Category: syn·op·sis beta

Imagine having a headache, reaching for a painkiller, and feeling better shortly after taking it. Nothing particularly unusual there. Except the pill contained no active medication. No ibuprofen, no acetaminophen, nothing designed to relieve pain. So what exactly made your headache go away? This phenomenon is known as placebo analgesia, pain relief associated with an…

Imagine for a second you are standing in front of a classroom for a presentation. Your heart is racing, your stomach feels strange, a feeling that you have learned to equate to nervousness. You’re probably thinking about what your peers are thinking, how you’re being evaluated, and maybe how you shouldn’t have had that second…

What feelings do you have about spice? Whether you love it or hate it, it’s undeniable that for most people, spicy foods elicit some sort of reaction – usually the burning, painful kind. But as uncomfortable and irritating as it may seem, it is actually a powerful tool when researching pharmaceuticals. By now, most people…

Have you ever wondered how your brain works, how thoughts turn into actions, and how new ideas arise? This incredible process can be explained by analyzing the electrical and chemical processes which permit neuronal communication. If we consider the general steps a neuron goes through, we can observe that they behave like biological batteries. At…

Smoking cigarettes is a highly addictive habit that is ingrained in many people’s daily routines. As a result, the potential drug interactions of common medications with the compounds in tobacco are often overlooked (Chui et al. 2019). Cigarette smoke contains a class of compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are major lung carcinogens (Kroon…

Have you ever wondered why some people absolutely adore horror films, while others jump at the sight of their own shadow? By constantly rewatching Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween, some people seem to be practically fearless from birth, like they have always been so intent on chasing thrills and terror. This question has led to…

From April 2014 to June 2016, a crisis occurred in Flint, Michigan, due to human-made measures to deliver water to residents (Ray 2026). On April 25, 2014, the state switched Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River to cut costs (Kwong et al. 2024). Corrosion control treatments were also dropped and to…

Are women worse at math than men? On average, why do less women go into STEM degrees, particularly those heavily focused on math? Historically, women were prohibited from getting a higher education, even as little as a high school degree. Although much has progressed in order to give women the same rights to pursue a…

Carbohydrates play a significant role in our everyday lives. From the breakfast we eat, as our main source of energy, all the way to adding fiber into our diet to help protect us against diseases. In fact, some antigens are made up of carbohydrates just like Sialyl Lewis.  Similar to Lego blocks, carbohydrates can be…