Credit: iStock You may be familiar with the feeling known as “the burn”—the tingling soreness emanating from deep within your muscles, telling you to stop what you’re doing and rest. The burn can appear during the last few reps at the gym, the end of a long jog or even during the last few twists … Continue reading Embrace the Burn: Dispelling Years of Lactate Misconceptions
Scientific Research
Autism, the Microbiome and Picky Eating: What’s Really Going On?
Credit: iStock/Magone Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental condition that affects communication, behavior and social interaction. It is often marked by repetitive behaviors and highly focused interests. While the exact causes of autism remain unclear, what we do know is that its prevalence is rising. One out of every 31 eight-year-olds … Continue reading Autism, the Microbiome and Picky Eating: What’s Really Going On?
Blood Substitutes: How Distant Is This Future of Patient Care?
Credit: iStock/ojos de hojalata Chances are, by the time you finish reading this sentence, someone in the U.S. will need a blood transfusion, likely due to blood loss from a serious injury or a health condition. Blood is the highway of the body. It’s the route by which oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, immune cells, platelets … Continue reading Blood Substitutes: How Distant Is This Future of Patient Care?
Dreams, Challenges and Resilience: A Journey Through Grad School
Credit: iStock/Huseyin Bastanci I have always dreamed of earning a doctoral degree in science. I still remember a moment from 15 years ago, chatting with my friend and sharing my aspiration for getting a PhD. Unaware of what the future would hold, I was always mapping each step that would bring me closer to making … Continue reading Dreams, Challenges and Resilience: A Journey Through Grad School
The Eye Is a Window to the Kidney
Credit: Josselin Nespoux, created with Grok You may have heard the phrase "the eyes are windows to the soul”.Recent research has revealed that our eyes may also be windows to our kidneys. At Edinburgh Kidney, we are investigating how subtle changes in the tiny blood vessels of the eye, known as the retinal vasculature, can … Continue reading The Eye Is a Window to the Kidney
Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
Credit: iStock/simarik Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and cognitive functioning. It is the seventh leading cause of death in older people and affects more than 57 million people worldwide. In recent years, research on this topic has expanded, meaning you may have seen more recommendations (such as healthy eating and exercising) … Continue reading Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia
Lower Body Negative Pressure: How Scientists Can Study Blood Loss with Everyday Household Items
Credit: iStock/Devonyu Have you ever wondered how scientists study the human body’s responses to extreme conditions such as severe blood loss? Science experiments don’t always involve expensive equipment, glass beakers and dangerous chemicals. In fact, one of the coolest experimental techniques in physiology requires just two common household items: a vacuum cleaner and a box … Continue reading Lower Body Negative Pressure: How Scientists Can Study Blood Loss with Everyday Household Items
Spotlight On: Statins
Credit: iStock/designer491 Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America, taking more lives per year than cancer and accidents combined. That’s frightening, but there is cause for optimism. For decades, statin drugs have been the gold standard in cholesterol management. Statins block the liver enzyme responsible for producing cholesterol, lower “bad” LDL levels by … Continue reading Spotlight On: Statins
Becoming a Science Advocate: Lessons I Learned from the 2025 APS Hill Day
APS members Emily Grammer, Macy Stahl and Brian Simmons advocated for science research funding on Capitol Hill. As a scientist with a chronic illness, I have always been passionate about advocating for patients who may not be able to speak up about their own health care journey. This passion drove my desire to intertwine advocacy … Continue reading Becoming a Science Advocate: Lessons I Learned from the 2025 APS Hill Day
2025 American Physiology Summit: My Week in Photos
Welcome to the American Physiology Summit. Credit: Casey Derella The 2025 American Physiology Summit took place at the Baltimore Convention Center April 24–27. Eager scientists, educators and trainees from a variety of fields within physiology travel from all over the world to connect and share ongoing science with others. Credit: Casey Derella I’m excited to … Continue reading 2025 American Physiology Summit: My Week in Photos