The World's Best Book Summaries
What are free radicals? Do they benefit the body in any way? Free radicals get a bad rap. And, much of that is deserved. However, they do benefit the body in some ways—specifically, regulating the heart and supporting the immune system. Read more to learn about the benefits of free radicals.
What do the sea microorganisms in the ocean do? What role do they play in the lives of marine animals? According to science journalist Ed Yong, sea microorganisms play a crucial role in the livelihood of marine animals, granting them protection from predators and even influencing how they develop. In his book I Contain Multitudes, Yong explains in detail the relationship between sea microorganisms and marine life. Read on to learn how sea microorganisms influence marine life, according to Yong.
How do fungi grow? What are the two types of fungal growth? All organisms grow cells and larger structures according to genetic instructions. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake examines the overall process of fungal growth, including the two types of growth: branching and fusing. Keep reading to learn what we know about fungal growth and the mysteries that still remain.
Is your mental programming set in stone? How can you overwrite unhelpful and self-sabotaging mental programs you’ve internalized throughout the course of your life? You don’t have to accept your default mental processes as your unchanging reality. According to Ryan A. Bush, the author of Designing the Mind, the mind works like a computer, which means that you can overwrite the mental programs that don’t serve you. Here’s how you can reshape your mind by treating your thought processes like computer algorithms that can be edited.
How do free radicals lead to inflammation in the body? What dietary change can make a difference? Mitochondria manage cellular health and functionality through a number of processes. One process is extracting energy from your body’s metabolic processes to power your cells. In this process, free radicals are created. Unchecked, they damage cells and cause inflammation. Continue reading to learn more about the relationship between free radicals and inflammation.
When do babies develop an immune system? What factors influence the health of a baby’s immune system? According to Ed Yong, your immune system begins forming earlier than you may think—in fact, the health of a baby’s immune system is impacted during the process of birth. In I Contain Multitudes, he explains the role of microbes in the development of a baby’s immune system. Read on to learn more about how babies’ immune systems form, according to Yong.
What do we know about fungi’s body structures? How are fungi organized? Like every other living thing, fungi have internal organization—structures such as cells, roots, and organs that organize their matter. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake breaks down the body structure of fungi, from hyphae to mushrooms. Learn more about the organization of fungi below.
What’s the relationship between gut health and mental health? Can poor gut health cause or worsen depression or anxiety? Ed Yong wrote I Contain Multitudes to raise awareness about the trillions of microbes that exist in our bodies and how they influence everything, including our mental health. Your gut health and mental health are closely connected—a lack of certain microbes can even lead to abnormal brain development, claims Yong. Read on to learn more about the relationship between gut health and mental health, according to Yong.
What are the main properties of fungi? What makes fungi different from plants and animals? According to Merlin Sheldrake’s book Entangled Life, fungi are their own kingdom of organisms—they’re neither plants nor animals. Although the field of mycology (the study of fungi) is growing, Sheldrake argues that many aspects of fungal biology remain a mystery. Below we’ll look at what we’ve learned from only the six percent of all fungi species we’ve explored, particularly its properties.
Looking for examples of symbiosis in animals? How do microbes and animals co-exist? What kinds of symbiotic relationships do they have? Ed Yong argues that not only are microbes ubiquitous, but they’re also integral to animal bodies. In his book I Contain Multitudes, he explains how symbiosis in animals and microbes functions to shape animals’ development and form long-term interdependent relationships. Read on for some examples of symbiosis in animals and microbes, based on Yong’s book.