Science Archives

The Advancement of Technology: Charting the Future

How will technology progress over time? Will technological progress ever stop? Is there a maximum threshold that it can’t transcend? In his book Zero to One, Peter Thiel charts the future for the advancement of technology. He contrasts four perspectives on the way technology will advance in the future: the cyclical perspective, the doomsday perspective, the convergence perspective, and the acceleration perspective. Here are four perspectives on the advancement of technology.

Chemoresistance and the Rise of Total Therapy

Can you be resistant to chemotherapy? What causes chemoresistance? Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment even today. Unfortunately, not all cancers respond to the treatment. Chemo-resistance has no single cause—it can arise due to a variety of host- or tumor-related factors. Learn about chemoresistance, why it occurs, and how chemo-resistant cancers are treated.

The Importance of Innovation in Business

What role does technological progress play in society? Will technology ever eliminate the need for human labor? In Zero to One, entrepreneur Peter Thiel discusses the importance of innovation in business, arguing that technological progress is the way forward—not just for business but for society in general. He also asserts that monopoly—not competition—is healthy for business, and he talks about whether humans and technology are competing with each other. Read more for Thiel’s insights on innovation.

Battling Cancer: The Social Aspects to Consider

Can cancer be a social issue? What are the social implications of treating cancer? According to Siddhartha Mukherjee, the author of The Emperor of All Maladies, battling cancer isn’t just an interesting puzzle to solve—it is about helping people. We mustn’t focus so much on the disease that we lose sight of the people. Read about the social aspects of fighting cancer.

Are Vegetarians Healthier? Why Plants Are Here to Stay

Are vegetarians healthier than meat-eaters? Should you stop eating meat? Americans are the biggest consumers of meat out of any country. They also struggle with obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease at an alarmingly high rate. That’s why many are starting to turn to vegetarianism—however, vegetarianism comes with its own set of health risks. Continue reading to find out if vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters.

How Does Chemo Work in Treating Cancer?

How does chemo work in treating cancer? Why is chemotherapy so harmful? Chemotherapy uses powerful yet toxic drugs to destroy malignant cancerous tumors. However, drugs don’t discriminate between cancerous cells and healthy cells, which is why chemotherapy has so many side effects. Keep reading to learn about chemotherapy, how it works, and why it’s so harmful.

The 6 Hallmarks of Cancer Explained by Oncologist

What are the hallmarks of cancer? What are the six characteristics a cell has to possess to be considered cancerous? The hallmarks of cancer are the qualities that cells have to possess to be diagnosed as cancerous. The original six were proposed by Robert Weinberg and Douglas Hanahan: 1) automatic mitosis, 2) non-responsive to antigrowth signals, 3) “immortality,” 4) limitless replication, 5) self-sustaining, 6) mobility. Keep reading to learn about the hallmarks of cancer, explained by oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Sequencing Gene Mutations in Cancer

Which genes are mutated in cancer? Is it possible to sequence all the gene mutations giving rise to cancer? Cancer cells are extremely diverse, and finding the exact gene mutations in a cancer patient to inform treatment would be difficult and time-consuming. A much more feasible approach would be to identify and repair the disrupted biological pathways. Researchers believe that the typical cancer cell has anywhere from 11 to 15 disrupted pathways, with an average of 13. Keep reading to learn about cancer cell genomes and pathways.

Does Surgical Tumor Removal Cure Cancer?

Does surgical tumor removal cure cancer? Can cancer spread again if tumor is removed? Cancer is difficult (often impossible) to cure with surgery, because if even a single cancerous cell is left behind, it can continue to grow and spread throughout the body. However, surgery can help shrink the tumor if removing it altogether is not possible, making it easier for other treatments to kill the remaining cancer cells. Keep reading to learn about treating cancer with surgery.

The Falcon 1 Rocket: A Turning Point for SpaceX

What is the Falcon 1 rocket? How did it contribute to the success of SpaceX? The Falcon 1 rocket is the first rocket ever built by Elon Musk’s team at SpaceX. After multiple failed launches, the rocket successfully made it to space and enabled SpaceX to be where it is today. The Falcon 1 launch was arguably the most significant accomplishment in the history of SpaceX. Keep reading to learn about the Falcon 1 rocket launch.