The Atavistic Theory of Cancer: A Turning Point?

The Atavistic Theory of Cancer: A Turning Point?

What is the Atavistic Theory of cancer? How does the Atavistic Theory explain cancer prevalence? According to the Atavistic Theory, cancer results from the re-emergence of traits from the earliest single-celled organisms, caused by evolutionary pressure from carcinogens. Atavism explains why cancer can be found in nearly every animal species on Earth: It’s because the traits of cancer come from our oldest common ancestors. Keep reading to learn about the Atavistic Theory of cancer.

The Fight-or-Flight Response: What It Is & How It Aids Survival

The Fight-or-Flight Response: What It Is & How It Aids Survival

What is the fight-or-flight response? How can the fight-or-flight response work against you? The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction to a perception of threat. It mobilizes your physiological resources to prepare you to face danger. However, this response has negative effects, too: when you perceive danger where there isn’t any, you experience unwarranted fear and anxiety. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of the fight-or-flight response and how it aids survival.

Cancer Progression Explained: How Does Cancer Evolve?

Cancer Progression Explained: How Does Cancer Evolve?

How does cancer evolve from a single cell to a malignant tumor? Why is cancer so persistent in its efforts to survive and spread? According to Dr. Jason Fung, cancer is ultimately a living species that operates by the same principles as all living organisms: It grows, feeds, reproduces, and fights for survival. Using this new model of cancer as a separate species, Fung describes cancer progression as a three-phase process. Here’s how cancer evolves and becomes malignant.

The 3 Types of Stress Response, Explained

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Instinctive Reaction Tendency

How do psychologists define stress? What are the three types of stress response? According to psychologist Kelly McGonigal, stress is your response when something valuable to you is at risk. Depending on the stress trigger and your perception of it, McGonigal defines three types of stress response: the fight-or-flight (threat) response, the challenge response, or the tend-and-befriend response. Below, we’ll examine each one. 

Jason Fung: Shedding Light on the Origins of Cancer

Jason Fung: Shedding Light on the Origins of Cancer

How does cancer start? How do carcinogens in the environment set off the chain of events that eventually leads to cancer? According to Dr. Jason Fung, cancer starts with damage inflicted by some type of carcinogen. Sometimes the body fixes that damage incorrectly, causing slight changes in the genetic material—in other words, mutations. From there, evolutionary pressure drives cellular reproduction. Keep reading to learn about the origins of cancer, according to Dr. Fung.

How Does Cancer Spread to Other Organs in the Body?

How Does Cancer Spread to Other Organs in the Body?

How does cancer spread to other parts of the body? Is there a way to prevent cancerous cells from migrating and invading other organs? When cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it’s called “metastatic cancer.” In order to metastasize, cancerous cells must travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. According to Dr. Jason Fung, this process happens in cycles because the immune system will mount its defenses to prevent cancerous cells from spreading. Here’s how cancer metastasizes and invades other organs.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizers

Understanding the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizers

What role does nitrogen play in crop production? How do nitrogen fertilizers harm the environment? Crops need nitrogen, and the ways farmers supplied nitrogen to crops (e.g. recycling organic materials) are no longer adequate as the global population rises. To provide nitrogen to crops, we synthesize almost 150 million tons of ammonium a year to make fertilizers, a process that’s environmentally harmful. Keep reading to learn about the environmental impact of nitrogen fertilizers.

What Exactly Is Cancer? Dr. Jason Fung Explains

What Exactly Is Cancer? Dr. Jason Fung Explains

What exactly is cancer, and why is it so hard to treat? Why is cancer so prevalent? How close are we to eradicating cancer? Cancer is one of the most frightening diseases in the world today. It’s deadly and often extremely hard to cure. As such, doctors and researchers have spent enormous amounts of time and money trying to figure out exactly what cancer is, how it works, and how to cure it. In this article, you’ll learn about the progress we’ve made toward our understanding of cancer.

Averting Climate Change: Technology Won’t Save Us!

Averting Climate Change: Technology Won’t Save Us!

Can technology avert climate change? What are some potential technological solutions to climate change? According to Vaclav Smil, the author of Numbers Don’t Lie, we rely too much on technology to save us from climate change. Environmental destruction—which is what drives climate change—is happening at a faster rate than technology advances. Here’s why technology won’t save us, as many people falsely believe.