From Aversion to Obsession: A Writer's Journey into Biology

2025-04-22
From Aversion to Obsession: A Writer's Journey into Biology

The author once loathed biology, finding it a dry recitation of facts. However, after reading Elizabeth Kolbert's *The Sixth Extinction* and Siddhartha Mukherjee's *The Gene*, he was captivated by the engaging stories and masterful writing, completely changing his perspective on the subject. He embarked on a journey of extensive reading, watching videos, and even taking a bioinformatics course. This experience led him to realize the power of great science writing to transform scientific discoveries into compelling narratives, igniting interest in science. Ultimately, he created Newt Interactive, a website dedicated to making biology accessible to the public through interactive articles and simulators, aiming to share the wonder of biology with a wider audience.

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Reversing Biological Time: Shinya Yamanaka and iPS Cells

2025-04-17
Reversing Biological Time: Shinya Yamanaka and iPS Cells

This article recounts the journey of Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka, who, driven by his father's death from an incurable disease, transitioned from orthopedic surgery to medical research. Through ingenious experimentation and relentless perseverance, he successfully reprogrammed adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), a groundbreaking achievement that earned him the Nobel Prize and revolutionized disease research and treatment. The article details the scientific process, highlighting the challenges and rigorous validation required to establish the iPS cell's capabilities.

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