February is the shortest month, so if you’re having a miserable month, try to schedule it for February.
Good morning, and welcome to UniScoops! The only message you've read today that you didn't half-swipe before opening (hopefully).
Here’s a taste of what we’re serving today:
Don’t take too much Calpol: drugs and the body 💊
PLUS: Kessler Syndrome, Geradus Mercator, and Artifacts That “Shouldn’t” Exist 🗿
MEDICINE
Don’t take too much Calpol: drugs and the body 💊
For this medicine scoop, we're going to embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of pharmacokinetics – the intricate dance of drugs within our bodies. Imagine this process as a GPS guiding drugs through a complex maze of biological pathways. Each time you take a medication, you set in motion a series of events that determine how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and ultimately eliminated.
Me bedrotting with a cold
Absorption marks the drug's entrance into your body, whether through swallowing a pill or receiving an injection. From there, it hitches a ride in your bloodstream, embarking on a distribution adventure akin to a superhero saving the day. But the story doesn't end there; pharmacokinetics is a dynamic cycle. Next comes metabolism, where enzymes in your body transform the drug into different compounds, influencing its potency. Lastly, elimination clears out the drug and its transformed forms, restoring your body's equilibrium.
💡 Things to consider
Bioavailability and Absorption: Imagine you're hosting a party, but not all your friends can make it. Similarly, not all of a drug dose reaches your bloodstream – that's bioavailability. How does the route of administration (oral, injection, etc.) affect how much of a drug gets into your system? What if a drug has low bioavailability – how can scientists overcome this challenge?
Party in the bloodstream?
Drug Half-Life - Time Travel for Molecules: Think of a drug's half-life as a timer for its effects. What does it mean when a drug has a short half-life versus a long one? How does the half-life influence dosing frequency and maintaining steady drug levels in your body? It might be tempting to drink a whole bottle of Calpol (because it just tastes so good!), but this might be why there are guidelines on how much you can take!
CYP Enzymes - Molecular Transformers: Envision your body's enzymes as tiny transformers, altering drugs into new forms. Some drugs can speed up or slow down these transformations. How do genetics and other drugs affect these enzyme superheroes? What happens if a drug inhibits an enzyme?
🔎 Find out more
🍒 The cherry on top
🛰 Kessler Syndrome: In 1978, scientist Donald J. Kessler warned that Earth’s orbit could become a deadly minefield. His idea? That one satellite collision could trigger a chain reaction of debris smashing into more satellites, creating even more debris, and potentially making space travel impossible for generations. This chilling scenario is now called Kessler Syndrome, and it may already be starting. This article is a must-read if you’re into Physics or the future of technology.
🗺️ Geradus Mercator: In 1569, cartographer Gerardus Mercator published a world map that forever altered navigation. His projection distorted the size of continents (making Europe look much larger than it really is) but allowed sailors to navigate straight lines across the globe for the first time. Still used today (and still controversial), Mercator’s map quietly shaped global trade, power, and perception. This podcast will be interesting for fans of Geography.
🗿 Artifacts That “Shouldn’t” Exist: Across the world, archaeologists have uncovered strange objects that seem wildly out of place, such as ancient batteries, mysterious carvings, and tools that appear far too advanced for their time. These are known as Out-of-Place Artifacts, and they spark fierce debate between mainstream historians and fringe theorists. Are they misunderstood, misdated … or something more? This article is perfect if you like History or Archaeology.
👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…
Wednesday 4th February
Thursday 5th February
Monday 9th February
🗳️ Poll
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That’s it for this week! We’d like to thank this week’s writer: Rob Folkard.
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