World Science
Science Breakthroughs to Affect Us in 2018
There is always something new happening in the world of science and 2018 has been no exception. We are less than half way through the year, and already there have been some very notable achievements in the science community. Here are just a few of the breakthroughs to continue to watch this year.
Transferring memory to snails: In an attempt to better understand memory, scientists have successfully transferred snail memory to other snails using extracted RNA. This could mean that not all memories are encoded in the brain, specifically those that induce an involuntary defense response. It is still unknown how this relates to human memories but is something to watch in the coming years.
Alzheimer’s breakthrough: Scientists have discovered a way to change the structure of the protein that seems to promote Alzheimer’s disease. This does not necessarily mean a cure right away, because its still unknown how to access these proteins in a patient, but it is definitely a breakthrough towards finding a cure.e. It is still unknown how this relates to human memories but is something to watch in the coming years.
Anti-aging in mice: Scientists in Boston have revealed they have found a way to reverse the aging process in mice by finding a way to boost NAD levels. This made certain cells young again and increased the overall health of the mice. If this study can be replicated on human subjects, it will be able to greatly reduce the risk of age related illness such as cancer.
Male birth control: Scientists in Seattle Washington have successfully created a male birth control pill that uses hormones to suppress sperm production. This pill can be taken once a day and avoids many of the problems in previous pills caused. Subjects reported no side effects and this pill will be available to general public soon
At home cancer risk screening: Genetic tests to test for risk of cancers are very beneficial, but 
very expensive. The FDA have a released an at home genetic test to test for a person’s risk for breast and ovarian cancers. These tests save time and money and allow a person to talk to their doctor about ways to lower their risk and recognize early warning signs. Although these tests only test for three of the mutations that cause cancer, it’s a big first step on being able to get ahead of cancer.
