A groundbreaking discovery in cell biology reshaped how we understand the body’s internal repair system. Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for uncovering key mechanisms behind autophagy — the process cells use to recycle damaged components. Autophagy, which means “self-eating,” allows cells to break down dysfunctional proteins and worn-out structures, converting them into usable building blocks. This process becomes especially active during stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation or fasting. Ohsumi’s research in yeast cells during the 1990s identified genes responsible for regulating autophagy, opening the door to understanding how this mechanism works in humans. Today, autophagy is studied in relation to aging, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune function. While fasting can trigger autophagy, the process also occurs naturally as part of normal cellular maintenance. Scientists continue to investigate how lifestyl...