The DemystifySci Podcast

The Electric Universe Inside You - Dr. Michael Hughes, DemystifySci #338

Apr 24, 2025
In this episode, Dr. Michael Hughes, a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, delves into the fascinating role of water in living systems. He reveals how water acts as an information storage medium, challenging traditional views of biology. Discussing concepts like liquid crystalline phases and hydration shells, Hughes connects water dynamics to health and disease, proposing a novel approach to understanding cellular functions. His insights on metabolism, environmental influences, and the interplay between genetics and health encourage a rethinking of wellness strategies.
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INSIGHT

Water as Electric Universe

  • Water inside the body acts like an electric universe, analogous to an aether mediating biological processes.
  • Convection, rather than mere diffusion, dominates molecular transport in cells, enhancing metabolic efficiency.
INSIGHT

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

  • Cells use liquid-liquid phase separation to organize proteins and molecules without membranes.
  • Hydration shells around molecules govern compatibility and drive phase separation, aiding cellular compartmentalization.
INSIGHT

Metabolism as Mass Flow

  • Metabolism is a flow of mass through the cell driven by osmotic and pH gradients, kept far from equilibrium.
  • The cell's energy derives from maintaining these gradients that enable nutrient intake and waste removal.
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