Has someone ever told you to “break a leg” before going on stage?

Obviously, we know the meaning isn’t literal and it’s really a wish of good luck. However, what happens when we genuinely break some bone in our body? What are the chemical and anatomical processes that occur to correct the damage and make the injured bone “good as new?” I had the same questions about our body since it’s especially fascinating how we consider rebuilding bones a typical phenomenon and nothing special.

In reality, there’s a rather complex process the body undergoes to repair bones; interestingly enough, the…

A splitting headache that continues non-stop. A weakness in the muscles and being unable to walk a small distance. Feeling abnormally sleepy at random periods of the day.

For many individuals with glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor), these symptoms were generally dismissed as the body feeling generally unwell. Even when non-cancer patients think of these symptoms, a condition as deadly as glioma would not be the first thing to come to mind. Unfortunately, these subtle symptoms can transform into a rapidly-progressing disease with minimal chance of survival.

52% of all primary brain tumors are glioblastoma, and 17% of all…

No, cancer isn’t a “death sentence.” No, eating sugar doesn’t exacerbate cancer in an individual. No, cancer isn’t contagious.

These might seem like obvious facts, but they’re actually common misconceptions associated with this condition. If cancer isn’t any of these, then what exactly is it?

What is Cancer?

Cancer refers to a series of conditions characterized by the abnormal growth and division of cells. Essentially, an individual with cancer will have poorly-functioning cells that multiply out of control, which leads to a series of symptoms. Although there are different types of cancer, these “symptoms” include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach discomfort, and several more.

…

Imagine that your family had a history of muscular dystrophy, a fatal condition characterized by the weakening of the muscles and is more common in men. If you had a male child, you might be concerned for his health and would want confirmation to determine whether he has muscular dystrophy.

How would you do this? Well, the answer lies in bioinformatics.

To answer the question, bioinformatics allows your DNA to be sequenced and also compared to the DNA of a healthy individual to monitor any changes. If a specialist detects a change linked to muscular dystrophy, there is a chance…

Did you know that the body contains 37.2 trillion cells?

I know what came to my mind when I discovered this crazy fact. In other words, I was absolutely mind-blown that our body contains such a gigantic number of individual cells. It’s truly a wonder to consider how these cells are able to work in cooperation and perform the necessary functions that allow for us to survive. Regardless of type, each cell is critical for human function due to different functionalities, allowing for varied capabilities.

To truly understand the importance of a cell, let’s take a look at its cycle.

“If you don’t have any confidence, you’re not going to do anything.”
— Stefon Diggs

Diggs presents quite an accurate reflection on self-confidence with respect to humanity. Without any self-confidence, we will never have the capacity to complete the risky tasks that make us truly sensational.

Hold on, let’s start from the beginning. What is self-confidence?

How to Define Self-Confidence

I could provide the dictionary definition of self-confidence, but what good would that do? Instead, let’s view a hypothetical situation.

Let’s say you have an extremely intelligent, athletic, and artistic friend while in high school. They seem to excel in just about everything, and…

Sleep is important, and there’s no denying it. Regardless of the amount you typically get, not sleeping is the equivalent of neglecting your bodily needs. Let me start off with a story from my 8th-grade year, and feel free to think of your own responses to the questions my teacher is about to ask:

During a class, a teacher calls on a student and asks them this question: “What time do you typically sleep?”

The student responds with, “Around 12 A.M., but it depends on my homework and other commitments I’m doing.”

The teacher pauses for a moment, then asks…

Background: What is Alzheimer’s Disease Like?

Many of you might be familiar with Alzheimer’s disease; maybe a grandparent of yours has it or you’ve heard this condition mentioned at least once. But, what exactly is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition that’s characterized by memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and a variety of other degenerative symptoms. Individuals with AD have difficulty remembering information and often see themselves as unable to recall family members and even spouses. This is caused by a loss of neurons in the brain, which typically reduces cognitive function. However, how exactly are these neurons lost, and what’s causing them to “die-off?”

According…