Hippopotamuses and whales might seem like an odd pair, but they share a lot in common! They both evolved from the same land-dwelling ancestor and have developed similar traits to thrive in water. While scientists have studied the electrical signals in whale hearts, the hippopotamus heart is still a bit of a mystery. This is where things get interesting. A group of re...

During physical activity, the lungs work harder to supply oxygen to the body. This is where the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) comes into play. PAP is the force that pushes blood from the heart to the lungs. When a person exercises, PAP rises, helping to increase the lung's ability to transfer carbon monoxide, known as diffusing capacity (DLCO). This process involve...

Ever wondered how your body uses food to keep you going? Traditional teaching often breaks this down into separate parts. But what if we looked at it as a whole? Instead of just learning about how your heart pumps blood or your lungs take in air, we can explore how every part of your body works together to keep your cells happy and healthy. Let's start with the basi...

Rice is a staple food for many people worldwide. It is under threat from drought. This is a big deal for global food security. Drought affects rice at every stage, from when it's a tiny seed to when it's a full-grown plant. This affects how much rice is produced, its quality, and even its nutritional value. Drought messes with rice's physiology in many ways. It chan...

Imagine tiny dung beetles, hard at work in forests and pastures, facing a double whammy: rising temperatures and pesticides. These beetles are crucial for keeping our ecosystems clean, but they're under threat. Let's dive into what happens when they're exposed to high temperatures and a common drug called ivermectin. Ivermectin is a drug used to treat parasi...

Mauritia flexuosa, a palm tree native to South America, has seeds that are particularly sensitive to dryness. These seeds, known as recalcitrant seeds, are vulnerable to environmental changes, especially temperature shifts. This is a big deal because climate change is making temperatures rise. So, understanding how these seeds react to heat is crucial. The seeds of ...

Rheumatic mitral valve disease is a serious issue that mostly affects young adults. It's a progressive disorder that can cause severe health problems and even death. Traditional treatment involved replacing the damaged valve with a mechanical one. This can extend life, but it also requires major lifestyle changes, such as taking blood-thinning medication for life. Ho...

Psoriasis is a long-lasting skin condition that messes with the immune system. It's not just about the skin. People with psoriasis often face other health issues. One of these is type 2 diabetes. Doctors have been looking into why this happens. They found that psoriasis and diabetes might be connected in some ways. People ...

The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society has laid out some serious guidelines for a procedure called electrical stimulation mapping (ESM). This isn't your average brain surgery. It's a method used to map out the brain's functions and trigger seizures in a controlled way. The society has come up with these guidelines to make sure everything goes smoothly and safe...

Imagine a tiny mouse with prickly fur that can fix its own heart. That's the fascinating story of the Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus), which can repair damaged heart muscle and keep its heartbeat steady. The secret behind the Spiny Mouse's heart power lies in its ability to keep some baby-like qualities in its heart tissue even as an adult. This helps it heal...