What is Life?

If you did not already know, America's healthcare system does not cover eastern medicinal treatments (e.g. ginseng roots for your tea). Yet, before the creation of the our medical system (approximately the 1920s), many Americans were relying on traditional methods. That makes me think, why doesn't the healthcare system cover these types of remedies? Well, in a billion dollar industry that knows that these remedies can work, the alternative is not the most popular way to make money. However, these treatments do not always work. What do you think though? Does it hurt to cover people who want to practice herbal medicine?

Recently in my English class, we were watching a TedTalk by Jack Andraka who at the age of 15, found an affordable method to cure cancer. To sum Andraka's story up, he had a close family member who died due to pancreatic cancer. As a result of this devastation, he was motivated to research why deaths due to pancreatic cancer were so fatal. After months of research in his biology class, he discovered a way to detect the cancer. However, he needed funding to further his investigation, causing Andraka to email 200 John Hopkins University professors to let him use conduct his experiments in one of their labs as well as receive funds. After receiving only 1 "yes" from a skeptical professor, he was put on trial as to how he would proceed in his exploration. After only 7 months of research, he created a paper that would detect a specific allele that Andraka saw in the cancer he was observing -- an allele that only occurred during the early stages of cancer and thus, preventing it in its early stages. The point I am trying to make here, is that if a 15 year-young man was able to find an inexpensive option to testing cancer, why is there such a high amount of people every year dying due to the lack of early detection. The reason: the health system. America's health system is a billion dollar industry that thrives off of making money, not losing it. Solutions to detecting cancer in its early stages will only decrease profits and thus, not a favorable solution. America's healthcare system is the very thing that stands in the way of curing loved ones and saving lives; now I must ask you, is this ethically right? Hopefully, future public health graduates will figure out the answer and do something to change the system; it's about time. In fact, society as a whole of all ages should be allowed to change this corrupt, money-focused mini-economy. Starting clubs or hosting formal discussions about the topic in one's own community is a fantastic way to start -- so get started! What's holding you back?

Like the name suggests, this forum is about ongoing news in our world that pertains to the category of health and young scientists. However, don't let that restrict you. Here, we discuss controversies in the sciences, emerging geniuses, what the public should have knowledge of when making their health-care decisions, etc. THIS is where you can deviate from your high-school textbooks; initiate debates revolving health; and shine a light on some fresh new minds in the scientific realm.