Dive deep into the molecular world with us. The Reagent is where biochemistry enthusiasts explore the intersection of biology and chemistry. Written by students, for students, we aim to connect the bridge between everyday life and the biochemistry behind it.
Have you ever gone on your phone for 5 minutes and ended up scrolling for an hour? I certainly have. These behaviours aren’t random, they are linked to how the brain is wired. One of the chemicals associated with this is dopamine. This is a hormone which is involved in motivation, learning and habits not just pleasure, it can affect our everyday behaviour.
Every year, an estimated 100-400 million people are infected with dengue virus worldwide, with about 400,000 annual deaths. It is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases on the planet, fuelled by urbanisation and climate change pushing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector, into new territories. However, despite its scale, the tools available to fight dengue have remained frustratingly limited. Vaccines have struggled to work reliably across all four dengue serotypes, chemical repellents offer only modest protection, and community-based source reduction has shown little sustained impact in clinical trials. Scientists needed a fundamentally new approach.
Bee stings are far more common than people realise. Despite having never been stung myself, around 75% of Americans report being stung at least once in their lifetime, and there are an average 72 deaths annually in the US from hornet, wasp, and bee stings combined. Globally, around 3% of the world's population experience anaphylaxis in response to insect stings, with one of those people being Edmund Bridgerton from the beloved period drama. However, for the other 97%, bee stings mean nothing more than a few hours of swelling and localised pain.
We are two biochemistry enthusiasts and students, driven by a shared passion for exploring the intricate world of molecular science. Our blog, The Reagent, is designed for curious minds and fellow science lovers. Run by Chloe Tohme and Emily Jong, we seek to apply everyday life and pop culture into the subjects that we learn in school.
