Many of us require medication for optimum health and this usually leads us to the pharmacist where we pick up our medicine in the form of pills. As the months and years go by our medicine cabinets become full with a variety of different pills for a host of ailments. Sometimes we no longer know what each pill is and what it is used for. However, it should be noted that practically all pills sold in the US have a pill identification mark to easily advise us what it is. Read More

Linalool is a chemical derived from flower and spice plants as a naturally occurring terpene alcohol. It is used in a variety of applications and the Environmental Protection Agency has approved its use as a pesticide, flavor agent, and scent. It can be used on people/pets and outdoors safely, without being a threat to wildlife. Linanool has a pleasant scent that is closely related to a spicy floral tone. It is used in consumer goods such as cosmetics, lotions, creams, shampoos, perfumes, etc. It is commonly listed under ingredients for Read More

Neurons communicate by sending electrical signals throughout the body. The exact process is an electrochemical one and the speed in which neurons communicate is so fast that seeing someone drop out of someone's hand and trying to grab for it–a process that requires the image to get into the brain, processed and then a signal sent to your hand–takes around three quarters of a second. Anatomy of a Neuron The anatomy of a neuron is very important to understand how they communicate. There are four main parts of a neuron: Read More

The neuron is the cell responsible for the transfer of information and electrical impulses around the body. Neurons work by transferring electrical charges from neuron to neuron to get from one point to another. All data, therefore, is transferred in this electrical fashion which is why computer science has become such an important tool in the study of Neuroscience. To better understand how neurons work, first one must understand the different parts of a neuron. The Parts of a Neuron To begin with, because the neuron is a cell, it Read More

Pharming is a process whereby plants and animals are genetically modified to become carriers of genes that stimulate the production of substances that have useful pharmaceutical applications. Thus, the term pharming is actually a play on the words pharmaceuticals and farming. To explain the process in simple terms, a foreign gene is introduced into the carrier plant or animal (the gene is foreign because it is not naturally occurring in the host's system). After the intervention, the animal or the plant, as the case maybe, becomes the factory of the Read More

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid found in the cells of all living organisms. It houses the vital genetic directives involved in the growth and functioning of all living organisms; as a result of such behavior, it is considered to be the building block or blueprint of life. DNA is also instrumental in the building of other vital components such as proteins and RNA molecules. DNA was first classified by the physician Friedrich Miescher in 1869. Several researchers such as Phoebus Levene, William Astbury, and Frederick Griffith further contributed Read More

Artificial muscles are one of the most important applications of flexible electronic structure technology. Artificial muscles are designed to serve as an electronic device capable of accommodating printed circuits yet, at the same time, capable of moving with human muscles. Aside from their obvious uses, artificial muscles may also be used as sensors for the evaluation and monitoring of muscle and tissue activities and conditions. Studies and developments on the flexible electronics technology are being made and undertaken by researchers from the University of Illinois together with the researchers at Read More

Metabolomics is the systematic study of chemical process that involve metabolites which are the byproducts of metabolism in organisms. Typically, a metabolite is a small molecule. There are primary metabolites which are involved in growth, reproduction and development. There are also secondary metabolites that, while not involved directly in the processes primary metabolites participate in, but do possess an important ecological function. Examples of secondary metabolites are antibiotics and pigments. Metabolomics is an important process in understanding how the cell works because it can provide consistent information on the physiology Read More

A brain computer interface (BCI) is an external devices that communicate directly to the brain of humans or animals through neuron silicon interfaces. These external devices can either transmit or receive signals to and from the brain which can then be used to restore function or movement to sensory organs or limbs. Furthermore, these external devices can range from simple circuits to advanced silicon chips. As of today, brain computer interface devices have been successful in restoring damaged sight, movement and hearing. The success of these devices stems from the Read More

Cryonics is the preservation of legally dead people or pets at extremely low temperatures (below 130ºC or 200ºF) in order to restore the person or animal to life in the future. Current law prohibits freezing someone in this manner while still alive, so the technique is conducted as close to the point of death as possible. The general idea behind cryonics is that since most diseases that cause death result from damage to the body’s tissues, cells, organs, and cellular components, the body should be curable in the future as Read More