Writings of Micaela

The Nano-Infiltrator at Cancer’s Doorstep Scientists at Universiti Putra Malaysia have designed a new nanoparticle that delivers a chemotherapy drug straight to cancer cells. It tricks the cell into accepting the drug, and like a Trojan Horse, sabotages it from within. This new method is potentially more lethal to cancer cells than conventional intravenous delivery. With this, scientists are one step closer to treating cancer efficiently, minimising damage to the body. Written By: Micaela Leong The war rages on. The attacks are indiscriminate: children, elderly, the young and healthy. As they struggle to fight for their lives, many succumb to death, and few live to tell the tale. Meanwhile, scientists in laboratories all over the world are hunched over their microscopes and petri dishes, striving to create a solution that could put all this senseless killing to rest. Welcome to the battlefield of cancer. The Nano-Infiltrator Scientists at Universiti Putra Malaysia h...

Hooked on Love: Oxytocin Possible Solution for Drug Addiction Chinese researchers have compared brain scans of lovers and drug addicts, and discovered a defining difference: oxytocin. Based on its ability to reverse addiction-like behaviour in lovers, it is a possible solution to resolving the age-old problem of drug addiction. Written by: Micaela Leong Some may say love is just another drug, and they would not be far from the truth. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hefei, China, studied the neurological similarities and differences between romantic love and drug addiction. Their findings showed that new couples shared some common brain activity patterns with drug addicts - but the surprising discovery, was that addiction-like characteristics in lovers gradually disappeared as the relationship progressed. Researchers sought to answer the question: if “love addiction” can be reversed, can drug addiction be reversed too? Only Fools Rush In On the su...

Sweet Memories: Dark Chocolate Enhances Memory Formation Canadian scientists found that epicatechin, a chemical in cocoa, can improve memory when applied immediately after a learning task Those with a sweet tooth may be excited to know that dark chocolate can potentially improve our memory, due to a flavanol in cocoa, known as epicatechin (epi). Researchers at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Canada, have discovered that epicatechin (epi) is most effective in boosting memory formation when immediately applied after a learning exercise. Previous research on snails has shown that epicatechin can reverse memory loss. In humans, it can reduce cognitive impairment, and improve cognitive performance in the elderly. In the experiment, learning and memory are treated as two different, but closely related processes. Learning is when there is a change in behaviour because of the learning exercise, and memory is the abi...