Authored by: Sophia Li Art by: Mia Hsu Every American, no matter their race, gender, age, class, or all else, will be touched by the actions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS oversees agencies that pay for medical care for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and disabled, protects our population against domestic and international health threats, and oversees the regulation of our food and pharmaceutical products [1]. Stemming from its humble be

Authored by: Skye Romo Art by: Vanessa Chen Hsieh In early 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court declared that frozen embryos are legally children, a ruling that caused several fertility clinics to halt in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures almost overnight (NPR, 2024). Appointments were canceled, doctors feared lawsuits or even criminal charges, and national headlines erupted. While the legal debate over when life begins has captured the public's attention, a quieter scientific

Authored by: Sicheng Chen Art by: Vanessa Chen Hsieh Although the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, many people still have lingering questions about the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines: How do they confer immunity? Where do they go once inside our bodies?  While the first question has been widely discussed, the second is often overlooked. For many, it remains unclear how the mRNA is packaged and delivered—a process that lies at the heart of how these vaccines work. Understanding t