FDA claims on COVID-19 vaccine safety are unsupported by reliable data – and could severely hinder vaccine access

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to drastically change procedures for testing vaccine safety and approving vaccines, based on unproven claims that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines caused the death of…

Mental Illness Can Also Bring Strengths

Summary: Mental illness is typically defined by its challenges, but growing evidence shows it is also linked to surprising strengths. Certain psychological conditions are associated with enhanced creativity, social sensitivity,…

Ancient DNA reveals China’s first ‘pet’ cat wasn’t the house cat

The house cat (Felis catus) slunk into China in the eighth century. But long before that, the ancient Chinese were by no means catless. Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) might have…

AI Is Changing the Way Humans Grieve, Remember, and Face Death

Summary: Generative artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how humans process grief, remembrance, and mortality. Digital reconstructions of the deceased may offer comfort, but they also risk blurring the natural boundary…

Cognitive Profiles in Schizophrenia Are Being Ignored

Summary: A major scientific review reveals a deep knowledge gap in how cognition is affected when schizophrenia and personality disorders occur together. Despite the high prevalence and severe outcomes tied…

Europe picks companies to help build Argonaut moon lander

Europe’s plans to develop a robotic lunar lander are moving ahead with the announcement of an Italy-led consortium that will build a key element of the spacecraft designed to secure…

Hormones reflect the impacts of reproductive rest on subsequent pregnancy in a marine predator – Functional Ecologists

In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, we’re doing things the Weddell seal way! In her recently published paper: “Hormones reflect the impacts of reproductive rest on subsequent pregnancy in…

Creativity Key to Slowing Brain Aging

Summary: Regular creative activity is linked to a younger-looking brain and slower brain aging, according to a large international brain-imaging analysis. People who regularly danced, made music, created visual art,…

LiDAR survey leads to unexpected castle discovery

A previously unknown medieval castle has been discovered in the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland, following a study of high-resolution LiDAR maps. The castle was identified in the Töbeli area while…

Round 2: Watch Senate hearing for Jared Isaacman’s re-nomination as NASA chief on Dec. 3

The U.S. Senate will hold a hearing to consider billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s re-nomination for NASA chief on Wednesday (Dec. 3), and you can watch the action live. The…