Deep dive into the human body
Doors open at 18:30. Please note the bar only accepts cash.
The progresses of modern medicine seem quick and never-ending. But how "modern" can we actually call ourselves when we find ourselves relying on ancient techniques involving venoms? Why do our feet swell when we sit in a plane for hours and how dangerous is that? And how close have we come to ending ageing? Join us on a journey inside the human body and learn a few things about yourself! These are also great conversation starters for dinner parties in case you are rusty after 2 years of pandemic (Disclaimer: Results may vary. Pint of Science shall not be liable for any social damage caused by you at dinner parties).
The good, the bad and the ugly: From animal venoms to medicines
Ana Cristina N. Freitas
Post-doctoral fellow
VIB-KU Leuven
We may think of spiders, snakes, scorpions, sea snails (yes, snails!) as very dangerous, scary, or even disgusting animals. However, these creepy creatures also have a bright side. Venomous animals have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. What about nowadays? Do we still use venoms to treat human illness, or was this a thing of the past? With this talk, I will try to convince you that these horrifying creatures can be actually lifesaving.
Ending ageing: is immortality within reach?
Jana Raman
PhD student
KU Leuven
All top global deadly diseases, such as cancer, dementia and heart disease, have 1 common denominator: ageing. We can only imagine the dramatic effects on human health and disease if we could put an end to the ageing process. As we speak scientists are in the lab extending lifespans and preventing ageing in short-lived animals, but how close are we to actually reaching human immortality?
The Milky vessels, a whole galaxy in our body
Ljuba Ponomarev
PhD student
KU Leuven
A long time ago, in a universe far far away, two interconnected galaxies were found in our body. The first is made of blood vessels necessary for human life. The second is the milky vessels. These are the important co-workers of the blood vessels, because they transport a special fluid coming from the space between our organs to the blood vessels. Without the second galaxy, this special fluid stays between our organs causing the body to swell. This swelling is very painful. Understanding these milky vessels is the first step in the search for new therapies against body swelling.