Health
Alcohol, a dangerous molecule
The ancient Greeks were very fond of social celebrations, and called them “symposia,” which literally means “to drink together”. The reporter Pere Renom organizes a scientific symposium with a group of friends, to drink together and analyze how alcohol affects them. We will understand what causes alcohol toxicity, why it causes addiction, what determines its […]
Modeled by hormones
Everything we are is inscribed in our genes, but its main route of expression are hormones. We grow up to a certain size, we differentiate ourselves in men and women and we regulate the body’s temperature or energy through hormones. If the genes are the project, the hormones are the hands of the sculptor. The […]
Impressive
3D printing is a technology for manufacturing three-dimensional objects by superimposing layers of material, that is why it is also called additive manufacturing. In the last 15 years it has grown a lot in the industrial field since it allows to develop prototypes cheaper than the usual technique of molds for injected plastic, without limitation […]
What small little therapies
Three revolutionary medical therapies, that act on a nanometer scale, a billionth of a meter, are explained. Self-propelled and dirigible nanorobots designed to transport drugs to target cells and greatly increase pharmacological efficiency. Peptide launchers, small molecules capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and improve the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or brain […]
Microplastic: from the clothes to the sea
For every 6 kg of polyester clothing in the laundry, we release about 4 g of plastic microfibers through the pipes, which will go to the sea and contaminate the waters, bottoms and trophic nets around the world. Participants: Àngels Rovira, Researcher in Advanced Materials, LEITAT, Anna Sánchez Vidal, GRC Geosciences Marinas, UB, Salvador Borrós, […]
The pig in the heart
The pig is much more than meat, you get hundreds of different products, some related to health such as heart valves or heparin, an anticoagulant molecule essential in blood transfusions or open heart operations. We will know the case of Joan Fàbregas a patient with a cardiac abnormality who is implanted with a prosthesis of […]
The caganer
It is often said that Catalans are eschatological. They have the “caganer”, a figure of the Christmas manger of a man defecating, they also have the “tió” a trunk of tree that shits gifts at Christmas, and in the industrial field they have the company Roca, one of the most important of the world in […]
Fleas, ticks and bed bugs
Fleas, ticks and bedbugs are hematophagous invertebrates, that’s blood-eaters. Each has its own particular life cycle and preferences when itching. Apart from causing annoyance, they can transmit diseases of a certain severity like Lyme, and in exceptional cases, even to be mortal. The following spoke: Joaquim Castellà, parasitologist of the Department of Animal Health and […]
Extraordinary centenarian
There is no magic formula to live 100 years, depends on a lucky combination of genetics and healthy habits. We will analyze the case of two extraordinary centenarians and we will understand that aging is rusting. The following spoke: Mireia Farré from Idescat, Reinald Pamplona from UdL-IRBLleida, Manel Esteller from IDIBELL and the centenarian Joaquim […]
Brave as lions
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a protozoan capable of infecting virtually any warm-blooded animal, but only reproduces sexually in the intestine of cats and other felines. According to statistics about 20% of the Catalan population has passed the disease unknowingly because symptoms are similar to flu. Basically it is taken from the consumption of […]
