Beyond the Crutch: A Remarkable Journey from support to mobility
We often use the word crutch rather unkindly. A habit becomes “a crutch”; an easy solution is dismissed as “just a crutch.” The metaphor suggests weakness or dependence, and it…
Corn and wheat, two rivals on the modern plate
For thousands of years, wheat and corn have competed without actually meeting. Wheat built civilizations across Eurasia and North Africa. Corn—or, more properly, maize—did much the same across the Americas.…
From the Empty Bowl to the Full Harvest: Portrayal of Hunger in Postage Stamps
Hunger is difficult to portray Postage stamps usually depict the positive, and shy away from negative emotions. Hence, hope is more frequent theme, than despair. Further, hunger is difficult to…
Friedrich Loeffler: How a physician’s curiosity helped create virology
Imagine being told that an infectious disease is caused by something that cannot be seen, cannot be grown by the methods available to you, and can pass through a filter…
From pressure to the first cry and Uruguayan link
Making the Invisible Visible Uruguay is famous for football and Cowboys. So it was intriguing when I came across two postage stamps from the country, issued in 1998 celebrating its…
The Evolution and Use of Laser Technology in Healthcare
When most of us hear the word laser, we may think of science-fiction movies, futuristic weapons, or a bright red beam of light. But lasers have quietly become an important…
When every urine was destined to be boiled
As a doctor in training, one of my tasks was to boil urine. Medical wards used to have a row of glass test-tubes to hold urine, and every morning we…
Carotenoids, Vitamin A and substances that give plants its colors
Fruits and flowers are colorful, quite unlike leaves that have shades of green. While green color comes from chlorophyll; shades of orange, yellow, and red come from carotenoids and betalains;…
Gluten Sensitivity: When Wheat Withers you down
Gluten causes a withering disease Gluten, is a naturally acting protein. It is present in wheat, and some other grains such as barley, rye and even in oats. We have…
Argentinian medics, depicted in its postage stamps
Argentina (currently known as Argentine Republic) was established as a Spanish colonial territory. In 1816, the country declared its independence. Named after a precious metal, silver the country is well…