Renowned Spanish artist Rosalía has surprised fans by dedicating one of her songs to a young researcher from Úbeda, Miguel López, who works at the prestigious Harvard University. The reason for this gesture is the discovery of a molecule that López has named 'RyDEP', in honor of the singer and her song 'Despechá'.
López explained in an interview that the molecule, shaped like a castanet, helps viruses hide from the immune system, making cells 'despechadas' (heartbroken/spiteful). This scientific finding occurred during his research at the US university.
“"What happens with these viruses is that when they infect cells, they make them 'despechadas' because, even though the cell wants to defend itself, it goes crazy having this protein that helps it hide from the immune system."
The encounter between Rosalía and López took place during the artist's concert at the TD Garden in Boston, on June 11. After overcoming a previous cancellation of dates due to a family emergency, the concert marked Rosalía's return to her tour in America.
During the show, Rosalía engaged with the audience and had the opportunity to meet Miguel López. Interested in his discovery, she wished him success in his scientific career. Afterward, she dedicated the song 'Sauvignon Blanc' to him, which is part of her latest album, 'Lux'.
Miguel López, originally from Úbeda, has an international scientific background, having studied in Holland at the age of 17. Currently, as a scholarship researcher at Harvard, he aims to continue discovering new molecules that he can name after his favorite artists.
