Milenaria, Ciencia y arte

Editorially number 25

Luis Fernando Ortega-Varela — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It's 2025, a great time for millenaria to present its 25th issue. We're starting with our cover, a tribute to the microphotographers who have made enormous scientific contributions, but who have also reshaped art through events like Nikon Small World over the past 50 years. Since we're talking about micro things, narrower than a hair, prominent health professionals tell us about the huge problem of microplastic pollution and the implementation of public policies to help mitigate it ...

Un balcón del cielo

Berenice Yahuaca Juárez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Vereda húmeda vestida de flores,
aroma de cedro y encino, de musgo sus colores
con sonidos excelsos de inefable melodía ...

En una orilla de la laguna

Berenice Yahuaca Juárez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Raíz de sangre michoacana, alma de sentir purépecha,
de la coqueta cantera rosa a la altiva catrina que acecha ...

Drawing the days No. 24

Mayuli Rojas-Ortega — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cedido para el número 25 de la revista por parte de:

Webcómics donde puede ser que ya te haya dibujado.
Más de mí: dibujandolosdias.com about.me/mayuli

Feathers in flight

Carmen del Pilar Ortega Varela — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On May 9th of this year, the exhibition "Feathers in Flight" presented by the Quetzal group was inaugurated at the University Cultural Center of our main educational institution ...

Microplastics: small fragments invisible to the human eye

Ramón Guillermo Ortiz García, Israel Ríos García — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

While it has long been known that plastics contribute to the pollution of the planet due to their excessive production and minimal recycling, a new microscopic threat arises from them: microplastics. These are defined as particles less than 5 millimeters in size, this characteristic makes them almost omnipresent, being found in an infinite number of environments. Recently, microplastics have been reported in human organs and tissues, including arteries and embryonic tissue. The impact of microplastics on human health is still unknown and is still under investigation. Likewise, global policies are already beginning to emerge that seek safer and more sustainable plastics, these efforts aim to reduce the environmental impact and their probable issues to human health.

The impact of a Science Club on scientific outreach: aurora borealis as an example

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific dissemination in the educational field involves hard work for teachers in understanding their environment in the digital era, where there is a lot of inaccurate information on various topics that young people receive, so teachers must guide them beyond the classroom and institutional programs. For this reason, High School No. 15 of the University of Guadalajara created the Science Club, composed of teachers from different disciplines, encouraging critical thinking, creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration in students between 15 and 19 years old, who wish to expand their knowledge in different scientific areas, with personalized advice. An example of this was the presentation of the project “The dance of Eos and Boreas”, in a scientific festival organized by the Latin American Society of Science and Technology (SOLACYT), which dealt with the northern lights, explaining how they originate. In this way, the students learned what qualitative research with an explanatory scope is, in addition to the theoretical content, making prototypes (models) that allowed them to explain this phenomenon. This project provided a quality interaction between the teachers, the young students and the knowledge.

Evaluation of Wind Forecast Models

Damian Campuzano Milian, Erasmo Cadenas Calderón, Rafael Campos Amezcua — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered how we know if it will be windy or rainy tomorrow? Weather forecasting not only helps us decide what to wear, but it is also crucial for sectors such as agriculture, energy production, and disaster prevention. From planning crop planting to harnessing wind for electricity, weather predictions have a direct impact on our daily lives. In this context, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is a powerful tool that allows us to simulate and predict atmospheric phenomena. However, like any model, it needs to be evaluated to ensure its predictions are reliable. In this article, we explain how this validation process works, using data from sources such as NASA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). We focus on La Mata, a small town in Oaxaca with great potential for wind energy. Here, the wind is not only part of the landscape but also a promise of clean and renewable energy. Validating the WRF model’s predictions involves comparing them with real-world data, using both visual tools and mathematical methods. We found that combining these strategies provides a much more accurate and reliable picture of wind behavior. This type of study not only enhances the science behind weather predictions but also has a real impact on people’s lives by improving resource management and promoting sustainable development.

Characteristics and benefits of organic foods in Mexico

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Health is vital for human beings, so each person’s diet has a close relationship with health. The food industry has a great commitment to society by developing and distributing foods that contribute to consumer food security and care for the environment. This article talks about the benefit of consuming organic products for health and the environment, the certification process, government support in Mexico and the price of organic products.

Milpa Grasshopper as an alternative protein

Engineer Karina Denise Álvarez-Contreras, PhD Andres Alejandro Damian-Reyna — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Interest in the use of alternative proteins has increased significantly in recent years, due to the search for better nutritional options and concerns about the environmental impact of meat production. Among these alternative sources, insects such as grasshoppers are consumed in some regions of Mexico and have a high protein content, surpassing traditional meats such as chicken and beef. Various studies have investigated the nutritional profile of these insects, finding that they offer high levels of protein, lipids, vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. In addition, food products fortified with grasshopper flour have been developed, demonstrating good acceptability and high levels of digestibility. These findings suggest that insect-derived proteins are an excellent option to improve the nutritional characteristics of various foods.

Un cerebro saludable y la alimentación

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The brain controls all the vital functions of the body; however, neurodegenerative diseases are a type of cognitive disorders that are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain, and the risk of suffering from them increases with age, affecting memory, learning, behavior, and sensory and motor functions, negatively impacting the lives of millions of people around the world. Existing treatments are aimed at treating symptoms, there being no therapy that stops these diseases. Currently, it is proposed that certain nutrients in foods are beneficial for the brain and in many cases are useful for preventing neurodegenerative diseases linked to brain aging.

Nanotechnology applied to soil rescue for food security

Alma Rosa Ayala Virelas, Nuria Gómez Dorantes, Víctor López-Maldonado — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Soil is crucial for sustaining life, providing essential nutrients, storing carbon, and supporting 95% of global food production. However, soil quality is declining due to factors like erosion and biodiversity loss. Only 11% of Earth’s surface is suitable for agriculture, and one-third of cultivable land is degraded. This degradation affects food security and contributes to climate change. Campaigns like the Global Soil Partnership and World Soil Day have been launched to address this issue. Human activities such as agriculture and urbanization accelerate soil degradation. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions, such as nanofertilizers and nanoparticles, to improve soil quality, reduce contaminants, and increase agricultural productivity.

Beekeeping transhumance

Eder Ramos Hernández, Blanca Patricia Castellanos-Potenciano — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Within what is now known as “modern beekeeping,” “bee transhumance” is a practice that involves moving or transporting bee hives from one place to another. Although bee transhumance is a productive strategy, it contributes to ensuring the pollination of the species that depend on this process. At the same time, it allows us to appreciate the botanical richness of our country through the distinctive color, flavor, and aroma of the honey harvested. It also helps to foster a broader appreciation of the importance of bees and our country’s biodiversity. Thus, the objective of this article is to present the benefits this activity provides, from an ecological and economic perspective, the challenges that transhumance represents for beekeepers; the states where this activity is practiced and the blooms that represent them from a beekeeping perspective; as well as the positive ecological and social impacts that can be achieved by carrying out this activity in Mexico.

Inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in education

Mireya Ramos Rendón, Rosalynda Sánchez Vázquez, Ricardo Adolfo Manivel Chávez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence-based technology has seen significant development, particularly in the last decade. This technology is based on creating programs capable of simulating human intelligence, which has found applications in diverse areas such as: industry, transportation, communications, education, among others. Although recent, its inclusion in the educational sector has shown potential as a tool to promote the teaching-learning process with applications to create personalized courses, virtual tutoring, virtual environments, educational materials and planning, among others. Despite the promising outlook, its use poses ethical and pedagogical challenges that must be analyzed, as well as the need to regulate its use. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze the role of artificial intelligence as an educational tool

Challenges of teaching English in Nicolaitian classrooms

Kary, Gracy Chávez Fabián, Héctor Aarón Ríos Mendoza — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article reflects on the English language learning of the new generation of students at UMSNH. It also explores the primary challenges faced by EFL teachers within the context of Nicolaita Humanism, the New Mexican School, and their necessity to harmonize their work with the Common European Framework of Reference requirements, human rights enjoyment, gender equity, and the correct use of new information technologies. A positive attitude is recommended when facing the new summits presented by EFL teaching in order to reach educational objectives related to their field of instruction.

Importance of Magical Towns for the ecosystem and cultural preservation of Mexico

José Manuel Castellanos Martínez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In addition to the economic, cultural and touristic importance of the Magical Towns due to their wealth and cultural and material heritage, their relevance for environmental conservation is recognized due to the natural and ecosystemic wealth found within their territorial limits. Thus, this article demonstrates, through cartography, the ecosystemic resources within or near those localities recognized as Magical Towns in the country. With this, it is proposed to integrate the figure of Magical Towns for the comprehensive design of environmental policies, oriented towards ecosystemic conservation as a complement to the touristic use of these territories.

San Luis Potosí and the pandemic: Unraveling health and social impact

José Alfredo Mata Lozano, Miguel Ángel Mendoza Romo, José Arturo Valdés Méndez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores how COVID19 impacted the state of San Luis Potosí from the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 through 2022, analyzing key factors such as case distribution, affected population characteristics, and how social and economic conditions influenced virus spread. A major highlight is how the pandemic worsened health inequalities: groups with higher poverty levels and individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension faced greater risks of infection and complications. Additionally, important differences in the effectiveness of various vaccines administered in the state were identified, with some offering more protection than others. With these data, the study underscores the importance of considering local particularities when making public health decisions, especially in implementing prevention strategies, distributing resources, and prioritizing interventions to protect the most vulnerable groups.

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the 2030 Agenda

Victor Hugo Ortiz Montalvo, María Jimena Arciga Ornelas, Jesús Ortiz Montalvo — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 2030 Agenda is a global initiative of the United Nations (UN), which contains 17 goals for sustainable development with 169 goals focused on guaranteeing population wellbeing and eradicating the main problems of humanity in terms of health, climate change, social inequalities, gender inequality, as well as the overexploitation of natural resources. With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19 and its expansion worldwide, the action plan of the 2030 agenda suffered various impacts that threaten the fulfillment of its objectives and goals, which since before the pandemic were not on track to be met, but with the arrival of the pandemic, the problems of humanity that gave rise to the 2030 agenda increased and were generated setbacks in the social, economic, political, environmental and human rights fields.

Viruses and pandemics: Are we prepared?

Guadalupe Gissela Marín-Hernández, Patricia Yazmín Figueroa-Chávez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Diseases caused by viruses have been known for many years, some of the oldest diseases known to mankind, such as smallpox and polio, are caused by viruses. These tiny microorganisms are infectious agents that need a host cell to reproduce, causing a wide variety of illnesses ranging from a common cold to more serious illnesses such as the Ebola virus. These viruses spread rapidly and can affect many people from different geographical areas of the world and when they get out of control they produce a pandemic. Throughout history, we have faced numerous pandemics that have left a deep mark on society and public health. However, we are not fully prepared to deal with this type of disease caused by viruses. Despite the important achievements made during the Covid19 pandemic, science continues to advance to overcome existing limitations and find answers to the challenges that these diseases still pose.

Warning! A silent killer has settled in our skin

Martha Estrella García Pérez, Paulina Calvillo Monroy — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you notice a pigmented, exophytic, asymmetrical, and colorful growth on your skin that continues to enlarge over time, be careful! You could be facing a melanoma, a skin neoplasm that develops in the epidermis, specifically in the cells responsible for producing pigment, the melanocytes. It is a rare neoplasm, but with a high mortality rate. Conducting self-examinations of any suspicious lesions and seeking early diagnosis are crucial steps in ensuring effective treatment

The Advances in the Treatment of Radiodermatitis: Current and Future Perspectives

Jose Fernando Covian-Nares, Estefanía Arredondo Melgarejo, MsC — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Radiation therapy is used to combat cancer cells, but it can cause adverse side effects such as itching, blisters, inflammation, and, in more serious cases, lesions with skin detachment, known as radiodermatitis. The severity varies depending on the dose, type of radiation, and the patient’s health condition. The most affected areas are usually skin folds and regions with thin skin. This article briefly covers current medical treatments, natural alternatives under study, and a future outlook on the development of new strategies for prevention, treatment, and symptom management. These options can improve skin healing and relieve discomfort, helping to maintain the continuity of cancer treatment and preventing serious skin complications

Exploring Ferroptosis

Donovan Peña Montes — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death triggered by dysregulation in the metabolism of iron, glutathione, and lipids, a process characterized by progressive oxidation of cell membranes, where iron acts as a catalyst for destructive reactions. Researchers have found significant links between ferroptosis and various conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cellular aging. However, its potential as a tumor suppressor in cancer has also been explored. In this article, we will explore this fascinating process that reveals the dual nature of iron: essential for life but potentially destructive.

Medicinal Plants: A Valuable Source of Pharmacological Compounds for Cancer Treatment

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in our country and despite major advances in the treatment of this disease, there are still many patients whose therapies fail. Therefore, cancer remains one of the most serious diseases and one of the greatest challenges to human health worldwide. For this reason, there is a constant need to develop new effective and accessible antineoplastic drugs. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries for medical purposes and are the basis of modern medicine. Many chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer are molecules isolated from medicinal plants or their synthetic derivatives. Therefore, natural product research offers enormous potential to provide useful information on new chemical structures and possible new mechanisms of action related to the development of new drugs.

The traffic rules of the cells

Paulo Ignacio León Sánchez, Lorena Martínez-Alcantar, Jesus Campos García — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Movement is essential for life. Cells, as the fundamental units of living organisms possess the ability to move. This cellular movement, known as cellular locomotion, is observed in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. Cellular locomotion, is not only crucial for individual survival of cells but it is also necessary for the coordinated functioning of entire organisms. Migration is a specific type of cellular locomotion that occurs in a given biological context, typically directed towards a target or guided by specific signals to a particular destination. In humans, cell migration is a natural and a vital process during organogenesis and embryonic development. It plays a key role in tissue repair responses, including wound healing and angiogenesis. The functioning of the immune system heavily relies on cell migration. In cancer, however, this natural mechanism becomes deregulated. Tumor cells acquire the ability to migrate, but instead of doing so to fulfill normal functions, they move in a disordered and invasive manner (process known as metastasis). While cell migration is a vital process for life, its disruption becomes a double-edged sword that tumor cells exploit to move uncontrollably and colonize healthy tissue.

Chemotherapeutics from natural sources, a closer look

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Drugs used as chemotherapeutics in the treatment of various types of cancer, are substances whose main function is to prevent cancer cells from growing, dividing or producing more cells. This is achieved through various biological mechanisms by which these substances can act to achieve the destruction and elimination of cancer cells (cytotoxic effect). Currently, ther e isa great diversity of medications for this purpose. The objective of this document is to provide, In a clear and brief manner, general and practical information about medicines of natural origin, used as chemotherapeutics (effects, mechanisms, trends and challenges.

A co-evolutionary battle to be the best

Ana Maria Huerta, Rafael Salgado — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The interaction between plants and their fungi is a clear example of a constant battle between plant defense systems and fungal infection strategies. Fungi invade plants through wounds, stomata, or other structures, and begin to decompose plant tissues to feed. This invasion triggers a defense response in the plant, which includes the production of antimicrobial compounds, the formation of physical barriers, and the reinforcement of cell walls to limit the spread of the fungus. However, many phytopathogenic fungi, such as Botrytis cinerea, have mechanisms to evade or counteract plant defenses, allowing them to continue their infection and reproduction. As the fungus spreads, it can cause various symptoms in the plant, such as leaf spots, wilting, rot, or fruit deformities. This damage not only affects the health of the plant but can also reduce agricultural productivity. The plant, in its struggle to survive, can experience stress that makes it more vulnerable to other pathogens and adverse conditions

Cells. Sex does matter in drug research

Luis Mauricio Rodríguez Salazar, Blanca Estela Gutiérrez Barba — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Given the ethical challenges involved in vertebrate research, the use of parasitic invertebrates and flies has been proposed as alternative models. However, this choice may imply a denial of the rights of these animals, and by omitting mention of sex, it loses sight of a complexity that, in many cases, exceeds that of sex in rats. In these species, in addition to chromosomal definition, sex is influenced by environmental factors. The training of researchers must include a gender and sex equity perspective, recognizing differences even at the cellular level. Even within the binary model, there are multiple differences between men and women, such as the density and expression of cellular progesterone receptors or the lower concentration of certain enzymes in one sex or the other. However, much research continues to be conducted almost exclusively with men as subjects. Until we fully understand the biology of human sex, both in laboratory models and cell lines, the variable “sex” should be included in all studies, in accordance with the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines. These guidelines propose that cellular, molecular, and biochemical biology establish the chromosomal sex of the sample. However, nothing is said about environmentally determined sex in various animal species. Systematically including the variable sex would enrich our knowledge of biological differences and similarities, helping to reduce disparities in medical treatment. Paradoxically, a treatment can be unequal precisely when it is applied equally, without considering individual differences, as is the case with sex.

Towards a typology of independent candidacies

Héctor Chávez Gutiérrez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper offers a brief overview of Mexico’s political evolution from its independence through the establishment of a system in which political parties were initially prohibited, to one where, by the early 20th century, these organizations had secured a monopoly over elected positions. It also examines the efforts that began in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to revive independent candidacies, culminating in their formal recognition within the Mexican legal framework. The study concludes with a proposed typology of the so-called independent candidacies.

Three questions about the Gulf of Mexico

Rosenda Aguilar Aguilar, Salvador García Espinosa — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the inaugural speech delivered by Donald Trump as President of the United States of America in early 2025, he announced the signing of an executive order by which the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the Gulf of America. The mere proposal sparked a wide range of opinions and concerns, from those who labeled it nonsensical to those who saw it as a threat to Mexico’s maritime territory. Within this context, the aim of the present article is to clarify key aspects regarding the delimitation of seas as an integral part of a country’s territory.

The indolence of the Latino Vote in favor of Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election

Manuel Adolfo Alvarez Oseguera, Manuel Alain Alvarez Alberto — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald J. Trump was reelected as the 45th President of the United States, following a failed reelection attempt four years earlier in 2020. At that time, it seemed that the political career of the businessman and television personality had come to an end. However, in a sudden political resurgence, Trump’s popularity began to rise sharply, bringing him back onto the political radar as a serious contender for the upcoming presidential election. This resurgence can be attributed to a number of factors, including the poor performance of then-President Joe Biden in the presidential debates, as well as a failed assassination attempt that ultimately propelled Trump to the top of the “undecided electorate’s” preferences. Many viewed him as the candidate who would restore power and prominence to the U.S., driven by a form of nationalism that often has xenophobic undertones.
This paper will focus on the so-called “Latino vote,” which saw an increase in support for Trump in the 2024 election compared to the 2016 and 2020 elections. We will also analyze the anti-immigrant sentiments of individuals descended from undocumented immigrants, as well as those who have regularized their immigration status but initially arrived in the U.S. without documentation. These groups now often turn their backs on newer migrants due to a perceived fear of displacement, giving rise to a racial phenomenon in which Latino immigrants, having secured their own legal status, adopt exclusionary attitudes against others from their own racial or ethnic background.

The voices in schizophrenia: A therapeutic potential

Mariel Anahí Pérez Rodríguez — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Auditory hallucinations, commonly known as “voices,” have historically been linked to schizophrenia and explored over time without reaching a precise understanding of their origin or function. In ancient times, voices were attributed to messages that gods sent to their prophets or as a result of demonic possession, also being explained physiologically by imbalances in humors or a stone hidden in the head. Currently, bolstering a possible origin of the voices and perhaps an explanation could shed light on their complexity and subjective function.

The Importance of Philosophy in the Training of Scientists and Scientific Theories

Luis Armando Gálvez Ordaz, Angel Daniel Ramírez Herrera — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of philosophy in scientific research, starting from a globalized world where human beings are challenged in all the roles they play. To raise awareness among present and future scientists, it is necessary to recognize the historical, philosophical, and conceptual framework of the theories they follow, as well as the new ones that are created. Furthermore, for there to be progress in science based on dialogue, it is essential to recognize the logic from which the theories come to avoid unnecessary friction and to expand what is known about the objects of research, having as a premise that the truth is not found in the specializations of science but in the different forms generated by the consciousness of a single object to be investigated.

Clinical and Research Advances in Dementia Prevention: Biomarkers and Early Signs

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, are among the leading causes of morbidity in the adult population. Furthermore, their incidence increases with aging. The growth of the older adult population drives the search for effective methods for the timely detection of susceptibility to develop dementia. The search for a differential diagnosis in preclinical stages requires techniques that encompass physiological, morphological, and behavioral parameters, as current diagnoses are initially made through clinical criteria. In Mexico, observation is the primary technique used as the first approach to the condition. We conducted a systematic review of various techniques, such as biomarkers, clinical aspects (early signs and symptoms of cognitive decline) and predisposition to develop dementia, proposing alternatives such as the analysis of electroencephalographic activity and the assessment of visuospatial memory quality