What Are Telomeres and Why Are They Important?

An image of a cell, nucleus, chromosome, telomere, and DNA to show what a telomere is and why it's important

What dictates how fast you age? What are telomeres and why are they important? Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel explain that telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences coated in protein. They act as protective caps on the ends of your chromosomes—the parts of your cells that contain genetic information, made of many different genes coiled up like tightly wound threads. Let’s look at the role of telomeres in our bodies and how they play into the aging process.

How to Increase Telomerase Levels With a Healthy Lifestyle

A purple and pink DNA strand, representing how to increase telomerase

What are ways to increase telomerase? Why is it good to boost your telomerase levels? Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel say that most cells can divide about 50 times before entering senescence in a process called the Hayflick Limit. However, an enzyme called telomerase can rebuild telomeres, allowing cells to bypass the Hayflick Limit.  Continue reading to learn how to increase telomerase levels.

Mental Shortcuts: 3 Common Ways the Brain Synthesizes Data

A cartoon of a walking brain on a path in the woods illustrates mental shortcuts

What happens when your brain processes constant input from your environment? How do mental shortcuts influence the way you perceive reality? Mental shortcuts help your brain manage the nonstop flow of complex information from your surroundings. Three of these automatic processes—simplifying, filtering, and modifying—shape how you interpret experiences and make decisions, often without your awareness. Keep reading to discover three common mental shortcuts and how they impact your daily life.

How Our Sensory Modalities & Their Nuances Shape Us

A woman smiling and smelling fresh-baked bread as she takes it out of the oven illustrates sensory modalities

What role do your senses play in shaping your thoughts and emotions? How do sensory experiences influence your behavioral choices and responses to different situations? When you think about past experiences or imagine future scenarios, your brain processes information through various sensory channels. Understanding how these sensory modalities work can help you recognize their impact on your emotional responses and decision-making patterns. Keep reading to discover how your brain constructs meaning from sensory experiences and learn why changing established thought patterns can be challenging.

Sensory Information Processing: What’s Behind Your Thoughts

A depiction of the brain illustrates sensory information processing

What happens in your mind when you think about past experiences or future events? How do your senses shape the way you interpret and respond to different situations? Understanding sensory information processing reveals the hidden mechanisms behind your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Your brain constantly collects and organizes data from your environment, creating a complex web of sensory impressions and memory associations that guide your responses to every experience. Read on to explore how your brain transforms raw sensory data into meaningful thoughts and emotions, and discover ways to take control of this process.

Your Protective Instinct: Learning to Listen to Your Gut

A woman with a worried look on her face walking in a dark alley illustrates the protective instinct

Do you trust your gut? How can you tap into your innate protective instinct? Security specialist Gavin de Becker contends that your intuition is a powerful tool for survival. It’s constantly working to keep you safe, even when you’re not aware of it. Learning to recognize and trust your intuitive signals can help you navigate potentially dangerous situations more effectively. Read on to discover how to harness your protective instinct and make better decisions in your daily life.

Information as a Commodity: Who Rules the Superhighway?

A man wearing glasses looking at generic search engine results on a computer screen illustrates information as a commodity

Is the internet truly an information superhighway, or is it more like a controlled maze? How does the commodification of information affect our ability to learn and retain knowledge? In The Shallows, Nicholas Carr writes that the digital age has transformed how we access and consume information. Search engines and social media platforms have become gatekeepers, shaping our online experiences. They prioritize speed and quantity over depth and quality, treating information as a commodity to be packaged and sold. Keep reading to learn how, according to Carr, this shift impacts our learning and the future of knowledge sharing.

The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman—Book Overview

A girl wearing a yellow shirt reading a book while lying in a field of lucky four-leaf clovers

Is luck real? What do science and psychology say? Is it possible to improve your luck? In his book, The Luck Factor, psychologist Richard Wiseman conducted extensive research on people who claim to have good or bad luck. Wiseman explores the science behind luck and how you can improve yours by deliberately applying the unconscious methods that lucky people use.   Keep reading to learn how people create their own luck, how to turn bad luck into good luck, and more.