

Some farmers choose to slaughter cows that do not heal quickly from H5N1, and burn the animal carcass. Despite these precautions, many farmers have also become infected from being around the sick animals for so long.

There is no known cure for avian flu.

Symptoms of H5N1

Symptoms of H5N1 in humans include:

      • runny nose
      • diarrhea
      • sore throat
      • fever
      • chills
      • vomiting
      • red eyes
      • headaches
      • difficulty breathing.

It’s very similar to seasonal influenza. Sound familiar?

Why You Haven’t Heard of H5N1

1. It sounds like COVID.

The truth is, breakouts of H5N1 sound a lot like breakouts of COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions that were imposed for global health and safety were devastating to general mental health, physical health, the global economy, and many other aspects of life. We have just regained these freedoms, and many people have still not healed from the pandemic.

It’s no wonder that people don’t want to even think about going through it again. We all want to just hope that H5N1 just solves itself and stops spreading so we don’t have another COVID-19 lockdown.

But it’s still important to know about the avian flu and the threats that it poses to human health. Just because we can pretend it doesn’t exist doesn’t mean that it automatically disappears. Denial is getting us nowhere, and it is certainly not getting anybody closer to finding a cure before H5N1 becomes a global crisis.

2. The dairy industry doesn’t want to lose a profit

An increasing amount of dairy farmers are declining to test their cows for H5N1, despite federal precautions. Many are simply denying the idea that avian flu has infected their farms, regardless of whether or not their livestock has been tested. Farmers fear that an outbreak of bird flu will mean that they will need to stop selling, and they will lose their income.

What Can You Do?

    • help spread awareness about H5N1
    • stop consuming unpasteurized dairy products
    • reduce meat consumption
    • buy local meat
    • don’t touch or feed bird wildlife
    • remove backyard bird feeders
    • donate to a fundraiser, such as this one

Sources: 1, 2, 3

The Benefits Behind Mindfulness Meditation

Helen
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The Benefits Behind Mindfulness Meditation

What is mindfulness meditation?

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of non-judgemental and intentional awareness. It is also called satipatthana, which means “to keep your attention inside”. The goal of mindfulness meditation is about training your attention and concentrating and retaining positive emotions. Mindfulness meditation consists of two parts—attention and acceptance. Attention is about focusing on the present moment and becoming aware of your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. The second part, acceptance, is accepting thoughts and feelings that arise without judgment. Moreover, it’s about acknowledging your feelings or thoughts but not interacting with them. When we are faced with anxiety, stress, fear, or an unpleasant emotion, mindfulness meditation strives to observe your emotions without engaging, and acknowledging that these feelings will pass and you can control how you react to these emotions. 

How to practice mindfulness meditations?

In meditation, you focus on a specific feeling that serves as a focal point. To get started, guided meditations might be the best. Resources such as Calm, Netflix’s headspace Guide to Meditation , and Youtube videos can help you start meditating. Above all else, try lots of different styles of meditations in order to find what works for you. 

In terms of the amount of time to spend meditating, this varies from each skill level. For beginners, the recommendation is 6 minutes/day, to eventually increase up to 7-15 minutes/day and then as an expert, increase to up to 20 minutes/day.

What literally happens to your brain in meditation?

Whenever you are doing something, your brain creates connections between neurons. As you repeat an action, it is easier for your brain to follow these neural paths. While meditating, your brain focuses on neurons that cultivate the thoughts that you want. Meditation most likely has the ability to restructure parts of the brain, or neuroplasticity. There are numerous benefits; it increases gray matter density in our hippocampus (used for memory) and the frontal regions of our brain. This combats the reduction of gray matter in our brain as we grow older. 

In addition, meditation can shrink amygdala and also mellow your fight or flight response in the face of a threat. It deactivates the response, decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety, fear and stress. It reduces the hormone cortisol, which can obstruct your memory as well. When measuring brain waves, meditation leads to a shift of higher brains to more relaxed waves, which allow for better sleep, focus and calmness. 

How do meditation experts differ from meditation beginners?

In experts, they are better able to control their emotions when faced with ordeals. Additionally, they have a higher tolerance for pain. Even when experiencing the same amount of pain as a beginner meditator, they rate the pain as significantly less unpleasant than beginner meditator. In anticipation of pain, beginners significantly have more activity in the amygdala in contrast with experts, who have very little activity. 

Sources: 

https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/well-being/science-behind-meditation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZN6DcV5chA

https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditation

https://stanfordmag.org/contents/what-happens-when-you-meditate

https://www.netflix.com/search?q=explained&jbv=81098586

History Of Inventions

Areej C
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History Of Inventions

Many of the inventions that make our lives more efficient, have deeply rooted historical backgrounds. Originating from a common invention, our everyday lives were impacted by these inventions and their history.

The Steam Engine 

Description: The steam engine is a machine that uses steams energy to operate a machine. When water is heated it becomes steam, expanding the waters volume and creating high pressure to feed a mechanical machine.

When was it created: Approximately in the 1st century but wasn’t used and explored to its full potential until 1698.

Who created it: The steam engine was created by a Greek mathematician, Heron of Alexandria in the form of what he called a aeolipile (wind ball) . The aeolipile was able to take the steam from boiling water and push it into tubes that were inserted in a sphere making it spin in circles. This invention was just the beginning of the steam engine, as this wasn’t a useful invention but more of a discovery its science.

Many years later, Thomas Savery invented the hand operated steam engine. It worked by using vaporized water in tanks to suck water from mines. Savory created it for the reason of taking water out of the mines as efficiently as possible.

Archimedes Screw 

Description: A mechanical device used to drain and control water flow. The screw can also lift and move water using an inclined plane and a pole, which is also known as a screw. The archimedes screw traps fluid and forces the water to move upwards when you rotate the screw. The water uses the screw to travel through and move locations.

When was it created: The Archimedes screw was created somewhere around 234- 250 BCE.

Who invented it: The Egyptian Screw was made by Archimedes who was a Greek scientist and one of the best at the time. When the King asked Archimedes to create the biggest ship possible many problems occurred with it. Leakage was one of the biggest problems and to solve it he came up with the Archimedes Screw. The screw was used to take the water that had been in the ship and transport it into another location.

The Light Bulb

Description: The light bulb is a mechanical invention used to illuminate areas using electricity. The filament inside the bulb heated until it can glow enough to shine light.

When was it created: It was created in 1879.

Who Created it: American Inventor, Thomas Edison is responsible for creating the light bulb. His goal was to create a lamp with an heat reaction (incandescent) with other scientists. He soon found out how to use glass pieces to construct the light bulb by passing electricity through the filament. After many trials and tests he was able to create the light bulb.

The Telephone 

Description: The telephone is an invention that uses sound and converts it into electrical signals, to be able to talk to people from a distance through a wire.

When was it created: In the year of 1867.

Who created it: The telephone, one of the greatest inventions of our world was created by a Scottish inventor named Alexander Bell. His telephone worked with an transmitter and receiver, one side took in sound and turned it into an electric signal.The receiver than received the signal through a wire, and the sounds were relayed to the person on the other side listening. The creation of the telephone was actually an accident because of the telegraph, while trying to fix a telegraph machine Bell came up with the idea to transmit messages over wire.

The Computer

Description: The Computer is an invention that manipulates and collects information. Computers store information and can search for them on the web making it have endless possibilities. All of this information is displayed on your computer screen ready to use and making it one of the most used inventions in the world.

When was it created: The first mechanical computer was created in 1822.

Who created it: The history of the computer is quite long and starts even before 1822, but the first mechanical computer has been traced back to 1822. Charles Babbage started the idea of an machine doing stuff for you. In his case it was approximating polynomials and other mathematematic equations. Later in 1837, he started to propose the idea of his Analytical Engine. But in the end it was never made, until another scientist brought it to life in 1936.

Sources:

Image:

Photo by Alan Bowman on Unsplash

Archimedes Screw

https://www.britannica.com/technology/Archimedes-screw

https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~crores/screw/screw.pdf

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lift-water-with-an-archimedes-screw

The Steam Engine

https://www.britannica.com/technology/steam-engine

https://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/steamengine2.html

https://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/

Light bulb

https://www.fi.edu/history-resources/edisons-lightbulb

https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb

The Telephone

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/telephones

https://www.howitworksdaily.com/how-bells-telephone-worked/

https://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

The Computer

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm#mechanical

https://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/courses/compsci111s2c/lectures/andre/computerhope_com_issues_ch000984.pdf

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/what-is-a-computer/1/

https://geeksonsite.com/blog/how-does-a-computer-work/

Development of mRNA cancer vaccines to treat Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Sukrutha
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Development of mRNA cancer vaccines to treat Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

What is Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. PDAC occurs in the pancreas, which is an organ in the digestive system. It has two main functions, namely the exocrine and the endocrine functions. The exocrine function of the pancreas is mainly responsible for producing pancreatic juices (enzymes) which assist in the digestion of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The endocrine function contains special types of cells known as islet cells which release hormones such as insulin or glucagon into the blood stream.

PDAC occurs when cancer cells line a section of the pancreas known as the Pancreatic Duct. It is a type of Pancreatic cancer that occurs in the exocrine section of the pancreas, therefore inhibiting the pancreas’ ability to assist in the digestion of foods. PDAC is lethal in 88% of its patients, and until recently traditional methods of treatment such as chemotherapy has been ineffective against it. The main reason for this is because PDAC tumor cells are insensitive towards chemotherapy treatments.

How do mRNA cancer vaccines work?

The human immune system can protect the body against foreign substances such as infections by using a type of white blood cells known as memory cells which have a memory of every microbe or pathogen that has invaded the body. This memory of the invading organism allows for the white blood cells to develop antibodies that can specifically bind to markers and proteins on invading cells known as antigens. When these antibodies can specifically bind to the antigens, the antibodies can successfully stop the growth of the invading organism or cells.

However, the reason that our immune system is oftentimes ineffective against cancers is because all cancer cells are the mutations of the body’s own cells. This way, the immune system has trouble recognizing them as foreign and cannot successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells. As well, the surveillance capacity of the immune system is gradually weakened as the tumor/cancer cells grow more mutations. Tumor cells which are, in early stages of development, caught by the immune system, eventually are screened out as they develop mutations known as tumor molecules, which are not recognized by the immune system as foreign.

mRNA cancer vaccines recognize a specific type of antigen studded on tumor cells, known as neoantigens. These neoantigens are important, as they are present solely on tumor cells, and not on the body’s healthy immune cells. This way, they act as markers which help the immune system’s T cells to recognize the cancer cells are foreign, and trigger an immune response.

How these mRNA cancer vaccines can be delivered to patients?

In 2023, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York USA conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial. This trial tested the ability of the mRNA cancer vaccines to trigger an immune response in the immune systems of the PDAC patients. In this trial, the 16 patients involved initially received a type of immunotherapy drug known as Atezolizumab. This drug assisted in alerting the immune system against the tumors. The patients then received 8 consecutive doses of the mRNA vaccine, followed by a booster dose. Following this, they received an intense form of chemotherapy treatment.

Results of the treatment:

In general, the mRNA cancer vaccine treatment showed positive results in the patients. The vaccine was able to trigger an immune response towards the tumors in 50% of the patients in the trial. These patients also had a higher recurrence free survival rate (RFS rate). This means, that they were cancer free for a longer time than normal.

While the mRNA cancer vaccine treatment has shown hopeful results in the patients, more research has to be done in order to test for its benefits over other treatments. A Phase 2 trial has recently opened, and this would give researchers more information and data to test for the benefits and side effects of mRNA cancer vaccines for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Fun Activities To Do During the Summer

Hanrong
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Fun Activities To Do During the Summer

Featured Photo by Raphaël Biscaldi on Unsplash

Welcome to June, the start of summer!

Summer is the favorite season for many people around the world. The warm (and often hot) weather means that individuals can choose to partake in a greater variety of outdoor activities than they can in winter. In this article, I will be discussing some fun summer activities for kids and adults alike. Hopefully, we can all have fun this summer! 

Going out and visiting local places

Enjoying summer doesn’t necessarily require going deep into nature; in fact, we can all enjoy the summer vibes close to our homes! Going to local concerts, diners, garage sales, or carnivals are all great choices that do not require a tremendous amount of money. However, the experience and laughter from these activities will surely be remembered in the coming years!

Having a picnic is also a classic, but fun, way to appreciate the beauty of the summer weather! According to this article, picnics are even more fun if more participants are getting involved in them. For example, contacting friends and close family members will make the picnic experience more fulfilling. It is also a great idea to plan a theme for the picnic, which can be as simple as a type of food that is featured (with a spotlight) during the picnic. Therefore, the decorations should also match the planned theme. Getting a proper picnic basket with places to store plates, cutlery, and all of the other necessary little items for the picnic is also advised! For any picnic, it is crucial to prepare sufficient supplies so that everyone can have fun. Truly, the details matter a lot.

Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Exercising

Summer is a great way to pick up exercising, as the fantastic weather signals a welcome outdoor environment to work out muscles and become physically tougher. Exercising often takes place outside of specially designed exercise facilities such as gyms. Some common activities include tree climbing (but stay safe!), kite-flying, fishing, and even a water balloon game! However, please do keep in mind the potential water restrictions that might be ongoing at the moment, and avoid activities involving water if this is the case. Croquet on the lawn, or simply hiking, are all great choices. If you are planning on flying a kite, however, be sure to follow these safety guidelines.

Rainy Days Activities

Summer is not a perfect season, with potentially many rainy days. When this is the case, we can try out some indoor activities, or maybe even choose to go out and get soaked! Some indoor activities can include building a camp in the house, doing origami, or doing certain DIY science or painting projects. Of course, social games, such as charades or board games, are also fantastic choices. The only thing we should avoid is to get bored unless we are specifically enjoying the boredom!

Other activities can include observing lightning bugs, stargazing, or maybe even listening to an audiobook under the stars. If you are looking for even more activity options to do during the summer, be sure to check out this website!

Conclusion

Even though many of us enjoy summer wholeheartedly, always remember that the heat and warmth arrive every year. Therefore, even if we might not partake in every possible experience this year, there will always be more opportunities ahead of us. Summer is truly a wonderful season, filled with energy and vitality. So, let’s all have fun this summer!

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Areej C
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What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only, not for any type of diagnosis

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). Although ancient Greek and Roman physicians described symptoms resembling this disorder, it wasn’t recognized as a distinct mental illness until the 19th century. German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin further classified manic-depressive illness as separate from schizophrenia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The exact cause of bipolar disorder remains unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and biological factors. Genetics play a significant role, as research shows that bipolar disorder can run in families; however, many people without a family history can still develop it.

Environmental factors such as stress, traumatic events, and substance abuse can trigger episodes, while biological factors include brain structure differences and neurotransmitter imbalances. The signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder include a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, fatigue, persistent sadness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, suicidal thoughts, impulsive actions, changes in appetite, and feelings of worthlessness.

Effective treatment typically involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and strong support from friends, family, and community resources. For instance, local organizations like the Calgary Mental Health Association and Alberta Health Services provide valuable support and resources for those affected by the disorder.

Stress can exacerbate bipolar disorder by triggering and intensifying episodes, disrupting sleep patterns, interfering with treatment, and creating a cycle of recurrence.

Notable individuals with bipolar disorder include Demi Lovato, Stephen Fry, and Carrie Fisher. Movies like “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Mr. Jones” offer insights into the disorder, although they are fictional and may not accurately reflect every individual’s experience.

Overall bipolar disorder like many other mental illnesses is a disorder we need to learn more about, in order to successfully make ourselves aware.

 

Sources:

Image: Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash

https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/history-bipolar

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5039514/

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/bipolar-disorder/history-of-bipolar-disorder

https://psychcentral.com/bipolar/history-of-bipolar-disorder

5 Mind Blowing Facts About Outer Space

Aiza
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5 Mind Blowing Facts About Outer Space

The dark void of outer space is an astounding and also mysterious place. Though we have made a lot of discoveries about the world around us, there are still so many questions left unanswered and so many more things to explore. Today, we know quite a few facts about outer space and continue to gain more knowledge as new research is conducted and more technology is built. So, without further delay, here are a few recent discoveries about outer space that might blow your mind.

1. The entire human population weighs the same as one teaspoon of neutron star.

Neutron stars are extremely dense with a lot of particles packed together so tightly in a small amount of volume. On earth, just one teaspoon of this material would weigh more than the entire human population. This density actually comes from the star’s formation

2. The moon is shaped like a lemon.

Most believe that the moon is perfectly spherical, and though it may seem this way from earth, research shows that the moon is actually shaped like a lemon. This means that it has a kind of flattened pole shape on both sides around its equator. This odd shape dates back to the time when the moon was first formed, and was created due to it’s interactions with the earth at that stage.

3. Since it’s discovery, Neptune has only made one full orbit around the sun.

As it is the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system, it takes Neptune a whopping 165 years to fully complete an orbit around the sun. Neptune was discovered in 1846 and so has only completed one orbit around the sun since it’s discovery, which was in 2011. Even more shocking is that Pluto, now classified as a dwarf-planet, is nowhere near close to finishing one full orbit, which takes 248 years, since it’s discovery in 1930.

4. Space does have gravity.

Contrary to popular belief, there is actually gravity in space, though in small amounts. Gravity is what causes planets to orbit the sun and what causes the Moon to orbit Earth. The international space station has gravity as well, however due to it’s altitude, the gravity in the ISS is about 90% of the gravity we experience on earth.

5. Our days are getting longer.

Earth’s spinning motion is slowing down every year, though not as quickly as you might expect. Every year it takes the earth a little longer to finish one full turn around its axis. This change is quite small, for every century that passes, the earth slows down around 1/500th of a second.

sources:1, 2

The Global Issue of Climate Change

Crystal Lattice
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The Global Issue of Climate Change

Introduction: What is Climate Change?

By definition, climate change is a long-term shift in our planet’s average temperatures and weather patterns. With humans being a dominant influence on our planet’s climate, Earth’s average temperature has increased today by an average of 1°C in the past century. As we contribute more greenhouse gases, especially from burning fossil fuels, Earth’s average temperatures and weather patterns have changed drastically. The most important thing to note down from climate change is that it affects everyone and everything on Earth.

Earth being burnt down by climate change
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Why is it a global issue?

However, climate change is a frightening thing for the world because of how it can affect our average temperatures and weather patterns. Seeing that Earth’s average temperature has increased by 1°C in the past century, that increase in temperature can affect the quality of life for both humans and all species on Earth. When it comes to the changes in weather patterns, that increase in Earth’s temperatures makes extreme and unpredictable weather more common across the world. These drastic impacts are because of how certain places on Earth are now becoming either hotter, wetter, and/or drier. Also, these increased global temperatures can reach to the point where rainforests die, sea levels rise to a dangerous level, and displace up to billions of peoples and species.

Different climates in one picture
Image by Enrique from Pixabay

If these increased temperatures and crazy weather changes are not enough, then understand that these can also affect glaciers, certain species, and sea acidity. Glaciers will melt due to the higher temperatures and cause sea levels to rise. Certain species, like coral reefs, will die off. Lastly, thanks to our greenhouse gases, the added gaseous carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will add liquid acidic carbon dioxide to our oceans, which once again, kills certain species. Because of all this, climate change is a global issue that affects everyone and everything on our planet, and initiatives have to be taken to fight against climate change.

Polar bear stranded on melted ice caps
Image by 鹈鹂 夏 from Pixabay

What is the world doing to fight climate change?

As of right now, the world has agreed to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C,  since prior to the industrial period. This is because when the increase goes beyond 2°C, the weather patterns would become incredibly dangerous, a lot of species would become extinct, and biomes would be heavily damaged, especially the colder and wetter biomes. When 97% of the world’s greenhouse gases are caused by human activity, the world fights against climate change in many ways with the following are the three biggest actions that the world is taking:

  1. Cut down man-made greenhouse gas emissions Along with drastically cutting down man-made greenhouse gases, the world has also considering switching to using renewable energy. However, the main problem with switching to renewable energy is that it is expensive and requires a lot of space. For example, wind energy requires a large of space of wind turbines.
  2. Tackle deforestation and limit the amount of forests being cut down. Trees are essentially carbon sinks and what is very relevant to climate change is that they absorb and hold carbon dioxide. The problem when deforestation is committed on a large scale is that the carbon dioxide held from the trees will get released from the forests and contribute to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which would ultimately add to climate change.
  3. Eat less meat. Based on research, each meat eater contributes 1.5 more tons of greenhouse gases than a vegan per year. While this does not seem much to a person, a planet of eight billion people switching to vegan eating lifestyles can make a huge difference in the fight against climate change. Although there are other reasons why people may eat less meat, the concern of climate change is another reason to eat less meat and potentially save the world.
A powerplant
Image by catazul from Pixabay

How are organizations and governments responding to climate change?

As mentioned earlier, the international community has agreed to try to cap Earth’s increase in temperature to 1.5°C since prior to the industrial period. The United Nations and many other organizations are working together on the fight against climate change. Their purposes range from limiting greenhouse gas emissions, spreading awareness, to achieving sustainability. With many organizations helping to solve the climate crisis, there is a profound commitment from the international community. In terms of governments, local governments around the world, which represented over a billion citizens, have made Climate Emergency Declarations. These declarations also admits the dangers of climate change and that these governments will accommodate as best as they can to help fight climate change. However, since climate change is a global issue that affects everyone, these governments and organizations heavily encourages all of us to take part in the fight against climate change.

A poster demanding a response to climate change
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

How well are we fighting against climate change?

The goal that the international community is aiming for is cap Earth’s increase in temperature to 1.5°C since the industrial period. However, assessments have revealed that we are still on course for the temperature to rise to 4°C or higher. These temperatures are once again the point where rainforests could die, sea levels could rise to a dangerous level, and billions of people are displaced. Although we have organizations and governments responding to the fight against climate change, it has also been calculated that if every government in the world acted together, then the temperature rise would lower to 2.8°C. Although that is a bit better, that goes to show that we are currently a long way from achieving our promises.

Words that relate to climate change
Image by Darwin Laganzon from Pixabay

Conclusion Section: What is our role in climate change?

With climate change seeming so serious, and seeing how doomed we are, hope could be lost. However, although statistics tell us that we are far from solving climate change, it is still important to do our part in fighting against climate change. It does seem daunting that the world is in danger, but making a chance to save it is better than nothing. Considering how fossil fuels play a huge role in our daily lives, it is understandable that it is hard to let go, even if we are the reason why 97% of the world’s greenhouse gases. Today, it seems hard to see if you will make a difference in doing your part to fight climate change. However, every last effort, from organizations to governments to you, will matter, and that is most evident with taking the action to eating less meat. Although this blog post focuses on addressing the global issue of climate change, and how the world is promising to respond to it, your efforts towards it also matter and that is why my upcoming post is about “Our Role In The Fight Against Climate Change.” Until then, cherish the Earth that we have right now and decide if you would like to fight climate change for it.

There is only one Earth for us right now
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Sources: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

Images: 1 (Featured Image) , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8

How to get better at chess

Diya Kunisetty
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How to get better at chess

Over the past little while, chess has become an increasingly popular game. Across the world, many kids, teenagers, and adults are taking part in this activity. Thanks to all the technology we have access to in today’s world, we finally have the opportunity to play chess online! Through many popular platforms such as Chess.com or Lichess, chess enthusiasts from all over the world have bonded over the beloved game of Chess.

This may all sound great, but there is one slight problem, which is: chess is a tough and strategic game, and many of us aren’t good at it. Coming from personal experience, it can be quite challenging to enjoy a game in which you are constantly losing. Therefore, I have carefully curated some of the most popular chess openings, gambits, and a few strategies to help you improve your chess game, and overall chess experience. And by the way, if you didn’t already know what a gambit was, a gambit is basically when a player sacrifices some of their material to seek some kind of compensation or advantage. 

Here are 3 of the most common and popular chess openings that you should have under your belt (from the white player’s perspective). 

The first one is the “Ruy Lopez” also known as “The Spanish Game”. It is very commonly used as a standard opening because it allows for both players to achieve a decent amount of dominance and good piece positioning on the board. The opening moves for this one are: E4, E5; 2. Nf3, Nc6 ; 3. Bb5 . We can see how the bishop on b5 is targeting the c6 knight, putting some pressure on it. After these preliminary moves are completed, the game can go pretty much anywhere for both the white player and the black player. 

Learn Chess Opening: The Ruy Lopez | by Alfi Futuhi | Medium

Image from: 1

The second one is the “Italian Game”. And although it may sound like some sort of Italian mafia organization, this opening really is simple yet effective. The moves are very similar to the “Ruy Lopez” other than one key difference. The opening moves for this one are: 1.E4, E5; 2. Nf3, Nc6 ; 3. Bc4 . Me personally, I find this opening to be slightly better than the Ruy Lopez because in this case, the bishop is covering more squares diagonally and is more ready to attack. It is also targeting the weak F7 pawn near the black player’s king. 

Italian Game: Ultimate Guide to Winning - 365Chess

Image from: 2

The third one is the “Sicilian Defense”. This opening is played from Black’s point of view. A fun fact about this opening is that it is known to be the most popular form of defense played from Black, at all levels of chess. The move(s) for this opening is quite simple. It is: 1. E4, C5. This diplomatic move played by Black aims to fight for the center of the board while avoiding the exact symmetry from White. This position may lead to a dangerous struggle between the two, where both sides have an equal chance of winning. 

Sicilian Defense Variations & Theory | Chess Pathways

Image from: 3

Apart from those three common openings, it can never hurt to know some of the fun gambits too! But one small aspect about gambits is that they can be either accepted or declined by the opponent, almost like an offer. The two that I will summarize for you are the gambits that are accepted.

One of the oldest and most well-known gambits in the chess world is the Queen’s Gambit. It is designed to make one side gain ultimate control of the center of the board. In many gambits, including this one, sacrificing a piece to unlock a hidden advantage is key. In this case, White would be sacrificing their C-Pawn to gain control of the center of the board. The moves for the Queen Gambit (accepted): 1. D4, D5; 2. C4. Although this sacrifices one of White’s pawns, which is risky indeed, it accomplishes the goal of gaining control of the center.

With every queen, there is also a king. The King’s Gambit is another trick/strategy that you can use to outwit your opponent. The overall goal of this gambit is to make some rapid development and eventually initiate an attack towards the opponent’s king. This gambit also has to sacrifice a mere pawn in order to assert a sense of dominance throughout the game. The moves for the King’s Gambit (accepted) are: 1. E4, E5; 2. F4, Fx4.

Now last but not least, here are some final tips to help accelerate improvement in your chess journey.

  1. Practice
  2. Solve chess puzzles as much as you can
  3. Analyze your losses and wins
  4. Study grandmaster games
  5. Learn many openings, gambits, and tactics
  6. When playing a game, always look at least 2-3 moves ahead
  7. Stay positive and enjoy the journey

Hopefully, after reading this quick post, you will have learned at least one new thing that will really help you become the chess player you aspire to be.

P.S: Here are some funny chess jokes 🙂

  • Why do chess pieces look so uninterested? Because they’re part of a board game
  • Where did the chess player sleep? In a king-sized bed
  • What is the most costly move in chess? The Check

Other sources:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/most-common-chess-openings-

lack’s%20pawn.https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/10-steps-for-getting-good-at-chess-fast

 

How to become better at public speaking

Hanrong
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How to become better at public speaking

Public Speaking–Truly an important life skill

Public speaking is a skill that both kids and adults use in their daily lives. In fact, no matter which occupation an individual holds, they will likely need to be able to speak confidently to communicate with a group of others in a public setting. Public speaking can range from casual to extremely formal; therefore, the level of preparation for the speaking will vary as well. In addition, public speaking is always centered around a central focus, or purpose, in the communication between the speaker and the public.

Whenever we give a speech (with or without visual aids), sales pitches, or maybe even accept awards, we employ public speaking techniques and skills. Public speaking is quite challenging for many people, due to the presence of a large audience listening intently to the speaker.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Giving successful speeches

The purpose of giving a speech is to make your central points memorable in the minds of the audience. Believe it or not, the speaker’s posture, facial expression, and voice loudness can be even more important than the points the speaker lays out for the audience. To give a good speech, one must be prepared (unless if the speech is specifically planned as an improvisation speech). Leaving a good impression often requires that the speaker gives their speech fluidly so that in the eyes of the audience, the speaker is very capable of shaping their arguments in their own approach.

Successful speeches often require a powerful opening, or a central hook, that grabs the audience’s attention. Often, starting with a rather uncommon “fact or statistic” is a great way to draw attention. In fact, the detail in the hook can even be somewhat unpleasant, to imprint itself into the audience and allow them to follow the speaker into the next parts. Of course, the degree to which the detail is unpleasant depends largely on the context of the audience, what setting the speech is given, and also to an extent, how well the speaker can use the unpleasant fact with a sense of humor! The speaker never wants to offend anybody in the audience.

Also, whenever it is embraced, the speaker should be conversational, thus demonstrating to the audience the fluidity of their speech. Additionally, the speaker should make it lively and speak with passion. To accomplish this, the speaker must understand the points they are making in-depth and even will go to great lengths to make their points be heard. If the speaker accidentally makes an error or mistake, they should be patient and continue to work on their speech skills to prepare for the next time.

Remember, giving a speech is not easy work. The successful speechgivers make it seem easy, but in reality, they have also gone to great lengths, and spent much effort, to hone their public speaking skills.

Delivering speeches in sad conditions

In events such as eulogies, it can be difficult to deliver the speech. The speaker should speak with their true thoughts and prayers, but at the same time, be tactful, and even keep their own emotions under control. Typically, eulogies should be rehearsed beforehand and should be limited to just a few (two to three) main points. “A eulogy should not be the chronology of a life but a tribute to it.” Be sure to include meaningful anecdotes or quotes of the deceased person, and make it inspiring.

Delivering Sales Pitches

In other public speaking opportunities, such as sales pitches, the main purpose is to persuade. The speaker should be motivated to sell a product or concept; if they are successful, they can “open the door to professional opportunities.” Sales pitches should include important information, support claims with logic, and a call to action.

It is also important to use compelling visual aids, as they clarify sales pitch “speeches.”

As for the question-and-answer period, it is still important to prepare beforehand, so that the most commonly asked questions are expected. If some questions are based on false premises or irrelevant assumptions, be sure to reply with politeness, and ask the questioner to further explain their question. Lastly, it is important to divide complicated questions into multiple simpler sections, in order to give the audience a chance to digest all of the information.

If you would like to learn more about some other contexts for public speaking, please check out this amazing link.

Conclusion

We all use public speaking skills in different settings and contexts in our lives. Regardless of an individual’s role in society, or the occupation they hold, they will likely have to employ public speaking skills in some way. Always remember that public speaking is naturally challenging and not straightforward to master. However, through hard work and dedication, we will most certainly improve ourselves. Lastly, public speaking is always centered around a main theme, or purpose, that the speaker should know very well about.

3 Best Ways to Relax

Sukrutha
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3 Best Ways to Relax

It’s exam season! Hooray!!!!

Just kidding.

No one likes exams. Even though the reasons why people might detest exams can differ, we all know that exams can be really stressful. Due to this, I want to present a couple of activities that you can do at the comfort of your house to relax!

  1. Make yourself some tea: I, personally, love tea! Whether I’m sick, stressed out, or just looking for something to drink, I make myself some tea. Making tea can be a very easy task, especially if you buy the tea bags. The amazing fragrance, combined with the easygoing activity of making tea, this can be the perfect thing to cheer you up!
  2. Exercise: Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym and working out. Taking a walk to the park can be a great form of exercise, and it can be very refreshing too! This way, if you’ve got an hour or too between study sessions, it can be worth it to go on a nice walk outside!
  3. Yoga or Meditation: Again, you don’t need to go to those expensive yoga or meditation classes to do these activities. There are tons of great videos on YouTube that can guide you through step-by-step beginner yoga poses, or meditation exercises. Just a short 15-minute yoga or meditation exercise can do you wonders in terms of stress relief!

That brings me to the end of this short blog post. This is, in no way, a finite list of activities that you can do to relax! You can feel free to go ahead and find something that suits you, and works to make you happy! Have fun, and good luck on your exams!

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