Mice help discover skin communication

The skin does many things for us and is arguably the most important part of our immune system and how we get information about the world around us. The skin helps us feel and how hot or cold something is. But now scientist have found out that the skin also communicates with the liver. They found this out by working with a group of mice called “knock out” mice. They were called this because they lacked the gene that controlled the production of fat cells. They then observed that they had greasy hair and couldn’t survive as long as others. They then pinpointed the reason why the mice were losing heat from the water that comes off their skin and evaporates losing heat that the mouse had worked so hard to get. They then fixed this by covering a mouse in blue latex making it hard for thing to evaporate off of it keeping it warmer. They then observed that the liver stopped making as many fat cells so the mouse could stay warm. This can help us find out why skin diseases affect the whole body and not just the skin. Diseases like skin cancer can now be understood better about how they affect the body more. I think that this is a good discovery in that it will help with future research and will maybe be the reason why we find cures to diseases that affect so many people.

Prosthetic limbs

Prosthetic limbs can be the best thing in the world for an amputee. It can help with mobility and appearances because no one wants to be looked at as a freak. They have evolved from hinges to robotics. I think that this advancement is a good thing because amputees can have a better range of movement. Instead of just having something there just to look good for a prosthetic hand it is now robotic and able to do way more things this will help the amputee gain back some of their self confidence that they can take care of them-selves. A new prosthetic has seven degrees of motion.  Now its even better engineers have developed a new kind of prosthetic, one that can tell the brain what it is feeling. This is an amazing development. I like to compare it to the time where they numbed up my knee and i couldn’t feel it for the entire day then at night i started feeling it again. That is what i think it would be like to get feeling back on a limb you lost. It would be amazing. Although this technology is still being tested when it is released it will improve the lives of any amputee and probably put a huge smile on their face. The sense of feeling is important because with out feeling your body wouldn’t be able to react to you touching a hot pan without feeling you would burn your self. Feeling also lets us know information like how hard should I press down on these keyboard keys? Touch tells us that. Without touch most things we use would be useless.

Flu Season

I’ve already got my flu shot this year but apparently scientist have now combined different strains for this year. Scientists get together and try to predict which strains will be the most common this year. They then combine them to make the vaccine. This year they are using three strains of the flu virus and one other virus that will help keep millions of Americans and other people healthy this flu season. Flu season is what I think about when someone says winter. I think it’s horrible I always end up sick somehow but there are some tips that can keep you extra healthy this flu season. 1) Get plenty of rest. Studies have shown the more tired you are the more vulnerable you are to viruses and infection. 2) WASH YOUR HANDS VIGOROUSLY This is the most important thing that you can do and the most effective way not to get sick. Many people just stick their hands under water and say that’s good enough but it’s not it’s actually very germ-y on your hands and when you go from a public place like a grocery store to eating. All the things you touched had germs on them and they will get you sick or feeling like crap. 3) Stay home if you do catch something. You risk getting others sick when you go to school or work sick. The best way to get better is to stay home and rest. Sleep the whole day if you have to just don’t do anything that will tire you out because how tired you are is how tired your immune system is. 4) Vitamins help all year round so if you have a multivitamin you take keep taking it it will only improve your chances of not getting sick. Finally 5) Get your flu shot it can help reduce the chance of catching the flu because the flu shot is just dead viruses of the flu and helps your immune system recognize it easier when the real thing comes up in yourself.