What binds a man's nails, an onion's husk, and oak cork?
Programmed cell death. PCD.
It sounds grim, but it’s one of nature’s smartest tricks. You spot it in beasts, plants, mushrooms, slime molds, even yeast. The idea is simple: some cells choose to die on purpose to build a stronger structure.
What a paradox — death saves life!
Without PCD, our frame stalls out. Each day, every one of us sheds billions from trillions cells, yet fills the gap with fresh stock.
Look at cork, for example. Its dead cells become a shield. Their walls thicken, pores close, and hollow spaces fill with air and wax. That’s why cork is light, waterproof, soundproof, and resistant to heat.
It’s strange, but death here isn’t harmful — it’s necessary. The secret lies in precision: what must go, when, where, and how. As long as destruction is local and intentional, all is well.
Our beliefs are much the same. Some harden into cork-like layers that protect us. Yet while we grow inside, the world outside keeps shifting. Over time, our shield cracks. To stay alive, we must rebuild it.
For a full life, would you peel off a layer of your own?
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
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