FEATURE documentary and book review SCIENCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY REVIEW : CHASING CORAL ►BY CORY WU A pristine bed of corals shimmers pure white, surrounded by silence. Water calmly brushes over these stagnant structures, with no other life in sight. This seemingly beautiful scene is quite deceiving, as it depicts a coral graveyard after a mass bleaching event. The vivid, vibrant colors of ordinary corals have been usurped by a sickening white, and entire schools of fish that once relied on the coral have disappeared. Over just a two-month period, an entire coral reef ecosystem has been destroyed. The culprit? An increase in the average ocean temperature by two degrees Celsius. While two degrees seems minimal, even slight increases in ocean temperature can wipe out entire reefs. Heat waves cause coral to eject their main food source, symbiotic algae, and lose their vivid colors. Thus, begins the first stage of death for the coral: coral bleaching. Jeff Orlowski, director of the award-winning documentary “Chasing Ice,” recently released a follow-up documentary called “Chasing Coral,” which focuses on a lesser-known danger of climate change: coral bleaching. The film follows a team of divers who endeavor to bring the realities of climate change and coral bleaching to the public. Viewers follow the divers as they continue the daily struggle of watching beautiful fields of coral slowly wither away. The film truly excels at the art of “show, don’t tell.” Shocking facts are coupled immediately with haunting imagery. Salient side-by-side comparisons of coral before and after bleaching in the documentary illustrate how the bustling, lively nature of coral reefs is destroyed by BOOK REVIEW: THE TELOMERASE REVOLUTION ►BY ROBERT LUO Death is an inevitable consequence of the passage of time. This notion underlies much of our literature and films, and even affects the choices we make in everyday life. Death and poor health plague our futures. But what if there were an elixir that might allow us to live even longer than today’s centenarians—a life devoid of age-related illnesses, like Alzheimer’s? It might sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but some scientists and physicians argue that sometime in the future, we could turn science fiction into reality. One of these physicians is Michael Fossel, MD-PhD and a professor of clinical medicine at Michigan State University, who studies the science of aging. In his book, The Telomerase Revolution, Fossel introduces telomerase as a component in treating illnesses like heart disease and dementia—and even in reversing aging itself. Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs telomeres, the regions at the ends of chromosomes. Within the last two decades, scientists have found that the shortening of telomeres causes cellular aging, thus giving rise to the telomere theory of aging. In the book, Fossel excellently explains the elegance of this theory. He contextualizes the theory with respect to other theories of aging—vitalist, hormonal, and genetic theories, amongst others—and proposes a strong unifying argument for telomeres as a cause of aging. Poignantly, Fossel illustrates the powerful implications of the telomere theory of aging; by activating telomerase in lab mice, signs of aging can not only bleaching, leaving only foreign algae to drape the skeletal remains of the coral. “Chasing Coral” masterfully illustrates the emotional impact coral bleaching can have on people, which is particularly apparent when the divers are visibly shaken by the destruction they photograph daily. In its middle, the film’s pacing becomes somewhat sluggish. It often focuses too deeply on the methodology of capturing images of coral, instead of analyzing the process of bleaching or the methods through which corals support ecosystems. The documentary also jumps between the perspectives of multiple people too quickly at times, which can detract from the significant experiences of each person. Still, the climax and ending masterfully cinch the documentary together by reassuring viewers of the many ways we can contribute in the fight against climate change. The film’s seamless combination of informative commentary and engaging storytelling make “Chasing Coral” not only an entertaining watch, but a necessary one to understand the full threat climate change already poses to our environment. be stopped, but also reversed. Through telomerase therapy, Fossel argues, humans have the potential to not only live longer, but also live more healthily. Although Fossel explains the effects of telomere shortening on the human body, he only does so on a surface level. Those curious about mechanistic explanations will be scratching their heads searching for deeper answers. Further, Fossel goes beyond the biology of telomerase to explain the highs and lows of telomerase therapy, often muddled in politics or stalled by lack of financial support. Finally, Fossel discusses the societal implications of telomerase therapy. How will we value life when we can all live into old age? To those curious about telomerase therapy and its potentially earth-shaking implications, this book is definitely worth a read. While the full implications of the purported “telomerase revolution” are still speculative, the book ends with a commentary about what we can currently do to fight the negative effects of aging. According to Fossel, the best answers are often the most simple: good diet, exercise, and meditation. 38 Yale Scientific Magazine October 2017 www.yalescientific.org
cartoon FEATURE BEFORE/AFTER ►BY LISA WU Interested in writing for Contact us at ysm@yale.edu!
Change language