The connection between two neurons, called a synapse, allows information to flow from one brain cell to the next. Healthy synapses enable us to think, learn, and make memories. However, the exact process for creating and stabilizing new synapses are poorly understood.

Industrial farming practices often deplete the soil of important nutrients and minerals, leaving farmers to rely on artificial fertilizers to support plant growth. In fact, fertilizer use has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, but this comes with serious consequences. Fertilizer production consumes massive amounts of energy, and its use pollutes the water, air, and land.

Across the body, tiny bean-shaped structures called mitochondria turn the food we eat into usable energy. This cellular-level metabolism is especially important in muscle cells, which require a lot of fuel to power our movement. However, 1 in 5,000 people are born with dysfunctional mitochondria, and many others develop metabolic dysfunction later in life in association with aging or diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), heart disease, and dementia.