May 21, 2021The (Cell) Death Cure: Could triggering autophagic cell death with an MTORC-1 inhibitor combat aging and disease?A quick look at global life expectancies through the years confirms what many of us already know. People are living longer all the time, thanks to advancements in medicine, improvements in quality of life, and decreased infant mortality. …Longevity9 min readLongevity9 min read
May 20, 2021Live fast, die… old? Intermittent fasting increases healthspan — and it may soon be a thing of the pastAt some point in your life, you’ve probably been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day — and maybe you believed it. Maybe it made logical sense that skipping what fuels your morning and gets you off to a good start would negatively impact your health…Longevity7 min readLongevity7 min read
May 8, 2021The effects of let-363 mutation on C. elegans — and what that means for human life extensionFor the past few weeks, I have spent hours each day with my new best friends. These friends don’t talk (though I often find myself talking to them), preferring to wriggle around and occasionally chase their own tails. Despite being nearly identical, after so much time in their company I’ve…Human Longevity6 min readHuman Longevity6 min read
May 1, 2021Down Syndrome is one of the more dreaded birth defects. This new cure could change that.For many, the first indication something is wrong comes at the end of the first trimester. A nuchal translucency (NT) screening is given at the dating ultrasound, and the results are abnormal. For older women, and those who have been down this path with previous children, all hope is shattered…Down Syndrome6 min readDown Syndrome6 min read
Published in students x students·Apr 4, 20215 Easy Ways to Live ForeverIn Tuck Everlasting, it’s a forest spring. In Jitterbug Perfume, it’s beets. And in Twilight, it’s being bit by Edward Cullen. Whichever method you prefer, one thing’s for sure: when it comes to immortality, there is no shortage of options — at least if you’re a fictional character. …Longevity14 min readLongevity14 min read
Oct 17, 2020SPOT: The Future of AccessibilityWhen I was eight years old, I went into my vision checkup hoping that I would get glasses. It was unlikely, as my vision had always been good. However, when I covered my left eye, suddenly I couldn’t see… anything. …AI8 min readAI8 min read
Oct 4, 2020There’s no cure for the world’s deadliest disease. And you have it right now.Symptoms include hearing loss, cataracts, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and dementia — and that’s just the beginning. It kills 100,000 people every day, and there’s a 67% chance that it will kill you (90% if you live in an industrialized nation). No, it’s not the flu, it’s not HIV…Human Longevity9 min readHuman Longevity9 min read
Published in The Startup·Sep 26, 2020Member-onlyAn Introduction to Artificial IntelligenceIf you regularly use the internet, you interact with artificial intelligence every day. There’s no elf hiding inside your Alexa that knows what to do when you ask it to play that new BTS song, there’s no warehouse full of people who look at your search history and choose ads…16 min read16 min read
Jun 1, 2020Prime Editing: The Future of Genetic EngineeringIn 2012, when it was discovered that a protein called Cas9 (CRISPR associated protein 9) could be used to edit genes with never-before-seen precision, there was instantly widespread discussion of the new possibility of curing innumerable genetic diseases, but also of designer babies, and genetically engineered super-people. However, CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing…6 min read6 min read
