Astra Stem

Author: astrastem

  • EPIGENETICS

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    By: Teddy Bernal Overview Epigenetics studies how environmental and behavioral factors can alter our genes. Epigenetics differs from regular genetic changes, as epigenetic changes are reversible. This is because epigenetics do not alter DNA sequences; instead, they alter how an individual’s body reads the DNA sequence. This is important because it shows that environmental and…

  • A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BLACK SEEDS: THE CURE FOR ALL AILMENTS

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    By Masooma Hyder Baig Black seeds (Nigella sativa) belonging to the family Ranunculaceae (Ahmad et al., 2021) have been part of various cultures for centuries in benefitting health and treating disease. From religious scripture to scientific research, black seeds have sparked interest in tackling blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, immunity, cancer, and respiratory wellness: a…

  • AI AND MEDICINE: THE UPCOMING PARTNERSHIP?

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    By Sofía Oural Martínez In 2016, computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton argued that people should stop training to be radiologists because machine-learning tools would replace them in the near future. Later on, there was a significant drop in applications for radiology programmes  since people thought by the time they would finish their residencies, they would have…

  • EVOLUTION VS PLASTIC POLLUTION

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    By Ella Sanchez Is plastic excessive? Could you go a day without using any plastic? If you think you could, you would be heavily mistaken. Even reading this on your device refutes that assumption, as all electronics contain plastic. Everyday objects like doorknobs, light switches, and food packaging contain this material. Plastic has become so…

  • PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF ACADEMIC MOTIVATION

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    By Shahd Nimir Although natural intelligence plays a huge role in achieving it, motivation is the most contributing factor to academic success. Academic motivation is described as “the causes of behaviors that are in some way related to academic functioning and success”. An individual could be naturally intelligent and have excellent problem-solving skills but their…

  • TERMINAL LUCIDITY

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    By Masooma Hyder Baig The human brain consists of many unknowns that the scientific community are still trying to uncover. One of which is terminal lucidity: a stage of mental clarity and awareness occurring in a larger number of palliative care patients with neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases minutes, hours or days before dying (Lim et…

  • THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF  SOCIAL MEDIA ON EATING DISORDERS

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    By Elizabeth Valdes Social media is an addictive lifestyle. We often catch ourselves reaching for our phone first thing in the morning to scroll on either Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok for several hours. Statistics have shown that an individual will spend approximately 6 years and 8 months of their lifetime on these platforms. So much…

  • HOW DOES INTERMITTENT FASTING AFFECT THE BRAIN

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    By Ashlyn Khan Abstract  Brain diseases such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease, have become a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and the number of  individuals with these conditions are increasing. This article will demonstrate how Intermittent Fasting (IF) may be the key to prevent brain diseases.  The definition of ‘Intermittent Fasting’ is the…

  • BEYOND BITS AND BYTES: THE EMERGENCE OF QUANTUM COMPUTING 

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    By Aanya Tomar One of the pillars of contemporary physics is quantum theory, which has fundamentally changed our conception of reality. Its development in the early 20th century caused a revolution in scientific thinking, opening doors to previously unexplored realms and paving the path for unparalleled technological breakthroughs. The fundamental idea of quantum theory is…

  • FROM CORTISOL TO COLLAGEN: HOW STRESS AFFECTS YOUR SKIN

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    By Masooma Hyder Baig Introduction Psychological stress is a factor everyone will experience at multiple points during their lifetime. It can occur when individuals are placed under mental, physical or emotional pressure or multiple pressures that they may perceive to exceed their capacity (Chen and Lyga, 2014). In response to stress, one may experience different…