Written by: Teniola Obayomi Edited by: Farzana Zane, Riya Raina, Shivani Patel, and Janelle Smith Illustrated by: Elvan Eren According to my aunt, my brother’s first word was cheese—a far cry from the usual “mama” or “dada.” When she told us this for the first time, I remember rolling on the floor laughing, my toddler brain dismissing it. I knew that my little brother liked to watch us eat Cheetos, but how could he know cheese  better than his parents?  While we debated the f

Written by: Jennifer Shon Edited by: Spencer Diep, Serena Chen, Daniel Siahaan, and Amanda Benneh Illustrated by: Julia Yelan Wang Introduction Imagine that the simplest touch, brushing against one’s clothing, kneeling down for a prayer, or even a scratch from a dog, could trigger blistering and bleeding wounds. That is everyday life for people with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of rare genetic disorders in which the skin and mucous membranes tear or blister at the slig

Written by: Brandon Sagram Edited by: Jeffrey Lin, Aaron Springer, Zoee Drimmer, and Amanda Benneh Illustrated by: Meher Lakdawala Introduction Cognitive impairment is a term that encompasses a range of alterations across different domains of cognition [1]. Specific domains affected by cognitive impairment include difficulties with behavior, memory, learning, concentration, communication, emotional regulation, and more [1]. Conditions often discussed under the umbrella of cog

Written by: Eleanor McKown Edited by: Amanda Benneh, Wajiha Moin, Anusha Raghunathan, and Alanna Xue Illustrated by: Teniola Obayomi Introduction to POTS For some people, what seems like a simple movement, going from sitting to standing, can trigger a wave of dizziness, a sudden rush of heat, or a pulse that feels like it is sprinting. Many do not know that this everyday struggle has a name. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is defined as an autonomic disorder

Written by: Akash Gupta Edited by: Nour Abou-Izzeddine, Gerard Murillo, Azeemah Odusanya, and Alanna Xue Illustrated by: Jegg Yoon Introduction Sound was previously perceived solely through hearing. Subsequently, the field of medicine revealed methods to visualize sound, converting reflected echoes into diagnostic imagery via ultrasound. In contemporary times, biomedical engineering is once again transforming the concept of sound, this time as a therapeutic approach. Focused

Written by: Aleeza Riaz Edited by: Ray Zhang In 2002, a report from El Salvador stunned the global nephrology community. Among young men from certain coastal areas, there was a high incidence of idiopathic, or spontaneously arising, chronic kidney disease (CKD) [1]. This mystifying condition, typically endemic to El Salvador’s west coast, was also prevalent in other agricultural populations in Central America. The proposed causes? Exposure to high temperatures, chronic dehydr

Written by: Phoebe Matthew Edited by: Celine Cotran, Ava Hargrave, Mali Gilbert, Ellie Sung, and Jade Kim Illustrated by: Ruiqi Wang Introduction Over 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease [1]. By 2050, the prevalence of dementia is projected to triple across the world [1]. Alzheimer's is not only extremely debilitating but also one of the leading causes of death in older individuals. Despite our constant scientific advances, the deaths due to Alzheimer’s di

Written by: Omar ElDimassi Edited by: Yasuko Yoshida, Ariel Yu, Kristine Chung, Emily Wang, Kayla Joseph Illustrated by: Gabe Cruz Introduction Have you ever asked yourself why we get the cold every winter season? Respiratory viral infections are among the most common illnesses affecting humans, ranging from mild colds to severe diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. These infections primarily target the respiratory tract, the nose, throat, and lungs, and are typically spre

Written by: Nick Calvey Edited by: Sherry Guo, Bailey Van, Emily Choi, Jesslyn Chen, Kayla Joseph Illustrated by: Gefen Mor Introduction In the past decade, research on the gut microbiome has exploded, not only revealing its flexibility, but the significant influence it can have on our internal biology. In 2014, a landmark study in the Nature journal demonstrated that switching to an all-animal or all-plant diet could reshape an individual’s gut microbiome in as little as fiv