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From Nobel Prize to Sugary Drinks: A 2025 Science Wrap on Health

Abeer Asif
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From Nobel Prize to Sugary Drinks: A 2025 Science Wrap on Health

When we think of a year wrap, we often think of Spotify Wrap, or maybe, if you’re more niche, LinkedIn or Duolingo wraps. In Science Discoveries 2025, however, the wrap looks very different.
Here, we give you our top 3 research wraps. From the immunology discovery that won the researchers a Nobel Prize, to stopping cancer in its tracks, to the drastic rise of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases because of sugary drinks.

The Immunology Discovery that Won the 2025 Nobel Prize!

Science Discoveries 2025
From left: Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025. Illustration: Niklas Elmehed for Nobel Prize Outreach

The word “immunology” may bring up the instinct to skim the topic and move on to the next interesting read, but hear me out! Immunology is the study of the immune system, which is crucial to keeping you alive!
Think about it for a second. Isn’t it crazy how the immune system, essentially the security guards, can attack invaders while still recognizing and preventing damage to the body’s own cells?

When this fails to happen, autoimmune diseases arise. The term may seem unfamiliar to many, but diseases like type 1 diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc., are all autoimmune conditions, and they affect around one in ten people.
You probably know someone with these diseases. If yes, you also know that a cure is distant and difficult. However, a recent discovery has brought that dream much closer.

Key Discoveries in Immune Regulation

Mary Brunkow, Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington; Fred Ramsdell, Sonoma Biotherapeutics in Seattle, Washington; and Shimon Sakaguchi, University of Osaka in Suita, Japan, made a series of discoveries to solve this mystery.

This story starts with an unfortunate strain of mice termed the scurfy mouse, found in 1949. This mouse had an abnormal, unidentified X chromosome–linked mutation that causes severe autoimmune disease. This X-linked mutation meant that mice with the typical XY chromosomes were unable to survive, but females (XX) with a defective and a normal copy of the gene could survive.

This mouse was the reason we now understand that the Y chromosome is linked to maleness and was among the first discoveries on sex-linked genes. However, the reason for the abnormality was unknown, so the researchers kept the breed painstakingly alive for 300 generations.

This mutation was later found to be in Foxp3, which acts as a regulatory gene that, when mutated, fails to guide immune cells to the appropriate response. The immune cells in question are the T-regulatory cells (Tregs), which help suppress an overactive immune response. If Foxp3 is mutated, it is unable to tell the T-regulatory cells how to function, leading to a failed ‘brake’ response and an inability to prevent an overactive immune response.

Science Discoveries 2025
The Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, Ill. Photo, Mattias Karlén 2025

Their discovery has been critical in understanding common diseases and is being used to discover new remedies for autoimmune diseases like lupus, type 1 diabetes, arthritis, etc.

Freezing Cancer Cells in their Tracks

“CELL”- The word brings images from class 6; a cell is a circular structure with a nucleus and different organelles that it holds in its tiny world. However, one may forget that there are different types of cells, each with its own unique shape—some thin and extended like neurons, or some flat and irregularly shaped like skin cells. These cells seem almost permanent in shape, but they are not the immobile blobs that we think they are.

How do cells move and adapt?

What makes them special is that they are able to move, alter their structure, and respond to their environment.
They do this with an internal cytoskeleton, which, much like our own, adds stability and structure. However, this cellular cytoskeleton isn’t made of calcium and bones; it’s made of proteins that assemble to form frames inside the cells, but also filaments or extensions outside the cell, like tiny hands or flippers.

These tiny hands shrink, grow, and shift positions depending on how the cell responds to external cues. In fact, cancer cells, when they begin metastasizing (migrating from one tumor lump to establish tumors in other parts of the body), use these very extensions to move away and into their new habitat.
Hence, these tiny hands are critical to understanding how cancer cells move around and how, in cancer therapy, they can be prevented.

Studying filopodia to stop cancer spread

Gregory M. Alushin published a paper in 2025 where he used cryo-electron microscopy, which flash-freezes cytoskeletal proteins to obtain a detailed view of proteins involved and how they interact with each other.

They highlight that these hand-like protrusions are called filopodia; they are made up of bundles or rods of actin, an abundant protein in the human body, that are glued together by another protein, fascin. How fascin helps assemble actin filaments was unknown before, and so Dr. Gregory and his team brought this to light. They find that fascin doesn’t grab actin rods the same way on either side; in fact, it has an almost unique ‘handshake’ that allows for a slightly lopsided linking of actin filaments.

Additionally, they found that a drug, G2, acts like a cap on fascin and prevents it from linking actin rods together. This is incredible because if fascin proteins no longer link actin rods, they can’t form the filopodia protrusions that help cells move around, offering a targeted strategy that could help stop cancer cells in their tracks.

The worrying link between diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and sugary drinks

As you walk into the familiarly decorated living rooms of your aunt or friend, you’re often asked the same question: “Kya len ge aap (what will you have) … Sprite, Coke, or water?” However, a recent study suggests that they may be better suited for offering diabetes.

Science Discoveries 2025
Trending drinks in 2025 pose health risks from sugary drinks. Photo, Unsplash

Laura Lara-Castor and her team at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University link millions of cardiovascular and diabetes cases to the consumption of sugary drinks. In fact, they found that in Colombia, 48%, and in South Africa, 27.6%, of all new diabetes cases were linked to excess sugar in these drinks.

They explain that sugary beverages are digested rapidly, which may be beneficial in some situations, such as intensive sports, excessive amounts can lead to a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. They not only offer minimal nutritional value but are also reasons for excessive weight gain, insulin resistance, and multiple metabolic issues that are linked to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

The worrying thing is that these beverages are excessively sold in low- and middle-income countries without healthier or low-sugar alternatives. They become a natural choice for any meeting, guests, or events. Additionally, coupled with a lack of awareness about the detrimental effects of these drinks and a public system that isn’t equipped for their long-term consequences, a slippery slope is established that can easily lead to an increase in disease.

The paper suggests a multi-pronged approach to tackling this issue, ranging from public awareness campaigns, regulating the sale and advertisement of these sugary drinks, and actively offering other healthier alternatives sold as accessibly as these drinks currently are.

References:

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03193-3
  2. https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/38446-how-cells-move-and-change-shape-and-why-it-matters-for-our-health/

  3. Fascinating structural plasticity mediates flexible actin bundle construction

  4. https://now.tufts.edu/2025/01/06/new-study-links-millions-diabetes-and-heart-disease-cases-globally-sugary-drinks
  5. Burdens of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages in 184 countries

More from the author: Tiny Giants: Bizarre and Mind-Blowing Tales from the Land of Ants!

 

Scientia’s TOP Ten Stories of the Year 2025

Scientia
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Scientia’s TOP Ten Stories of the Year 2025

The year 2025 was a defining year for Scientia Pakistan, as the magazine strengthened its role and continued serving as a trusted bridge between science and society. From laboratories and courtrooms to classrooms and climate frontlines, our stories focused on how science shapes everyday life in Pakistan and beyond. This year, we leaned harder into clear, engaging storytelling for professionals and young readers alike— without diluting scientific rigor. The result was a growing, more engaged community that didn’t just read science news but discussed, questioned, and shared it widely.

Our Top Ten Stories of 2025 reflected the issues that mattered most to our audience. These included in-depth reporting on forensic science and justice, women breaking barriers in STEM, climate change, and extreme weather events in Pakistan and worldwide. We focused on debunking misinformation and spreading awareness about science communication, public health challenges, emerging technologies, and Pakistan’s growing footprint in global scientific collaborations.

Several of these stories went beyond headlines, unpacking complex research and policies while centering human experiences—scientists, students, doctors, and communities on the frontlines of change.

Together, these ten stories captured the spirit of a year marked by urgency, curiosity, and accountability. They showed why science journalism is not a luxury, but a necessity—especially in a region where scientific literacy can directly influence policy, justice, and survival. As we close 2025, Scientia Pakistan remains committed to asking better questions, amplifying credible voices, and making science accessible, relevant, and impossible to ignore.

1. The Secrets of Guitar: How Physics Creates the Perfect Chord

Have you ever tried blowing into a whistle? If yes, then you know a sound is made as air leaves the small opening on top, but why? The sound is produced when the air vibrates as it leaves through the small opening. In the same manner, the sound hole of a guitar is also a component in the sound being produced. The air inside the sound hole vibrates as the strings are plucked. This amplifies the sound being made as the air moves forward and backward while also giving the guitar its bass or its low notes.

Scientia

All these components combine to allow a guitar to make a sound. The chords mentioned earlier are formed by these factors. This teaches us that even daily objects that may seem inconsequential have some science going on behind them. Therefore, the next time you ever sit down to listen to music or hear someone playing a guitar, try to remember all the little things that allow it to work for our enjoyment.

2. Navigating Crisis: Dr Mujtaba Hassan on Space Technology’s Role in Disaster Management

Dr Hassan: The answer is yes. Pakistan is currently experiencing significant climatic changes. These developments represent not merely variability but a fundamental shift in temperature, precipitation, and hydrological patterns.

Over the decades, the country has warmed faster than the global average, and the signs are undeniable. Summers are hotter, heatwaves arrive earlier and stay longer, and temperatures in places like Jacobabad now touch the very limits of human survival. At the same time, rainfall is becoming less predictable but far more destructive. The monsoon is no longer a gentle season; it can now unleash devastating cloudbursts in a matter of hours.

Scientia

The warning signs have been building for over a decade. In 2010, unprecedented monsoon rains submerged nearly one-fifth of the country, displacing millions and leaving a humanitarian crisis in their wake. Twelve years later, in 2022, another catastrophic monsoon hit, this time bringing rainfall so intense that scientists confirmed climate change had made it far more likely. Those floods killed over 1,700 people and caused damage estimated at $40 billion, making them one of the costliest disasters in Pakistan’s history.

3. Against All Odds: HPV Vaccination Rollout Begins in Flood-Affected Regions Despite Societal Pushback

In Pakistan, an HPV vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 9–14 years is being held from September 15 to 27, 2025, across Punjab, Sindh, AJK, and Islamabad. This campaign is part of the government’s initiative, supported by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), to introduce the HPV vaccine and prevent cervical cancer. 

Scientia

Although the vaccination of 2.5 million out-of-school girls after the floods and rains, especially in remote areas and marginalised communities, could be challenging for the health teams.

This nation-wide vaccination drive is part of larger global strategy for elimination of cervical cancer and Pakistan is also a signatory of the 71st World Health Assembly Resolution of 2018 that sets a goal of 90-70-90 by year 2030, which means 90pc of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70pc of women screened by age 35 and again by 45, and 90pc of women with cervical cancer disease receive treatment/palliative care.

4. “Seena Roshan Ho”: Lahore Science Mela Inspires a New Generation of Innovators!

LSM serves as a dynamic platform to popularize science and technology by making these fields accessible, enjoyable, and engaging for individuals of all ages. Visitors can participate in a variety of hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and captivating demonstrations that spark curiosity and foster a love for learning.

This year’s Lahore Science Mela will be held on October 25-26 at Crescent Model Boys High School, Shadman, Lahore. The tagline for this year is “SEENA ROSHAN HO,” which translates to “Your heart enlightens with the light of knowledge and curiosity”, inspired by the poetry of Allama Iqbal.

Scientia

This tagline embodies the spirit of the event, encouraging attendees to explore and expand their understanding of the world around them. Expect to see an array of exciting projects and innovative exhibits from both local and international scientists and researchers. They will showcase their groundbreaking inventions and scientific experiments, providing a unique opportunity for the public to engage with and learn from experts in various scientific fields.

5. Cosmic Breakthrough: JWST Identifies Mysterious New Class of Black Hole Stars!

Astronomers may have finally found a clue to explain the strange “little red dots” that the James Webb Space  Telescope spotted in 2022. The newly discovered object, nicknamed the Cliff, hints that these dots could be something entirely new in the universe — “a black hole star.” This happens when a black hole feeds so quickly that the gas around it lights up, making it look like a glowing star.

Scientia

Before this, scientists thought the red dots might be huge early galaxies or supermassive black holes actively consuming matter.

Scientists are still debating what the mysterious “little red dots” really are. They might be exotic new objects, or perhaps just a stage in how galaxies and black holes grow. When the James Webb Space Telescope first spotted them in 2022, researchers even nicknamed them “universe breakers” because they looked too old to exist so early in cosmic history.

6. Crisis and Courage: Inside the Lives of Emergency Physicians in the War-torn Regions

“In my time working as a pediatrician in Gaza, I saw starving babies gasping for air and reaching for their mothers, who were buried under rubble. I treated an entire family who had sustained third-degree burns, eyes blistered shut, children’s genitalia scorched and disfigured from bombardment,” describes Dr Seema Jilani.

Dr Seema Jilani is a pediatric specialist with extensive experience working in Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Balkans. Her radio documentary, “Israel and Palestine: The Human Cost of the Occupation,” was nominated for a Peabody Award.

Scientia

“The war in Gaza has taken its toll on us as mothers. I chose to leave my seven-year-old daughter behind to treat war-wounded children who resembled her, except that their limbs hung by a thread of flesh and their bodies were charred black beyond recognition,” Dr Jilani writes while describing her painful experiences in Gaza.

7. When Nature Strikes: The Devastating Human Cost of Pakistan’s Flood Crisis

We all saw the tragedy in DHA, where a father and daughter were swept away in the floods. They were seen waving and calling for help, yet no one could save them. One video that spread rapidly online showed a family standing on a rock in the middle of a river in Swat, reportedly to take photographs, when a sudden surge of floodwaters swept them away within seconds. It left millions of Pakistanis asking themselves the same haunting question: Are we ever truly safe, even in our own homes?

Scientia

These “what ifs” echo in the minds of survivors and witnesses alike, planting seeds of fear and lasting mental distress. For rural families, the toll is even heavier. Elderly people and children, already the most vulnerable, face a lifetime of anxiety and grief. They lose not just their homes but also the very sense of security that anchors their lives. Many can only ask themselves in despair: Where do I go now? Everything is gone. My farm, my cattle, and my children are scattered. I no longer even have a home to return to.

8. When Science Meets Silence: Decoding Post-Mortem Techniques in the Humaira Asghar Investigation

The decomposition of the body depends on the dependability of environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure, as well as the enclosure of the body inside a room. But this degree of breakdown usually needs some weeks or a few months. Autolysis is the self-digestion of cells with the help of their own enzymes of the body. The human brain is soft and rich in enzymes.

Thus, it turns into sludge very rapidly, liquefying in most cases during the initial stages of the decay. Various body parts decompose at varying rates. Protected structures such as the skull and spine, and hard tissues such as bones, take longer, and soft bodies like muscles and organs decompose sooner, both in warm weather as well as wet weather [3].

Scientia

The missing maggots may indicate that the body had not been outside in the open for a long period, or the actions of the insects occurred earlier, and the larvae had already grown up and departed. It further indicates that the body was covered in a dry environment or a closed area [4].

9. Cracking the Enigma of Crimes by Nanotechnology with Dr. Shahid Nazir Paracha

Dr. Shahid: Nanotechnology is the manipulation and application of material at the nanoscale level, typically between 1 and 100 nanometers. At this scale, materials exhibit unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. Nanotechnology is not a very advanced field, or has a current past.

Scientia

With the help of nanomaterials, nanocomposites, or nanoparticles, materials are used to delve into the nanoscale, typically 1-100 nanometers. We adopted nanomaterials that can be utilized and are helpful in forensics.

For example, for fingerprint detection nanoparticle powders, normally we use simple dust or black powder, which are magnetic-based or chemical-based. Nanoparticles like gold, silver, and zinc oxide enhance the visibility of latent prints, and they are definitely environmentally friendly‑ they have very high sensitivity and specific results.

10. Karachi’s First Science Writing Workshop Set to Transform Public Understanding of Science

The two-day workshop was one of the first in-person events organised by Scientia in collaboration with the Natural Science Club (NSC), Habib University, Karachi, aimed to promote scientific writing and critical thinking among students, professionals, and researchers across the city. The workshop attracted a large number of students from Habib University and outsiders, demonstrating their enthusiasm for scientific research, science journalism, and communication.

The participants and speakers expressed immense appreciation to the entire Scientia team, sponsors from ACM-W, the NSC’s volunteers, and contributors both on and off-campus for making this event a success. This achievement was made possible by the energetic, dynamic, and professional speakers and facilitators. The audience comprised a diverse range of age groups, from teenagers to middle-aged adults.

Scientia

The two-day event featured several major highlights, including training sessions, keynote speeches, virtual lectures, and panel discussions. Renowned journalists and trainers conducted the training sessions, including Aleezah Fatima Hashmi, Sheema Siddiqui, Suhail Yusuf, and Ms. Rizwana Naseem.

These experts emphasised the importance of science stories in driving societal change and development. They taught participants the fundamentals of discovering stories in labs, fields, or communities, as well as “How to Pitch those Stories to Editors” and write them compellingly and engagingly for the general public.

2025 Scientific Triumph: Unifying the Laws of Physics through Mathematical Genius

Scientia
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2025 Scientific Triumph: Unifying the Laws of Physics through Mathematical Genius

In a breakthrough more than a century ago, researchers solved one of the legendary problems posed by mathematician David Hilbert in 1900. In 2025, Zaher Hani of the University of Michigan, along with his colleagues, resolved a challenge that not only revisits the foundations of mathematics but also unifies several key laws of physics.

The problem—Hilbert’s sixth—called for deriving the laws that govern fluid motion from basic mathematical axioms. Hilbert believed that physics should rest on such first principles, but his vision remained unrealised for 125 years, until now.

In March 2025, Yu Deng from the University of Chicago, with his colleagues Zaher Hani and Xiao Ma from the University of Michigan, unveiled a framework that could connect classical mechanics and thermodynamics under a single mathematical framework.

The researchers outline a mathematically rigorous path from Isaac Newton’s particle-based view of matter to the large-scale equations that describe fluid motion.

Their approach builds on Boltzmann’s kinetic theory, which treats particle behaviour in terms of probabilities rather than individual trajectories. From there, the framework naturally connects to classical models, such as the Navier–Stokes equations, which are widely used to describe the flow of air and water.

The biggest problem for the researchers has been “time” itself. At the level of Newton’s laws, time is symmetric; the equations can only be run forward or backward and still get a valid result. But in thermodynamics, time clearly moves in one direction.

The researchers tackled this head-on by designing their methods to avoid contradictions. They used Feynman diagrams to track how particle interactions unfold over time without introducing paradoxes. Eventually, their approach helped to explain how time’s direction emerges from rules that don’t favor any direction at all.

Hani and his colleagues believe their equations could help improve models of air and ocean flow, particularly in complex environments such as hurricanes or turbulent currents. These settings are full of moving fluids that behave non-identically at different scales, making them ideal candidates for a unified approach.

By offering a bridge between the movement of individual particles and large-scale behavior, this new framework could refine how climate models account for heat and momentum.

Since the Navier-Stokes and Euler equations are used in weather simulations, adding deeper mathematical grounding could increase their accuracy and reliability – especially when tackling long-term predictions.

References: 

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Imposter Syndrome Bruises the Confidence of Young Female Researchers

Aqsa Ashraf
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Imposter Syndrome Bruises the Confidence of Young Female Researchers

Young female scientists working in research centres and laboratories across the world are thinking outside the box and conducting groundbreaking research. Yet behind scientific progress lies a silent and unnoticed internal combat: a perpetual fear that their research is “not suitable” to be shared with the scientific community. 

Have you ever sensed this? The pit in your stomach when your supervisor proposes that you present your research at a symposium. The numbness when you gawk at your manuscript draft rather than submitting it. The constant whispering of the inner voices, “your work is not enough.” You are not alone; many young female researchers share the same sentiments. 

Imposter syndrome (IS) is severe in academia and bruises the confidence of young female researchers. To evaluate its prevalence in Pakistani young female researchers, a questionnaire was distributed by the author at the Biological Science Department at Forman Christian College, University, Lahore (FCCU).

One of the participants, Zainab, an MPhil research student researching the area of oncology, is familiar with these feelings and experiences. She stated, “For me, it is the fear of being criticised for my work from prominent scientists, as I feel I get anxious about making mistakes and not doing enough.”

She further voiced that “As a researcher, I am still in the phase of learning and growing, but I feel overwhelmed and nervous whenever I give a thought to present my work in front of experienced scientists.” 

imposter
For young females, it is not just momentary self-doubt; it is an endless inner voice that questions every insight, every piece of information, and every accomplishment worth disseminating. Photo, People Management

The Voice of Doubts and Questions 

The phenomenon of self-doubt is known as imposter syndrome. A survey was conducted and found that almost 95% of female scientists suffered moderate to severe imposter syndrome, which was much greater than the 70% observed in the general population. [1] To further prove that imposter syndrome exists among female scientists, a meta-analysis reported that among 40,000 participants, imposter syndrome was consistently more prevalent among females than among males.[2]

For young females, it is not just momentary self-doubt; it is an endless inner voice that questions every insight, every piece of information, and every accomplishment worth disseminating. Although the findings surpassed expectations, doubts emerged. 

Another MPhil scholar, Emma from FCCU, said, “I have felt this way even though I have not achieved anything significant yet. Still, when I learn a new basic technique and my colleagues or seniors appreciate me, I feel like I haven’t done anything; it’s just my luck that I am getting appreciated when in reality I am not doing anything special.” 

An international study reported that people who suffer from imposter syndrome are more likely to attribute research achievements to factors including good fortune and their supervisor rather than their own capabilities and endeavors [1]. This mentality becomes a hurdle not only to self-assurance but also to scientific achievements. 

Why do young female researchers experience IS? 

Female researchers are not only restrained by personal qualms; they struggle because imposter syndrome is deeply rooted in academic culture. A study found that women in intelligence-value fields such as physics, mathematics, and biology were more likely to feel like impostors, not because of their capabilities, but because of the environment that made them feel unfit.[3]

Moreover, women in science face microaggressions, such as their ideas being rejected, their voices being interjected, and fewer women in leadership positions, which fuels their fear that one mistake might label them as “imperfect.” However, during an interview, the MPhil student stated that “persistent effort also plays a significant role,” which suggests that success comes from work, not from luck. 

Scientifically proven ways to confront Imposter Syndrome

The truth is that rectifying the imposter syndrome is not about mentoring female scientists; it is about reshaping the culture surrounding them. A study demonstrated that the issue of imposter syndrome is ingrained in academic culture, which must be addressed by modulating institutional culture. [3] Which factors may assist in decreasing feelings of self-doubt? 

Programs such as mentorship and mutual aid groups, where female researchers openly disclose their struggles with fears, self-doubt, and personal setbacks, are essential. In addition, celebrating failed experiments along with successes must be normalized in research. Alterations at the institutional level may reduce imposter syndrome by not making them feel like an imposter, but also make them more confident. 

Young women must understand that their presence in science is not merely an accident; they have earned their positions through intelligence, dedication, and talent. Women in science must read this: your voices matter, your ideas push boundaries, and your work contributes to humanity’s quest for truth. Your internal whispers, “You are not prepared yet,” are all falsehoods. 

As Marie Curie said, “Nothing in life is to be afraid of; it is only to be understood.” 

Scientists should speak boldly and confidently about their work, tell their stories, and let their voices be heard. 

References:

  1. Vaughn, A. R., Taasoobshirazi, G., & Johnson, M. L. (2019). Impostor phenomenon and motivation: Women in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 45(4), 780-795.
  2. Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., … & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252-1275.
  3. 3. Muradoglu, M., Horne, Z., Hammond, M. D., Leslie, S. J., & Cimpian, A. (2021). Women—particularly underrepresented minority women—and early-career academics feel like impostors in fields that value brilliance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(5), 1086-1100.

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Rape Cases in Pakistan: Behind Closed Doors, the Forensic Fight to Find the Truth

Anam Ilyas
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Rape Cases in Pakistan: Behind Closed Doors, the Forensic Fight to Find the Truth

On 20th July 2021, Noor Mukaddam, a 27-year-old resident of Sector F-7/4, Islamabad, an elite area, was brutally killed. Her death did not come out of the blue; she spent two days in captivity, torment, torture, and rape in the hands of Zahir Jaffer.

Zahir Jaffer was no ordinary man, but a US national of Pakistani descent, the son of a wealthy industrialist family, someone who believed his privilege could protect him.[1] He held her at ransom when Noor turned down his proposal to get married. The CCTV footage further revealed that Noor was seen trying to escape twice, only to be pulled back inside.

She was tortured. She was raped, and then, she was BEHEADED!

Zahir Jaffer was caught at the crime scene, and the DNA confirmed the assault. The details of her murder stunned the whole nation and led to protests and social media hashtags,  #JusticeForNoor. In February 2022, a session court sentenced him to the death penalty and 25 years of harsh imprisonment. The country breathed a sigh of relief, believing justice had been done.

But the story didn’t end there.

Zahir appealed. The case was taken to the Supreme Court. This was shaken in November 2025 when one of the hearings involved Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, who implied that the murder was a result of live-in relationships. He added that a live-in relationship was a rebellion against God and against the Pakistani law and Sharia.[2]

For many people in public, what he said was not just insensitive but dangerous. The fact that when a judge, in the highest seat of the legal system, puts an act of inconceivable brutality in the context of a punishment for a vice, resonates with a way of thinking always used against women. The same reasoning justifies honor killings, downplays women victims of domestic violence, and policing of women’s autonomy, including the clothing they wear and the places they visit. 

rape
Justice Ali Baqar Najjafi added that a live-in relationship was a rebellion against God and against the Pakistani law and Sharia. Photo, The Guardian

Every day, women are murdered by their husbands, their relatives, their friends, colleagues, and even by strangers. They do not have a safe place: at home, at workplaces, or on the streets. It is not the choice of women that turns violence against women, but rather it is misogyny, entitlement, and patriarchy as a culture. It is important to understand that Noor did not get killed due to her visit to a person. She was killed by the decision of a man to kill her.

The comments made by Justice Najafi did not come out of thin air. This was reinforcing what is already feared by many Pakistani women, that misogyny can leak through the cracks of the justice system, even in a crime where the crime is obvious, the evidence is irrefutable, and the cruelty documented.

When this kind of narrative gets into judicial commentary, the damage is not metaphorical; it erodes trust. It gives a message to the victims that even when they are pursuing justice, they may still be held responsible. It informs offenders that society can seek reasons on their behalf.

Pakistan’s fight is not merely against criminals; it is against a certain mindset. A mindset that blames women for the violence they endure, that excuses men by moralizing their crimes, and that polices women’s autonomy more rigorously than men’s actions.

This mindset, time and again, transfers the burden of protection onto women rather than dealing with the violence itself. Until this change is implemented, justice will remain fragile. Nights like September 9, 2020, and the tragedy of Noor Mukaddam will serve to remind the nation of how far it has to go.

The Forgotten Battle: What Happens After Rape?

To a rape victim, the nightmare does not cease at the moment of the assault. The actual cruelty, in many respects, begins later. At police stations, corridors of hospitals, and courtrooms, where she is forced to repeat her story, relive her trauma, and defend her own innocence again and again.

Until 2021, in Pakistan, survivors were subjected to the degrading and unscientific two-finger test.[3] It was used despite lacking any forensic value and causing horrific physical and psychological damage to the victims.

Physicians would put one or two fingers into the vagina of a woman to ascertain “laxity” or the hymen, trying to determine whether she was sexually active or not. Some even claimed they could tell whether it was her first time, a myth modern science has long discredited. Yet for decades, this invasive test had been employed to challenge the character of a survivor, to discredit her, and to decide whether she was worthy of justice, by a test of purity as defining the truth.[4]

Justice Ayesha A. Malik ruled the practice unconstitutional in a historic and landmark judgment of 30 pages, declaring the procedure to demean the dignity of the female victim and a violation of fundamental rights, namely Article 9 (right to life) and Article 14 (right to dignity) of the Pakistani Constitution.[5] This verdict was a long-overdue victory, coming after generations of unreasonable misery.

Nonetheless, despite this development, the journey to justice remains dangerous. There are thousands of cases, both reported and unreported, that never receive justice.[6] The survivors stay quiet and are engulfed by secrets, fear, and a society that continues to blame them more readily than the offender.

Why does justice fail?

Most of the time, medico-legal reports are faulty, incomplete, or ill-written. DNA evidence is lost, contaminated, or not collected at all due to the unavailability of rape kits.

By law (Section 344A of the 2016 Criminal Law Amendment), rape cases must conclude within 90 days[7], yet in reality, they stretch to 250 days or more, often dragging on for years.  During these delays, the system slowly suffocates the case.  Witnesses are threatened into silence, and victims face social, familial, and financial pressure to withdraw. Files gather dust, cases quietly die.

That is the tragedy of sexual violence; the rape can take a few minutes, but the legal pain can take years. The perpetrator caused the initial wounds, but our legal system turns them into traumas. Justice can only be elusive until these structural failures are addressed, until evidence is maintained, trials are prompt, and survivors are treated with respect. Justice can not be attained until it is trapped behind bureaucracy, stigma, and a society yet to understand how to listen.

What Forensic Science Does in Rape Cases

Rape forensics is a branch of forensic science that is involved in the gathering of evidence, examination, and interpretation of evidence involving sexual assault. It entails biological, physical, and occasionally even psychological evidence that assists investigators in knowing whether a sexual assault occurred, who committed the crime, and what happened before, during, and after the attack.[8]

The type of evidence presented in sexual assault cases is numerous, and each piece of evidence is crucial in the reconstruction of what actually happened. The most important is the DNA that can be taken in the form of saliva, semen, blood, and skin cells that are present on the victim’s body, clothes, or other objects. DNA may involve a direct connection of a criminal to a crime and may be the most solid evidence in a courtroom.

Another significant group is related to fibers and hair, which can be transferred in case of physical struggle. These trace materials are capable of linking the victim and the accused together at the same point or place of contact. The presence, contact can be proved even by a single strand of hair or a fiber, in case other evidence can be challenged.

The medical notes and forensic photography are used to carefully record the injuries sustained during the assault. Pattern injuries, bruises, cuts, abrasions, bite marks, and other evidence of force and defiance silently speak volumes of a story of resistance. These documents maintain physical evidence that can diminish with time, and injuries are visible even after the recovery process has started.

The toxicology reports are a crucial aspect in drug-facilitated assault cases. Drugs used to immobilize the victim can be detected in blood and urine tests. This kind of evidence justifies memory lapses and refutes accusations that the survivor did so out of consent or because he or she was drunk.

The importance of Forensic Evidence

All these lines of evidence help to give an objective and scientifically proven backup to the account presented by a survivor. Forensic science becomes an objective partner in legal systems where the victim-blaming element, absence of witnesses, and social stigma tend to ruin cases. It moves the standpoint to the challenge of the survivor’s character to the analysis of facts, where justice lies.

The Forensic Medical Examination

The forensic medical examination is one of the most crucial elements of a rape investigation, and it can be performed during the first 72 hours following the sexual offense. In this test, the Rape Kit or Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) is utilized to gather significant biological and physical evidence. [9]

The exam is administered by a Medico Legal officer (MLO), a trained professional who handles delicate procedures with both scientific precision and emotional sensitivity.

The Medico Legal Examination may involve:

  • Mouth, skin, genitals, and anus swabs
  • Collection of blood, urine, or semen samples
  • Detailed record of injuries
  • Photographs to maintain records of bruise or injury

Each sample is well labeled and closed to prevent contamination. Appropriate evidence gathering by an MLO increases the likelihood of identifying the perpetrator and of conviction in court. An entire forensic examination is not just beneficial to the law but also to validating the survivor’s experience, helping them regain a sense of control.[10]

The victim’s legal team relies on medical examination reports and witness statements; these aspects form the basis of the victim’s argument and show how scientific proof serves as a potent instrument of justice. Although fictional, the processes depicted are realistic forensic activities that make the drama not only entertainment, but a kind of civic education, illuminating the way for a survivor to navigate the complex overlap of medicine, law, and trauma.

Role of Forensic Evidence for Rape Survivors

Evidence in forensics is of central importance in enhancing the credibility of a victim. When an account by a survivor can be undermined by emotional distress, social stigma, or cultural prejudice, scientific evidence offers objective explanations. DNA reports, medical results, and toxicology results are found to guide the courts to concentrate on facts as opposed to the harmful assumptions about the character or behavior of the survivor.

Forensic documentation helps neutralize victim-blaming narratives that frequently prevail in rape case trials in Pakistan. When the injuries, biological samples, and medical records are collected and preserved correctly, they give a factual account of the crime that cannot be easily dismissed. This fact removes the blame from the survivor and places the responsibility on the rapist.

Psychologically, forensic examination can provide validation and emotional support to the survivors.[11] Being aware that their experience has been officially documented and scientifically proven can help overcome the sense of self-doubt, shame, or disbelief imposed by society. It proves one main fact: the damage inflicted is real, registered, and deserves justice.

But the best advice, given by experts, is to ensure that they report early (within 72 hours). Late reporting can supposedly be dangerous to a case. The fear of social backlash, family influence, and distrust towards the institutions and organizations usually makes the victims reluctant, and important evidence may either be damaged or lost. Immediate health care review and preservation of evidence further enhance the chances of accountability and minimize the chances of being denied justice by a gap in the procedure.

In Pakistan, forensic awareness, among women and families, health practitioners, and law enforcement, is not an option but a necessity. Knowing what to do once assaulted sexually may turn an otherwise collapsed case into a case that upholds scientific truth.

Conclusion:

In 2024 alone, according to a recent Gender Based Violence (GBV) report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization, 32,617 cases of GBV were reported. Over 5,339 cases were of rape. Despite thousands of cases, Pakistan’s conviction rate remains dismally low, at just 0.5% for rape.[12]

Violence against women in Pakistan is not just physical violence; it is a cultural, institutional, and systemic violence. Victim-blaming continues to overshadow criminal accountability. There is still a very low level of forensics awareness. Before any court can silence the survivors, families tend to do the same. Outdated beliefs still seep into judicial spaces where justice should be blind, but hope lies in knowledge.

The knowledge of what to do after rape, how to report, what forensic steps to follow, how to preserve evidence, etc., can become the strength of survivors and their families during the darkest moments. When used properly, forensic science is not merely an investigative tool, but a shield against bias, a weapon against silence, and the truth what survivor is screaming.

If Pakistan is to move forward, the responsibility lies with all of us to stop blaming victims, to insist on institutional change, to demand forensic integrity, and to build awareness, not in the wake of tragedies, but before them. Only then can we be confident that no woman on a highway, no woman trapped in the house, and no woman trying to get away from her murderer will ever feel lonely anymore.

References:

  1. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60514698 
  2. https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/920348-noor-muqaddam-case-sc-judge-flags-livein-relationship-as-socie 
  3. https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/sadaf-aziz-v-federation-of-pakistan-the-end-of-virginity-testing-in-pakistan/ 
  4. https://www.cfhr.com.pk/our-work/the-use-of-the-two-finger-test-in-pakistan
  5. https://www.dawn.com/news/1599672
  6. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1287512-gender-based-violence-surges-with-dismal-conviction-rates
  7. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Women/SR/RapeReport/CSOs/097-pakistan-2.pdf 
  8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2013.10.023 
  9. https://www.endthebacklog.org/what-is-the-backlog/what-is-a-rape-kit-and-rape-kit-exam/ 
  10. https://www.btp.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/forensic-evidence-rape-sexual-assault/ 
  11. Dalenberg, C. J., Straus, E., & Ardill, M. (2017). Forensic psychology in the context of trauma. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0000020-026
  12. https://www.dawn.com/news/1894972

More from the author: Crime Scene Investigation, Clickbait, and Screens: How Media Reshapes Forensic Reality

Educating for Tomorrow: The Impacts of Science Communication in Sustainability Awareness

Saadeqa Khan
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Educating for Tomorrow: The Impacts of Science Communication in Sustainability Awareness

The city of Sudbury, Ontario, faced severe environmental degradation due to a century of mining and smelting, resulting in 80,000 hectares of contaminated land. Sudbury is Canada’s largest mining community and was built on Atikameksheng Anishinaabek, known as the people of Whitefish Lake. The boundaries of their tiny reserve were deliberately drawn to exclude mineral-rich lands. Although over $1 trillion has been taken from the Sudbury region, the First Nation has received no compensation and no apology.

Over more than 100 years of smelter operations, the major pollutants were sulphur dioxide, lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, arsenic, cobalt, and selenium. The contamination spread over 80,000 hectares. Despite the urgent need for regulation, it took over 50 years to effectively limit and ban these emissions and illegal mining activities.

For ten years, from 1999 to 2009, mining companies avoided reporting toxins in their waste rock piles and tailings impoundments to the National Pollutant Release Inventory until a MiningWatch Canada court case forced them to comply with the law. 

The restoration of 3,400 hectares of land across Sudbury was made possible by the brilliant work of university-based scientists from Laurentian University, community volunteers, a few dedicated mining company staff, and government subsidies. In fact, Laurentian University (LU) and the Science North center played a pivotal role in the region’s environmental recovery and sustainable transformation. 

Research conducted by LU’s scientists in collaboration with the Lakes Center provided robust data on pollution levels and ecosystem recovery, serving as the evidence base for new industrial regulations and local restoration efforts.

Moreover, science communication programs at Science North and within the university curriculum helped the public, including children and adults, understand the science behind local environmental issues in an accessible way. The efforts motivated local communities, and they initiated several campaigns. Students, inspired by their coursework, initiated tangible projects such as a paper recycling program and a “Beppi” forest corridor on campus, which became a popular public trail in Sudbury. 

A study published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education in August 2025 revealed that the decades of concerted effort, fueled by science communicators and community buy-in, resulted in a 90% reduction in pollution and the recovery of ecosystems, transforming Sudbury into a globally recognized model for environmental restoration.

Scientists at the University of Canada conducted this research to examine how sustainability education is nurtured and augmented through community engagement and various learning, teaching, and research activities at the University of Canada. 

This study suggests that universities and academic institutions interested in building capacity with complementary policies to support the SDGs should cultivate innovative curriculum development across disciplines within their educational programs. These relevant research activities can engage local communities in sustainability solutions.

Dr Andae Rivera Sosa, a coastal management expert in Mexico, set another inspiring example to follow. Her research on sewage contamination of coral reefs highlighted the connection between improper waste treatment and human health. By communicating the immediate, personal impact of the pollution on the local community’s livelihoods and health, Dr Rivera stimulated community collaboration to better integrate watershed management practices.

These case studies show that sustainable awareness is not just about knowing the facts—it’s about using that knowledge to make responsible choices and decisions. Science communication equips individuals and organizations with reliable information that influences decisions specifically related to environmental protection, healthcare, and SDGs. 

Science communication plays a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals worldwide by bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and research to a diverse range of communities, from laypeople to students, researchers, and policymakers. It empowers people to make informed decisions and take collective action for a better and safer livelihood. It effectively communicates complex research, allowing policymakers to develop evidence-based strategies that promote public awareness and foster collaboration among all stakeholders.

However, being a developing country at the forefront of the climate crisis, Pakistan does not seem to have established the necessary framework to communicate science to its public effectively. The scientific knowledge gained from research conducted in universities and research institutions mostly stays in scientific journals and hardly communicates with the general public and policymakers for awareness and being utilized for national development. 

In Pakistan, students are taught science by memorising theories and scientific laws rather than understanding the core scientific concepts through experiments, thus curtailing students’ cognitive abilities. Under such circumstances, it is a daunting task to develop and nurture scientific thinking and analytical skills.

Worldwide, emerging social platforms are playing a crucial role in effective science communication, complementing both print and digital media on a global scale. However, in Pakistan, the public often spends time on social media engaged in creating memes, trolling, and arguing over trivial matters. Additionally, major media outlets tend to focus more on political and entertainment news, giving little attention to credible science reporting.

Prominent Science Communicator Manzoor Somroo stated in his research conducted in 2020 that Pakistani media, including electronic and print, are vibrant sources of information, but science reporting does not rank high among the priority areas of media outlets and newsroom hierarchies across the country.

“However, with the emergence of online and digital platforms, many startups and non-government entities have stepped up to leverage technology to promote Scientific culture in Pakistan. Over the decades, Pakistan has witnessed innovative and encouraging trends in the promotion of public awareness of science and technology.”

These efforts are not enough to address the serious challenges the country currently faces, such as climate change and environmental degradation. These issues are having a damaging effect on the core pillars of the nation’s economy, including agriculture, fisheries, and the textile industry. As these economic sectors suffer, it becomes increasingly important for people to be well-informed about the threats that lie ahead.

Raising public awareness about these issues is essential, as it equips individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to develop effective solutions. Importantly, people should be empowered to take proactive measures and contribute to positive change, rather than relying solely on government intervention. By fostering a sense of responsibility and encouraging collective action, society can become more resilient in the face of these pressing environmental and economic challenges.

Science communicators can foster this awareness, motivate laypeople to inform decision-making, and force them to action towards sustainable practices by translating complex research into accessible information and promoting evidence-based practices. By making scientific knowledge understandable, relevant, and actionable for diverse audiences, they can significantly contribute to the transformative vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations. 

References: 

More from the author: Caring in Crisis— Protecting Pregnant Women and Newborns from Climate Change Fallout

Think Twice: Understanding the Psychology of Irrational Decision-Making

Khair ul Bariyah
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Think Twice: Understanding the Psychology of Irrational Decision-Making

In 2017, the world was stunned to learn that Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers in history, had gone bankrupt despite earning over $400 million during his career. Tyson had all the fame, wealth, skill, and widespread respect. However, he prioritised short-term pleasures over long-term stability, spent impulsively, trusted the wrong people, and struggled to control his emotions.

When the reporters asked him the reasons, Tyson was brutally honest: “I made emotional decisions.” Millions were left in shock. How could a man who was trained for discipline, strategy, and precision inside the ring turn out to be so indisciplined? At the core of human psychology lies the solution.

We frequently make the wrong decision even though we know what is right. Tyson’s story is a window into the science of decision-making, showing how the human brain is wired to prioritise short-term gains over long-term ones, and how emotions can overwhelm reason. His demise highlights a reality that intelligence does not shield us from making illogical choices. The science of decision-making starts right here.

Every day, humans make hundreds of decisions, from simple ones like choosing breakfast to life-changing ones such as enrolment in a degree program, a career path, property investment, or choosing a spouse. We normally believe our decisions are based on logic, reason, and careful analysis.

However, research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural economics reveals that although humans are intelligent beings but they are prone to irrationality. Good decisions are based on a clear integration of scientific evidence and human priorities, which in turn is best achieved through decision analysis. 

decision
Life is a chess match. Every decision you make has consequences. ~P.K.Subban. The photo is AI-generated by the author

For most of the 20th century, economics was based on the idea that people are completely rational in their decisions to get the most benefit. This idea was called Homo economicus. In the 1970s, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky challenged this idea with their ground-breaking Prospect Theory. They showed that people do not always make decisions to get the maximum benefit; instead, emotions, mental shortcuts, and personal biases strongly influence their options.

People experience losses more intensely than gains. Consequently, even when taking a chance makes sense, people frequently avoid it. Behavioural economics, which blends psychology and economic decision-making, emerged out of this concept, which transformed conventional economics.

Although our brains operate quickly, we use mental shortcuts called heuristics to make decisions faster. These shortcuts enable us to deal with complicated situations, but they also lead to cognitive biases, which are common mistakes in thought. One such bias is anchoring, which happens when we rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive.

For example, we might assume a Rs. 2000 handbag is inexpensive, as it was initially labelled Rs. 4000. Next is confirmation bias, which causes people to ignore opposing evidence and prefer information that supports their existing beliefs. This is reinforced by social media. Prospect theory explains why people oppose change because they fear losses more than they value gains.

Lastly, the availability heuristic leads people to conclude how likely an event is based on how easily examples come to mind. For instance, after hearing about aeroplane crashes, they may overestimate the danger of flying, even though it is statistically much safer than driving.

Traditionally, people believed that emotions hinder clearer thinking, but modern brain research reveals that emotions are actually required for making decisions. In a study published in 1994, Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio analysed some patients who had an injury in the part of the brain controlling emotions. Even though these people were intelligent enough to think logically, it was quite difficult for them to make simple decisions, like deciding what to eat. They could list the advantages and disadvantages, but without any feeling of the right choice.

Damasio’s research led to the Somatic Marker Hypothesis, which proposes that emotions work as shortcuts that help the brain quickly judge the possible results of our actions. Simply, what may seem like an irrational behaviour is actually the brain trying to combine feelings and real-life context in choice-making. 

Making all rational choices is neither possible nor necessary; the real challenge is to balance instinct with awareness for better judgment.

Besides our own internal biases, other factors influencing our decisions are the environment and the presentation of the information. This idea, called framing, was introduced by Kahneman and Tversky in 1981. It shows that people’s choices can change depending on the wording of the information provided. For example, a medicine with 80% efficacy is considered more favourable than describing it as 20% ineffective, even though both statements are logically equivalent.

Likewise, the default effect plays a key role in many of our decisions. It is our habit to stick with the option that is already chosen for us. For instance, those countries have more donors where people are automatically listed as organ donors. Slight changes in wording, context, and presentation can strongly influence what people choose, showing that our decisions are not only logical but also influenced by how certain facts and figures appear to us.

The people around us have a greater influence on our decisions. In 1951, Psychologist Solomon Asch demonstrated that many people agree with a group even if it is wrong. The need for approval and the desire for belonging, at times, force people to go against their own logical reasoning. The best example is the influence of shares, likes, and viral trends on social media, not only on what people buy, but also on their political and social views.

Being truly rational does not mean to be emotionless or unbiased. Understanding our mental shortcuts helps us pause for a moment, question our reactions, and think more carefully. Kahneman discussed Methods like thinking slowly, which help us in this practice. Taking enough time to decide, respecting various opinions, and using facts and data are part of the successful process. Artificial intelligence and other decision aids have helped reduce human mistakes in many fields. 

Emotions, gut feelings, intuitions, and biases are not weaknesses; they are part of human survival in uncertain situations. Making all rational choices is neither possible nor necessary; the real challenge is to balance instinct with awareness for better judgment.

The world is full of information and influence. A greater understanding of our irrational decisions is actually a rational step. Our minds are not perfection-based. They are meant for speed and useful outputs. Amid all the emotional, mental, and social forces shaping our decisions, making smarter choices brings real power. 

References:

  • Von Winterfeldt, Detlof. “Bridging the gap between science and decision making.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.supplement_3 (2013): 14055-14061.
  • Asch, Solomon E. “Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments.” Organisational influence processes. Routledge, 2016. 295-303.
  • Damasio, Antonio R. “Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain.” Grosset/Putnam (1994).
  • Johnson, Eric J., and Daniel Goldstein. “Do defaults save lives?” Science 302.5649 (2003): 1338-1339.
  • Watson, Kenneth. “D. Kahneman.(2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 499 pages.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation 26.2 (2011): 111-113.
  • Kahneman, Daniel, and Amos Tversky. “Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk.” Handbook of the fundamentals of financial decision making: Part I. 2013. 99-127.
  • Nickerson, Raymond S. “Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises.” Review of General Psychology, 2 (2), 175-220.
  • Tversky, Amos, and Daniel Kahneman. “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases: Biases in judgments reveal some heuristics of thinking under uncertainty.” Science 185.4157 (1974): 1124-1131.
  • Tversky, Amos, and Daniel Kahneman. “The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice.” Science 211.4481 (1981): 453-458.

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Humanity in Microgravity: How the ISS Is Transforming Medical Research

Sadaf Sarfraz
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Humanity in Microgravity: How the ISS Is Transforming Medical Research

Space has always been a mirror. When we look it up, we search for it but discover more about ourselves.

Orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) is not only a symbol of exploration. It is a laboratory where human biology is pushed beyond its design. In microgravity, bones begin to dissolve, muscles weaken, immunity becomes uncertain, and microbes adapt faster than we ever anticipated. [1–4]

“Every time we push beyond the familiar, we discover something new about what it means to be human.”

Thousands of kilometers above Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits silently, a laboratory suspended between Earth and the infinite, where science and human experience merge in ways impossible to achieve on Earth. Every heartbeat, every cell, and every physiological response becomes a lesson in adaptation, resilience, and survival.

Astronauts aboard the ISS are not merely explorers; they are living experiments, revealing the hidden vulnerabilities of the human body and the extraordinary ways life adapts. The knowledge gained above is shaping medicine below, offering hope for conditions that have long resisted our understanding.

When Gravity Lets Go!

Gravity shapes life; it guides bone structure, muscle growth, blood circulation, and even cellular signaling. Remove it, and the human body responds in startling ways. Astronauts in orbit experience bone density loss of 1–2% per month, a rate far faster than osteoporosis on Earth [2,5].

Muscles, especially in the legs and back, weaken despite strict exercise regimens. Body fluids shift upward, increasing intracranial pressure and sometimes leading to blurred vision and long-term ocular changes. The immune system is compromised; latent viruses can reactivate, and the body struggles to fight routine infections. [1,4,6]

This acceleration of physiological decline is not just a curiosity; it is a window into disease mechanisms, compressed into months rather than years. It allows researchers to study interventions with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

“This is not a race against space.
 It is a race against disease against time.”

Why Microgravity Matters for Medicine

Microgravity compresses years of human ageing into months. The ISS offers a rare advantage: accelerated insight into some of the most widespread health challenges on Earth. Astronauts experience in one mission what older adults experience in decades. Space lets scientists examine ageing while it accelerates.

microgravity
Comparison of phenomena in space and on Earth. Graph, Author

When Gravity Disappears: Body Systems Under Pressure

Without gravity’s constant pull, bones stop forming, and calcium escapes into circulation [2,5]. Muscles shrink from disuse. [3] Blood redistributes toward the head, forcing the heart to adapt. [11] The consequences resemble some of the most serious public health concerns on Earth, but are revealed at a pace science can measure and respond to.

This has turned the ISS into a powerful model for developing better therapies for osteoporosis and cardiovascular decline.

The Immune System’s Breaking Point

Even short missions lead to altered white blood cell activity, cytokine changes, and shifts in the microbiome [1,4,6]. The ISS has become a unique testing ground to understand how stress accelerates disease, why some cancers evade immunity, and how microbes increase their resistance. Research in orbit is reshaping our understanding of infection and immunity.

Drug Discovery in Orbit

Protein structures are notoriously hard to analyze on Earth. Gravity interferes with crystal formation. In microgravity, crystals grow larger and more perfectly organized, allowing clearer structural maps of disease-driving proteins [9]. That clarity speeds drug development for cancer, neurodegeneration, and rare disorders. Space provides the stillness biology needs to reveal its architecture.

Organs on Chips: Human Physiology, Miniaturized

The ISS is now home to tissue-on-chip experiments: small living models of the human heart, bone, brain, and blood vessels. These systems help scientists watch how tissues age, mutate, and respond to treatment in real time. Medicine is becoming smaller, smarter, and more precise — tested far above the world it will treat.

Health Care Beyond Hospitals

In space, there is no emergency room. Innovation becomes a necessity. Remote ultrasound techniques and portable sequencing tools originally developed for astronauts are now used everywhere from rural clinics to disaster zones [10,13]. Real-time monitoring of physiological changes is improving outcomes both in orbit and on the ground. Space medicine is shaping the future of global health.

The Future Grows Upward

The ISS offers a rare perspective: remove gravity, and human vulnerability is exposed. But knowledge follows. From weakening bones to resilient microbes, from heart tissue to DNA repair, every experiment is designed with a dual mission. To safeguard astronauts as we push more into space and improve patient care across Earth. We often imagine space research as distant from everyday life. Yet some of the most practical answers to aging, cancer, and chronic disease are emerging from a laboratory where sunrise comes every ninety minutes.

Space is not escape, it’s life beyond words.

References:

  1. Crucian BE, et al. J Leukoc Biol. 2018;103(2):267–278.
  2. Smith SM, et al. Bone. 2015;81:712–720.
  3. Hargens AR, Vico L. J Appl Physiol. 2016;120(8):891–903.
  4. Choukèr A, Crucian B. Acta Astronaut. 2020;176:295–301.
  5. Grimm D, et al. npj Microgravity. 2022;8(1):1–13.
  6. da Silveira WA, et al. Cell Rep. 2020;33(11):108445.
  7. McCulloch AD, et al. Stem Cell Rep. 2021;16(10):2344–2356.
  8. Tanigawa N, et al. Crystals. 2021;11(5):530.
  9. Afshinnekoo E, et al. npj Microgravity. 2016;2:16035.
  10. Hughson RL, et al. J Appl Physiol. 2016;120(8):844–851.
  11. Garrett-Bakelman FE, et al. Science. 2019;364(6436):eaau8650.
  12. ISS National Laboratory. Benefits for Humanity. ISSNL; 2023.
  13. NASA. 20 breakthroughs from 20 years of science aboard the ISS. NASA.gov; 2024.

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Herds and Hurdles: New Research Highlights Looming Obstacles for Thar Desert Livestock

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
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Herds and Hurdles: New Research Highlights Looming Obstacles for Thar Desert Livestock

Tharparkar, a district spanning 19,637 square kilometres, lies in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Tharparkar’s livestock population exceeds 6 million. But the region paints a picture of beauty and adversity, for beneath the alarming mortality figures lie deeper issues that hamper human existence in this geographically, culturally, and religiously diverse region. 

The Thar desert is characterized mainly by marginal and diversified agriculture, reflecting the interaction of soil type, crop diversification, livestock grazing, crop management, and migration during lean periods for livestock feeding and off-farm work. Monsoon rains are the only wet period in the desert.

Kharif cropping is the main option, fully dependent on monsoon rains; low crop productivity results in food production. Crop yields are generally low except when there is heavy and occasional rainfall. Therefore, livestock becomes the major stabilizing factor for sustaining agriculture.  

The livestock is a component of the farming system. However, it becomes tough in the drought season from February to May-June. These are the months when farmers have to cover large distances along with their livestock in search of grazing rangelands. They travel westward and ultimately reach the neighbouring districts of Umerkot and Mirpurkhas, etc., putting a lot of pressure on the fodder resources in those areas.

LIVESTOCK
The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. Photo, Ali Nawaz

Patterns of Livestock Grazing

The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. The average distance of grazing fields from the village is about 3 km, and livestock grazing is mostly a male-dominant activity. Nearly 80% reported that one male adult was responsible for the grazing activity, whereas the remaining 20% reported more than one person for the same activity. 

Usually, in this situation, different people for day and night shifts go for grazing. In about 25% of families, children were also involved in the grazing of the livestock. However, overgrazing is becoming a looming challenge in the desert; the situation is rapidly depleting the endangered palatable grass species in the area. An urgent ban should be imposed to carry out grazing at an optimum level for obtaining maximum benefit out of rangeland resources. 

 “Social activist Nalechango shared that the major source of livelihood for the people of Thar is rain-fed agriculture and livestock. Compared to other parts of Pakistan, the meat from Thar’s livestock is delicious and well-liked. He suggested that the government should provide opportunities for livestock keepers to sell their animals in major markets”.

Protecting Herds from Diseases 

The depleting health of animals is another growing concern, as the residents are primarily dependent on them for their livelihood. When diseases break out, mostly veterinary care is not available, and the farmers have to depend on traditional methods, as well as seek the advice of spiritual leaders. Mortality rates in the event of disease were found to be quite high in the case of sheep, goats, and donkeys as compared to other animals. 

Livestock Nutrition and Feeding

Local farmers say that about 62% in the study area feed their livestock with millet and guar crop residues during fodder shortages. (December to June). Nearly 23% of farmers reported that they did not use any crop residues. No effort has been visible by the farmers to cut and store grasses, which are in abundance in the rainy season, and use them for feeding their livestock in the drought months. 

Stall-feeding is common in the Thar Desert. Only the milk animals, when they produce milk, are stall-fed during December to July, i.e., the months of occurrence of rainfall. Common concentrates that they use are guar, millet grindings, wheat and rice bran, and wheat bhusa.

Unhealthy Grazing Patterns

The concept of stall feeding to livestock is not common in Thar, and mostly livestock depend upon field grazing in the ranges as well as in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. The average grazing distance from the village is about three kilometres. Grazing of livestock is mostly a male-dominant activity. Nearly 80 percent reported that one male adult was looking after the grazing activity, whereas the remaining 20 percent reported more than one person for the same activity. 

Usually, in this situation, different people for day and night shifts go for grazing. In about 25 percent of families, children were also involved in the grazing of the livestock. It is important to point out at this stage that overgrazing is a big problem in the desert, and this situation is rapidly moving towards depletion of the endangered palatable grass species in the area. It is urgently needed that some sort of control should be imposed so that grazing activity can be carried out at an optimum level for obtaining maximum benefit out of rangeland resources. 

 “Social activist Nalechango shared that the major source of livelihood for the people of Thar is rain-fed agriculture and livestock. Compared to other parts of Pakistan, the meat from Thar’s livestock is especially tasty and well-liked. He suggested that the government should provide opportunities for livestock keepers to sell their animals in major markets”.

Animal health was found to be an area where a lot of improvement is needed. It is the only cash surety for the farmers in times of need. In the incidence of disease, mostly veterinary care is not available, and the farmers have to depend on traditional methods, as well as seek the advice of spiritual leaders. Mortality rates in the event of disease were found to be quite high in the case of sheep, goats, and donkeys as compared to other animals. 

“Veterinary Doctor Abdullah shared that government veterinary hospitals are often closed due to the unavailability of staff. These facilities are located far from livestock keepers and are not properly constructed to meet the needs of the local communities. During the rainy season and even in normal times, livestock owners have to spend large amounts of money on animal medicines.”

livestock
The concept of stall feeding livestock is not common in Thar. Here, livestock mostly depend on field grazing in the ranges and in the fields adjacent to the goths when there are no crops. Photo, Ali Nawaz

How Genetics and Nutrition Impact Milk Yield

Cows and sheep, or goats were the main milk-producing animals. When there was a sample of grass available in the range, cows produced almost double the milk that was produced in the deficit period. The pattern was of low to light milk yield with respect to rainfall zones. A similar pattern was found in the milk yield produced by sheep and goats.

“Rani, a livestock owner, shared her views, saying, “We do not sell milk; we only sell ghee. During the rainy season, we distribute milk to needy people.”

The Hidden Challenges Livestock Farmers Face

The major constraints faced by the farmers while raising livestock are drought, minimal marketing facilities, and disease. Due to the non-availability of a livestock market nearby, the livestock is usually sold in the villages, where lower rates are offered by beoparies. High mortality rates were due to the unavailability of veterinary hospitals in the Thar area.

Changing Migration Habits

The dry period normally lasts from December to January unless there is enough precipitation.  The farmers in the Thar start a temporary migration to the areas in the interior of Sindh in search of food for their animals. Usually, their migration involves male family members who take along their herds and look after the dry period in the irrigated areas. Sometimes, this migration involves all the family members moving along with their children and livestock for the same period and travelling long distances, reaching as far as Nagarparkar, almost 200km.

Although their return to Thar depends upon the rainfall, an overwhelming majority, at around 85 percent, reported that they are back by June to August.  While migrating, the farmers have to travel long distances to reach the places where they can find food and feed for their animals. Livestock production is the dominant activity of the desert economy; it plays a crucial role by ensuring subsistence and security against crop failures under drought conditions. 

Besides, it is also a status symbol in the area. The presence of better ranges in the high rainfall zone helps farmers to raise more animal units. Farmers in the high rainfall zone were keeping significantly higher numbers of animal units. The stall feeding of animals generally starts when the grazing forages are not available in rangelands. It starts in December and ends in April every year. 

“Social activist Abdul Qadir shared that every third year, Tharparkar faces a drought, forcing people to migrate to the barrage areas along with their children and livestock. During these droughts, no fodder is available for the animals.”

Animal diseases are a common problem in Thar majority of 85% reported that no veterinary personnel have visited the villages. Livestock are important components of the Thar farming system. There is a need to conduct further research to document the animals’ production differential and their implications for animal breed improvements. 

Animal health is also important for profitable livestock production. It may be improved by an effective breeding and feeding program, along with the provision of on-time veterinary aid to the farmers. Technical training about vaccination may be arranged through a crash program. 

“Atta Muhammad, owner of Azad Livestock Farm in Tardos, shared that farmers need modern techniques for effective livestock management. They also require proper training on disease prevention and control. In Tharparkar, livestock keepers have very limited access to veterinary facilities. He suggested that the government should provide subsidized rates during drought seasons, as drought recurs almost every third year in the Tharparkar region.”

This would be a good step by the government towards promoting the pastoral economy.  Tharparkar district is one of the biggest potential livestock-market zones in Sindh and needs to focus on planning to promote the livestock sector. Most people of the area depend on an agro-pastoral economy for their livelihood. It, fully or partially, contributes to the economy of every household of about 1.6 million people in the district. 

Thar needs urgent priority in livestock development; Authorities should adopt a holistic plan that includes introducing crossbreeds, promoting dairy farming, and expanding animal health facilities. Installing solar water pumps, ensuring affordable fodder, improving pasturelands and rangelands, and developing markets for livestock and related products such as hides and wool are also mandatory. The Sindh government should impose Section 144 to protect public grazing commons, preserve fodder during the monsoon, and prevent land degradation.

Similar Articles: Harvest at Risk: The Alarming Impact of Climate Change on Wheat Production in Sind

Palestine’s Hope in Science: Insights from Neuroscientist Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh

Hifz Ur Rehman
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Palestine’s Hope in Science: Insights from Neuroscientist Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh

At the Lahore Science Mela 2025, the air buzzed with wonder and curiosity. Amid the incredible experiments and one of the most inspiring voices at the festival belonged to Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh, who stood out for his deeply personal mission. Despite Palestinian roots, his journey is a stirring testament to resilience, passion, and the power of science education as a force for good. 

Abdulrahman is rewriting the narrative for young learners, using storytelling, immersive games, and vibrant characters. For him, neuroscience isn’t just a field of study; it is a bridge that links knowledge with empathy, helping children understand not only their biology, but their emotions, memories, and innermost selves.

Science has no borders. Abdulrahman’s appearance at LSM 2025 carried deeper significance; as a Palestinian scientist, he carried the hopes of a community often deprived of access and infrastructure. In a nutshell, he is bringing cutting-edge science into the hearts and hands of future generations.

Here are the snippets of Abdulrahman’s conversation with Scientia Magazine at Lahore Science Mela 2025.

Science
Abdulrehman with Scientia’s team members Muneeb Siddiqui, Hifz Ur Rahman, and Owais. Photo, Scientia Pakistan

Hifz: It’s an honour to host and speak with Abdulrahman Al Dahesh, a Palestinian neuroscientist. He came from Palestine, studied in the USA, and is now at the Lahore Science Mela (LSM). How are you feeling here?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Thank you so much for having me today. It’s been really great to be part of LSM, and I feel excellent about it, as well as happy and grateful for all the people I’ve met and the students I’ve worked with. So, I’m feeling really thankful and fulfilled.

Hifz: We all love Palestine. We have an intense love with Palestinians and Muslims all around the world. So, what was your family and educational background? It’s a tough situation there in Gaza, Palestine, and the surrounding regions. How did you achieve this career?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Thank you so much for your question. My family is originally from Palestine, and in 1948, they were expelled from Palestine, and they went to Lebanon, where I was born.

So being born in Lebanon as a Palestinian doesn’t give you, I would say, the full rights you would have as compared to a Lebanese citizen there. But it’s definitely been, like, a good experience. I got a Fulbright scholarship for my Master’s in Neuroscience, and traveled to the United States. I actually just came back recently. 

Thank you for what you said about Pakistan’s love for Palestine. I can see it here. Almost everyone either wears a keffiyeh or the Palestine flag on their shirt. You can see flags all around the Mela.

It’s just that this love between the Pakistani people and the Palestinian people that I cherish and love. That’s why even before coming to Pakistan, I had many friends there, and they are like a second family to me. And yeah, I’m grateful to be here.

Hifz: As you studied in the U.S., and we see that the Western people are a bit off against that region, the eastern areas. So, how was your experience as a neuroscientist based in Palestine studying in the US? Did you ever feel some bias, restrictions, backlash, or hatred due to your nationality?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: I didn’t face any direct issues; the American people I met were very kind and welcoming. Unfortunately, due to changes in the government in the last year, there were definitely issues. For example, I was on a scholarship, but I couldn’t pursue an internship due to administrative issues.

But if I were to look at it from a wider view, there are definitely big issues, especially now, a whole chunk of discrimination against Palestinians. The visas of students and children coming from Gaza who want to get treatment are halted and stopped. This is definitely something that bothers me as a Palestinian, knowing that these children can receive treatment and, of course, all the policies as well. That was my personal experience during the two years.

Hifz: To me, as a common man, neuroscience is a very complex subject to pursue. What motivates you to pursue this career field? And as a recent graduate, where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: I wanted to understand how humans behave and how psychology works. I come from a science background. My bachelor’s is in chemistry. I wanted to join these two fields together. That’s how I came across the field of neuroscience.

I figured out that there’s a lot of power when people start understanding their brain, like getting to learn how they work, how all these memories are made, how feelings are created. There’s a lot of power that comes with it. I call it brain literacy. We become more literate about ourselves. In that way, we understand the world better. So that’s why I wanted to pursue neuroscience and also to communicate it.

Through the Neurochem Lab, which is my platform, I build stories and programs, creating an educational experience for children to learn about their brains in fun ways through storytelling. My connections are expanding, and I am hopeful that I will see this project growing in the next years.

And as a career, I would be very interested in creating such learning experiences. So, as an educator, I have a lot of questions about the brain. So, I think I will go through a research career as well.

Hifz: The cause that brings us here, the LSM, can you share your experience, how it is going, and what your expectations are? Have these expectations been fulfilled or not?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Yeah, it’s been an amazing experience to be there. And as I said to myself, to all these people and students, that it’s just very interesting to be surrounded by people who want to learn about science and are curious, being able to demonstrate something that would contribute to this curiosity for the students. So definitely this is something that is beyond my expectations.

You can see that the children are curious, they are interested, and they want to learn more. They have questions that they want answers to. A kid just came to me, and he said, like, What is a neuron? I love these kinds of questions. I love just talking to people, to children, especially about the brain. It was definitely a great experience and filled with connection and curiosity.

Hifz: The Khwarizmi Science Society, KSS, is organizing this event. So what ties do you have with KSS?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: My friend, Abeer Asif, is a Fulbright scholar. We met through a Fulbright conference. She connected me with KSS. Once they found out what I do, we had a meeting together. We aligned in really valuable ways. They were very collaborative. It’s a great organization, keeping the curiosity of science in Pakistan for children, and really helping children move in that direction, hopefully to inspire more scientists. 

I am sure that I will have a lifelong connection with the Khwarizmi Science Society through more Melas (LSM), more learning activities. So, I’m really excited to have this relationship with KSS and the people behind it.

Hifz: Let us know about your neuroscience exhibit at the LSM? How does it help to learn about brain activities?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Absolutely. At my exhibition stall, we first introduce the brain to the audience and how it is common across the animal kingdom. How other species have a brain, and the difference in the brain. We also touch on what’s common between our brains and the brains of other species.

And there’s the brain cell; it’s called the neuron, has a very special shape. We have pipe cleaners and materials that children can use to build their own cell. So, actually, if you go around the Mela, you will see children holding these colorful shapes, which are usually neurons.

We also had a workshop today, where we read a story. It’s an original story that I developed. It’s called the brain blooms. It follows two characters as one is a scientist and the other is his friend. This follows as the scientists build a device based on the brain. The children learn about the brain through that story.

Hifz: You are the founder of an edtech startup, “Neurochem Lab”, which makes neuroscience engaging and relatable for elementary and middle school students. Would you like to tell us about some of its achievements?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Neurochem Lab is an extension of my efforts to basically, like, how can we make neuroscience accessible to children? We develop stories and programs that make science very accessible, interactive, and fun through storytelling.

Working with schools, especially working with children from Palestine, is an achievement. I think there are usually projects that students work on throughout their learning experience. The fact that they continued doing these educational activities even during the war is, to me, a remarkable achievement. And hopefully, it was maybe a moment of relief for them during this, this horrible suffering and genocide that they were going through.

That’s my achievement so far, and being at the LSM is definitely an accomplishment in itself. For me, it’s a challenge because, as you know, I don’t speak Urdu. But many children still understood me when I spoke in English.

It’s a challenge to actually speak to an audience that doesn’t necessarily speak a language that I do. Even the story we read today was in Urdu, and I chose it intentionally so it would be inclusive, rather than reading it in English. But I had amazing volunteers working with me, who were facilitating the discussion. It was just great that, despite everything going on, the activities still turned out so well. By the grace of God, it was a huge success.

Hifz: Do you have any plans to collaborate in the future with Pakistan regarding the Neurochem Lab?

Abdulrahman Abou Dahesh: Definitely. So as I said, with KSS, I am hoping to have more science communication events, more participation. And with Neurochem Lab, we deliver an online learning experience for students. So, hopefully, I want to collaborate with schools in Pakistan to provide these online learning experiences to these children.

Hopefully, if there is enough interest, we can have a team based in Pakistan, one that already speaks the local languages, to lead Neurochem Lab classes with schools and children here. I think that would be a very exciting collaboration for me, and a meaningful expansion of our work. It would allow us to come here more often and broaden the radius of these experiences.

More from the author: Cracking the Enigma of Crimes by Nanotechnology with Dr. Shahid Nazir Paracha

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