/oss/taxonomy/term/5134/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-student-contributors-health-and-nutrition/real-gold-or-fools-gold-controversies-bee-pollen <p>The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10045447/">earliest evidence</a> of human consumption of bee products can be traced back to a painting from between 8000-5000 B.C. in Spain. The Greeks considered pollen to be the food of kings. There is a reference to bee pollen in the Bible. Ancient philosophers such as Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, and Pythagoras believed in the therapeutic potential of bee pollen. So, it seems only natural that we, in the present day, would take a fascination with bee pollen.</p> Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:03:05 +0000 Daniela Padres 10083 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-environment/botanical-sexism-really-blame-increased-pollen-allergies-urban-cities <p>The story starts with horticultural epidemiologist Thomas Ogren. His <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/guest-blog/botanical-sexism-cultivates-home-grown-allergies/">major citation is that of the 1949</a> USDA Yearbook of Agriculture where it was recommended that “when used for street plantings, only male trees should be selected, to avoid the nuisance from the seed”. He claims this led to a major skew toward planting male trees in urban cities in the following years in attempts to reduce the work needed to pick up the petals, berries, and fruits produced by female trees.</p> Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:25:36 +0000 Daniela Padres 10077 at /oss /oss/article/medical-student-contributors/serotonin-syndrome-too-much-good-thing <p>Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including mood regulation, behavior, memory, and gastrointestinal balance. Often dubbed the “happy” neurotransmitter, serotonin helps maintain a balanced emotional state—though it's not always as uplifting as the nickname suggests.</p> Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:57:10 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 10059 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-did-you-know/white-noise-machines-may-have-underlying-fineprint <p><a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/noise-and-sleep/white-noise#references-83455">White noise</a>, also known as broadband noise, is a type of noise that contains all the audible frequencies for humans. White noise is often present in our daily environment in the form of radio or television static, vacuums, fans, and air conditioner hums. When played in the background, white noise can reduce the sound difference between the environmental noise and background noise.</p> Fri, 30 Aug 2024 02:14:16 +0000 Daniela Padres 10051 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-history-did-you-know/weaving-history-persian-carpets <p>Although I could get straight to the point and tell you about Persian carpets, it’s only fitting to begin with a bit of history about the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great, who reigned from approximately 559 to 530 BCE, founded the first Persian Empire. His legacy includes the Cyrus Cylinder, often regarded as the first declaration of human rights, in which he decreed religious freedom and protection for all within his empire.</p> Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:17:14 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 10045 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-did-you-know/how-deep-can-humans-really-go <p>Up until the late 1960s, physiologists believed that the maximum depth a person could descend to was determined by the depth at which <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.162.3857.1020?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed">their total lung capacity (TLC) was compressed to the same volume as their residual volume (RV)</a> which is the smallest lung volume a person can breathe to.</p> Fri, 16 Aug 2024 03:34:15 +0000 Daniela Padres 10039 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-environment-did-you-know/mystery-milky-seas <p>Imagine sailing through a pitch-black ocean night, only to find the waters around you glowing eerily like a vast field of snow. This enchanting phenomenon, known as milky seas or mareel, has both baffled and mesmerized sailors for centuries. These rare events, occurring roughly zero to two times a year globally, are a spectacular display of bioluminescence that turns the sea into a surreal, glowing expanse.</p> Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:31:17 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 10022 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-health-and-nutrition-did-you-know/are-your-refrigerator-habits-inviting-unwanted-bacteria <p>As a kid I grew up being told that I had to let food cool down before putting it in the fridge. I was under the notion that placing warm food directly in the refrigerator could cause the other foods in the refrigerator to warm up. I had also been told that placing warm food in the refrigerator was a waste of energy as the fridge would have to work harder to maintain a cool temperature. I was shocked when I learned that leaving leftovers to cool on the countertop posed a potential risk for my health.</p> Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:39:35 +0000 Daniela Padres 10014 at /oss /oss/article/medical-student-contributors/cloudy-chance-sunburn <p>Imagine stepping outside on a cloudy day, feeling confident that your skin is safe from the sun's rays simply because the sun is hidden behind a layer of clouds. This common belief can be misleading and potentially harmful. The truth is, even on those overcast days, up to 80% of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can still reach your skin, so sunscreen is your skin's best friend, rain or shine.</p> Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:28:16 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 10011 at /oss /oss/article/medical-student-contributors-did-you-know/seawater-really-antidote-cuts-and-scrapes <p>Recently, a carpet burn removed the epidermis, the top layer of my skin, of my upper middle finger. It left a large open wound on my hand. Fortunately, I was close to the ocean so I could swim in the seawater to speed up the healing process, or so I thought.</p> Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:29:17 +0000 Daniela Padres 10005 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors/dos-and-donts-burn-first-aid <p>Burns, injuries to the skin caused by heat, radiation, electricity, friction, or chemicals, are among the most common and painful injuries. Throughout history, a variety of unusual and sometimes bizarre treatments have been used for burns. One of the earliest documented treatments comes from ancient Egypt, recorded in the Ebers Papyrus around 1500 B.C.</p> Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:29:03 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 10001 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-student-contributors-health-and-nutrition/taste-bitter-melon <p>Bitter melon, also known as Momordica charantia, is a peculiar-looking vegetable that has piqued the interest of many for its potential health benefits, particularly in managing diabetes. Native to Asia, East Africa, India, and South America, this plant has various other names such as bitter gourd, balsam pear, and karela, depending on the region. The name Momordica, derived from the Latin word meaning "to bite," refers to the jagged edges of its leaves, which look as though they've been nibbled.</p> Fri, 28 Jun 2024 01:41:06 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 9990 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-health-and-nutrition/high-protein-milk-its-not-just-milk-added-protein-powder <p>It used to be so simple. One would receive their daily milk bottles from the milkman. Nowadays, the number of milk alternatives is enough to make anyone’s head swirl. There is skim milk, organic milk, fortified milk, raw milk, low-fat milk, buttermilk, A2 milk, lactose-free milk, flavored milk, condensed milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, scalded milk, and now protein milk.</p> Fri, 14 Jun 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Daniela Padres 9976 at /oss /oss/article/student-contributors-health-and-nutrition-history/are-electric-or-manual-toothbrushes-better <p>The first ever toothbrush design, used by ancient Babylonians and Egyptians, dates back to 3500 BC. The primitive toothbrush, known as a “chew stick”, was a thin twig with a frayed end. The modern toothbrush was designed by William Addis in England and was the first mass-produced toothbrush, entering the market in 1780. Its handle was carved from cattle bone and the bristles were made from pig’s hair. Quite the luxury upgrade from twigs, wouldn’t you say? Fast forward to the 1960s, when the electric toothbrush was introduced.</p> Fri, 07 Jun 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Hosna Akhgary 9972 at /oss /oss/article/beware-latrines-unexpected-source-energy <p>Although toilets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Ancient Rome, they might have had an explosive nature back in the day that made users of the latrines take special caution when carrying out their business. This fear of toilets has been <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/533456a">inferred</a> from the lack of graffiti and the abundance of portraits of Fortuna, the goddess of chance, in the latrines. But what might have made members of this ancient, often ruthless, civilization so scared of holes in a bench?</p> Fri, 31 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Daniela Padres 9962 at /oss