Immune System, features and articles | Educational Science

Apr 1, 2021

Chemical found in 1,000 processed foods may harm the immune system

Two chemicals that are commonly found in processed foods may harm the immune system, according to a new study. The chemicals are the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), found in Kellogg's Pop-Tarts, Cheez-Its and more than 1,000 other foods; and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals that can leach...

Sep 14, 2021

How 'Spider-Man' and 'Pac-Man' immune cells team up to fight invasive bacteria

In the ultimate superhero crossover, Spider-Man-like immune cells sling webs to capture invasive bacteria and keep those supervillains restrained until Pac-Man-like cells come to gobble them up, a new study shows. The research was conducted in mice and mouse cells, but it still may help to explain how these Spider-Man...

May 12, 2022

Scientists finally have proof of mysterious immune cell in humans

While working to map every cell in the human body, scientists uncovered an elusive type of immune cell that first emerges in the womb. The existence of such cells in humans has been hotly debated — until now. These mysterious cells, known as B-1 cells, were first discovered in mice...

Oct 18, 2022

Immune System: Diseases, Disorders & Function

The role of the immune system — a collection of structures and processes within the body — is to protect against disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, and distinguishes them from the body's...

Nov 24, 2023

An immunologist explains why the immune system works best when balanced, not 'boosted'

For immune health, some influencers seem to think the Goldilocks philosophy of just right is overrated. Why settle for less immunity when you can have more? Many social media posts push supplements and other life hacks that boost your immune system to keep you healthy and fend off illness. However,...

Dec 10, 2023

'If you don't have inflammation, then you'll die': How scientists are reprogramming the body's natural superpower

Inflammation is one of the body's superpowers. It helps us fight off infections and heal wounds. If you don't have inflammation, then you'll die, Ed Rainger, a professor who studies chronic inflammation at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told Live Science. It's as simple as that. But if...

Dec 10, 2023

Inflammation is a 'mismatch between our evolutionary history and modern environment,' says immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov

Inflammation is the new evil. Let me explain. You might think inflammation isn't really THAT big of a deal…but trust me when I say it is. Scan social media and you'll easily find content that portrays inflammation as a villain. In every bookstore you'll find at least one anti-inflammatory diet...

Dec 29, 2023

Why is snot sticky?

Most of the time, you probably barely notice the mucus in your nose. But when you have a cold or seasonal allergies, the glue-like goo that floods your nostrils suddenly makes breathing laborious and consumes your thoughts. But have you ever wondered why snot is so remarkably sticky? Mucus may...

Feb 2, 2024

Women have 4 times men's rate of autoimmune disease. The X chromosome may be to blame.

Women are up to four times more likely than men to be affected by autoimmune disease, conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. Now, scientists think they know why: Women's outsized risk may be tied to how the body controls its X chromosomes. Humans have...