In this 20th episode of Morning Sign In, Vanessa Lei and Laura Hernandez talk about how space travel affects the human body, how Artemis II protects its crew, and how research conducted in space could improve healthcare for everybody here on Earth! 

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Vanessa Lei and Nicole Holmes

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this episode of Morning Sign In, we explore how invisible illnesses are often misunderstood in everyday life and consequently get underrepresented in medical data. Through chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and other conditions, we discuss how incomplete records can shape research, funding, and public awareness.

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this brief Episode 18 of Morning Sign In, Safina Abramova and Nicole Holmes discuss how organ matching works, what life is like on the transplant waiting list, common donation myths, and how you can become an organ donor.

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Safina Abramova and Nicole Holmes

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In Episode 17 of Morning Sign In, Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes discuss the growing role of AI in healthcare, from diagnosis and drug discovery to chatbots and self-diagnosis. They explore its potential benefits alongside concerns about bias, medical misinformation, overreliance, patient privacy, and accountability when AI gets it wrong.

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this 16th episode of Morning Sign In, Safina Abramova and Nicole Holmes explore why several Los Angeles County beaches have received bacterial warnings, what health officials test for, and what contaminated water can contain. We also discuss the 72-hour rule after rainfall and how wet sand, wildfires, and climate change can affect coastal bacteria.

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Safina Abramova and Nicole Holmes

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this 15th episode of Morning Sign In, Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes discuss burnout, chronic stress, and how social media affects attention, motivation, sleep, and self-comparison. We explore why scrolling can feel like rest without providing real recovery, and why it often leaves us feeling “tired but wired.”

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this 14th episode of Morning Sign In, Laura Hernandez is joined by special guest Megan Downing, a psychology student who researches autism. We talk about what autism can look like in adulthood and on college campuses, why the spectrum matters, common myths and misunderstandings, masking and burnout, communication differences, friendships, and how students can better support autistic peers.

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez

Speakers: Laura Hernandez, Guest; Megan Downing

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/

In this thirteenth episode of Morning Sign In, Morning Sign Out (MSO) members Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes explore pancreatic cancer, a disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages. We break down and talk about the role of the pancreas in digestion and blood sugar regulation, and about how cancer disrupts these essential functions. This episode highlights common symptoms, risk factors, and why pancreatic cancer is so often diagnosed late. We also talk about what to watch for, how it is diagnosed, and why awareness and early action can make a meaningful difference! 

Audio Editing: Laura Hernandez Speakers: Laura Hernandez, Outreach Coordinator; Nicole Holmes

MSO Website: https://msoatucla.org/

In the twelfth episode of Morning Sign In, Morning Sign Out (MSO), members Laura Hernandez and Nicole Holmes explore nondisjunction, which is a cellular error that happens during cell division when chromosomes fail to separate properly. We break down how this can lead to conditions like Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), as well as other chromosomal variations such as Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome.

We also talk about why nondisjunction is the leading cause of early miscarriage, and how advances in genetic screening, like non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), have contributed to the way we understand fetal health. Beyond the biology, we discuss the ethical questions surrounding genetic testing and what it means for how society views and supports individuals with chromosomal differences.

Audio Editing: Laura HernandezSpeakers: Laura Hernandez, Outreach Coordinator; Nicole Holmes

MSO Website: https://msoatucla.org/

In the eleventh episode of Morning Sign In, Morning Sign Out (MSO), members Laura Hernandez and Safina Abramova explore the gut microbiome, which is composed of trillions of microorganisms–bacteria, fungi, and viruses–living inside your gut. We delve into the importance of maintaining a diverse microbiome and how specific dietary choices can improve it. Additionally, we examine the gut-brain connection, highlighting that gut composition can influence mood and behavior.

Audio Editing: Vanessa Lei

Speakers: Laura Hernandez, Outreach Coordinator; Safina Abramova

MSO Website:

https://msoatucla.org/