Category: virus

Why Not One More? 500 Words – Day 036 – Why Not One More? -902-

“Why not one more?” the atheist will say. We no longer believe in the countless gods and supernatural beings that mankind has previously believed in at various times throughout history to explain natural phenomena, yet one True God must remain?

Throughout history, various cultures have personified natural phenomena as gods, goddesses, and demons. Though these entities are no longer in vogue, they illustrate how previous generations personified natural elements and unseen phenomena to explain and relate to the world and universe around them.

Whatever happened to Sol, the Roman sun god? An important belief to explain the cycle of day and night, agriculture, and life.

Another example of this is demonology, which, for the most part, is no longer in vogue as it has been supplanted by the term virus. Yet, they both function the same way in that they both need an organic host to function. Ironically, today’s virus is still something that has yet to be viewed by the human eye. It is simply an updated term to describe the same phenomena.

Whatever happened to the Greek god Zeus? Zeus, the god of sky, thunder, and lightning associated with natural phenomena such as storms.

Some might argue that we can see them with an electron microscope, and that is the common belief. However, the term virus and people’s belief in it go back many hundreds of years before German scientists Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll invented the first electron microscope in 1931.

How could it then be that we knew about something long before the invention of the device necessary to supposedly view them or even verify their existence? Because it was simply an assumption that they MUST exist, otherwise how can we explain supposed viral activity in a world where we no longer believe that demons infect a host cell.

Whatever happened to the Norse god Thor? He was the god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, and the protection of mankind.

You see, mankind has always invoked the supernatural to explain the unseen natural, and we still do it today. Today’s virology is no different from yesterday’s demonology, yet no one doubts the existence of viruses.

As long as there are questions we cannot answer and phenomena we can not look upon and say, “Aha! There it is. There is the answer,” we will continue to use terms in an anthropomorphic manner as placeholders for our unfathomable beliefs.

Rewritten in a more poetic form with the help of ChatGPT

Why Not One More?

“Why not one more?” says the atheist, with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. We’ve cast off the multitude of gods and supernatural beings that once populated our ancestors’ world, each explaining the inexplicable in their own whimsical way. Yet, here we stand, clinging to the notion of one True God as if it were a life raft in a sea of disbelief. Why not one more?

Throughout the annals of history, humanity has dressed up the forces of nature in costumes of gods, goddesses, and demons. These divine actors have exited stage left, but they remind us of how our forebears tried to make sense of the world’s grand theater. Take Sol, the Roman sun god, for instance. Once upon a time, Sol was the grand puppeteer of day and night, the overseer of crops and life itself. But where is Sol now? Relegated to the dusty pages of myth. Why not one more?

Consider demonology, that erstwhile science of devils and imps, which has now been replaced by the term virus. Ah, yes, the virus—today’s invisible menace, lurking in the shadows, needing a host just like those old demons did. The irony is rich, for a virus, like a demon, cannot be seen with the naked eye. It’s merely a modern name for an ancient mystery.

And what of Zeus, the mighty Greek god of sky, thunder, and lightning? Zeus who hurled bolts from Olympus and caused storms to rage. Zeus, who explained the tempestuous tantrums of nature. And yet, Zeus too has faded into legend. Why not one more?

Some clever fellow might argue that we can see viruses with an electron microscope, a marvel of science. But hold on—didn’t the term virus exist long before Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll concocted their marvelous contraption in 1931? How, pray tell, did we know of these tiny invaders long before we had the means to spy on them? It was pure assumption based on speculation, a leap of faith in the unseen, much like the belief in demons of old.

And let’s not forget Thor, the Norse god of thunder, lightning, and oak trees, protector of mankind. Thor, with his mighty hammer, once explained the booming thunder and flashing lightning that spooked our ancestors. Why not one more?

You see, dear reader, mankind has always woven tales of the supernatural to cloak the mysteries of the natural world. Even today, with our talk of viruses, we are no different from those ancient storytellers. We dress up our ignorance in the garb of science, yet the essence remains the same. As long as there are questions without answers and phenomena that elude our gaze, we will continue to anthropomorphize, name the nameless, and believe in the unseen.

In the end, we are but players on the same old stage, reciting new lines but telling the same old story and so again, I ask, why not one more?

500 Words – Day 027 – Leukocytic Lifesavers & Endocytosis, Phagocytosis, and Pinocytosis -720-

What is a leukocyte? A Leukocyte is a colorless cell that circulates throughout our vascular system and other bodily fluids that are custom built by the human body uniquely for each human to act against invaders, both foreign and domestic. We oftentimes simply refer to them as white blood cells. They are all amoeboid cells with a nucleus.

There are many players in this immune system of cells. Eosinophils, Basophils, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes.

They do things like break down bacteria through a process called endocytosis, or cell eating. These are devouring cells. That is their job.

Some create antibodies to deactivate viruses, bacteria, and other things that could do harm. Some digest pathogenic fungi and bacteria through the process of phagocytosis(cell eating). Some of these are there to sound the sirens when there is something that needs to be addressed. Some help with allergic responses. And some kill cancer cells.

There are many players in this human army of white blood cells that help keep us healthy and well. And they are made in the marrow of our blood and once fully grown they are energetic little suckers ready to do the job they were created to do. These players ingest nutrients via that funny-sounding word, phagocytosis.

And they can drink too. That is called pinocytosis, sometimes called fluid-endocytosis. A means by which our cells ingest things like nutrients and hydration from around the cell. Also, a process that is used for cleansing and clearing extracellular fluids which are part of our immune system’s surveillance function.

We are not simply feeding ourselves when we put food in our mouths. It is our cells that we are ultimately feeding which is what makes the act of living a possibility. And the pleasures we experience when eating are by no means the primary value of the act, though it is a bonus for sure. And with all these things considered, we should be much more mindful about the things we are putting in our mouths.

This brings me to probably the most important point in mentioning all of this. The capturing of pathogenic and unknown substances that endanger the human organism. When these immune cells encounter something that is not a beneficial part of the overall function of the creature, they go to work eating them. Breaking down harmful things into less toxic substances for reuse or clearance including our own bodily structures that have gone beyond their useful utilitarian functions.

If you have ever heard the words autophagy or senescence you may already be familiar with this process by which our cells simply digest themselves. All of these processes work together for the overall good and homeostasis of the larger overall lifeform. Us.

So what are these lovely white blood cells being created for you ask? Like I said at the beginning of this essay. They act against invaders, both foreign and domestic. But they also work against injury caused by the foods we eat.

Ever heard of autoimmune disorders? Two different forms are abnormally low activity and then there is overactivity. Both are bad. One decreases the ability of the body to fight invaders(low), and the other attacks the body as though it is the foreign invader.

Would it be so strange to imagine your body fighting back against you if you are the one causing harm by the kind of lifestyle you are living? And it could be something you consider beneficial, like exercising a lot. Or something a little more obvious like eating fast food every day, eating carcinogenic foods, drinking, smoking, drugs, etc.

“processed meat causes cancer. Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, it is connected specifically to colorectal and stomach cancer. Examples of processed meats that have carcinogenic properties include: Frankfurter hotdogs, ham, sausages, corned beef, beef jerky and canned or lunch meat.”

“Only marginally better for us than processed meat, red meat is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen, “probably carcinogenic to humans”. The strongest link between eating red meat and cancer is colorectal cancer, however, there is also evidence of links to both pancreatic and prostate cancer.”

https://www.aetnainternational.com/en/about-us/explore/fit-for-duty-corporate-wellness/cancer-causing-foods-cancer-fighting-foods.html

Should we really be shocked that our body would look out for its own best interest even when we don’t in ignorance?

Our body has one goal. Getting itself as far down the road as possible.