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- geowarnerflipped into Personal Improvement/Leadership
Harvard psychologist: If you use any of these 7 phrases every day, you 'may have low emotional intelligence'
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive and evaluate feelings accurately in ourselves and in others. The most emotionally intelligent people …
M Snufalufagusflipped into News of the MomentThis new cement could become America’s next big bumper crop and help save the world as we know it
Colorado-based Prometheus Materials and other emerging companies are developing new biocements that could help meet the world’s growing concrete demands and avert climate catastrophe. The Bio-Block Spiral is a small, short wall, but it may be a bulwark against a giant threat: climate change. The …
Chase Gietterflipped into Human Experience
My Condition Makes Me Fall In Love With Everyone | BORN DIFFERENT
27-YEAR-OLD Alexandra was born with a rare genetic condition called Williams syndrome, which makes her one of the most friendly people you can come across. Alexandra describes the condition as "kind of like Down's syndrome, but we're missing chromosome seven." While the condition affects people differently, older sister Victoria identifies many of the classic traits in Alexandra: "It's characterised by cognitive and developmental issues, highly sociable personalities, an affinity for music [and] similar facial features" - including "starburst-blue eyes." The two sisters are inseparable, spending every day together - and Victoria insists that "it doesn't feel tiring to match her happy energy - she's always been that way, it's always been a consistent in my life." But she is very protective of her sister, as Alexandra's highly sociable tendencies meant that she used to "wander off and just give anybody a hug." This was something that Victoria had to teach her not to do, out of concern that "not everyone is friendly, not everyone has good intentions." Alexandra's zest for life is still as strong as ever though - and she has found a passion for clothing and fashion. In recent years the sisters have developed an online business selling clothing that they design and make together - and Alexandra takes the lead creatively: "All of the designs have been Alexandra-approved before they go on the website." Their items are often emblazoned with mottos that Alexandra resonates with - such as "Stay Weird" and "Normal Is Boring" - and Alexandra models every item herself. The sisters donate a percentage of the profits they make to the Williams Syndrome Association, a charity that has introduced Alexandra to other young people living with Williams syndrome "all over the world" - close friends she now talks to every day without fail over video call. Despite the connections Alexandra has made, Williams syndrome is so rare that the sisters have felt it important to use their social media channels to educate on what living with Williams syndrome looks like. They post regularly to Instagram and TikTok - despite Victoria initially feeling very cautious about exposing her sister to negativity. Her fears were realised when she saw trolls "make comments about my sister" - something that did "irk" her in the beginning - but Alexandra's defiant positivity has enabled them to create "platforms where there is love." In doing so, Victoria has been able to "see things from [Alexandra's] …
More stories from Biology
- M Snufalufagusflipped into News of the Moment
This new cement could become America’s next big bumper crop and help save the world as we know it
Colorado-based Prometheus Materials and other emerging companies are developing new biocements that could help meet the world’s growing concrete demands and avert climate catastrophe. The Bio-Block Spiral is a small, short wall, but it may be a bulwark against a giant threat: climate change. The …
This state is counting the human casualties from a drug meant for animals
In West Virginia and elsewhere, dealers mix fentanyl with the powerful animal sedative xylazine. NBC News was able to arrange overseas purchases of the drug within minutes. Dr. Steven Corder didn’t think his job treating people addicted to fentanyl in Wheeling, West Virginia, could get any harder, …
- Chase Gietterflipped into Human Experience
My Condition Makes Me Fall In Love With Everyone | BORN DIFFERENT
27-YEAR-OLD Alexandra was born with a rare genetic condition called Williams syndrome, which makes her one of the most friendly people you can come across. Alexandra describes the condition as "kind of like Down's syndrome, but we're missing chromosome seven." While the condition affects people differently, older sister Victoria identifies many of the classic traits in Alexandra: "It's characterised by cognitive and developmental issues, highly sociable personalities, an affinity for music [and] similar facial features" - including "starburst-blue eyes." The two sisters are inseparable, spending every day together - and Victoria insists that "it doesn't feel tiring to match her happy energy - she's always been that way, it's always been a consistent in my life." But she is very protective of her sister, as Alexandra's highly sociable tendencies meant that she used to "wander off and just give anybody a hug." This was something that Victoria had to teach her not to do, out of concern that "not everyone is friendly, not everyone has good intentions." Alexandra's zest for life is still as strong as ever though - and she has found a passion for clothing and fashion. In recent years the sisters have developed an online business selling clothing that they design and make together - and Alexandra takes the lead creatively: "All of the designs have been Alexandra-approved before they go on the website." Their items are often emblazoned with mottos that Alexandra resonates with - such as "Stay Weird" and "Normal Is Boring" - and Alexandra models every item herself. The sisters donate a percentage of the profits they make to the Williams Syndrome Association, a charity that has introduced Alexandra to other young people living with Williams syndrome "all over the world" - close friends she now talks to every day without fail over video call. Despite the connections Alexandra has made, Williams syndrome is so rare that the sisters have felt it important to use their social media channels to educate on what living with Williams syndrome looks like. They post regularly to Instagram and TikTok - despite Victoria initially feeling very cautious about exposing her sister to negativity. Her fears were realised when she saw trolls "make comments about my sister" - something that did "irk" her in the beginning - but Alexandra's defiant positivity has enabled them to create "platforms where there is love." In doing so, Victoria has been able to "see things from [Alexandra's] …
