Summary: Recent research contrasts the learning mechanisms of the human brain with those of deep learning in AI. Despite having fewer layers and slower, noisier dynamics, the brain can perform…
Category: Featured
Perinatal Depression: Decades of Elevated Mortality Risk
Summary: A new study highlights the long-term mortality risks associated with perinatal depression. Analyzing data from over 86,500 women, the research found that those experiencing depression during or shortly after…
Love’s Chemistry: How Dopamine Shapes Bonds and Breakups
Summary: Researchers uncover how dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, varies in response to social interactions, distinguishing between intimate and casual relationships. Their research, conducted on prairie voles, sheds light on the…
Tech innovations that caught our eye at CES 2024
A person looks at the Supernal S-A2 passenger electric VOTL aircraft at the Supernal booth during the CES tech show Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. Supernal is a…
Bulky additives could make cheaper solar cells last longer
Perovskite solar cells like this one, made by Xiwen Gong’s group, could make solar energy cheaper and more environmentally friendly—but they degrade faster than silicon. In a study published in…
Aesthetic Chills Chase Depression Away
Summary: A new study explores the potential of aesthetic chills, intense emotional responses characterized by shivers and goosebumps, as a novel intervention for depression. The research enrolled 96 individuals diagnosed…
Greening our Northern California home and cars cut our energy bills by $11,000 a year, but it wasn’t easy
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain As global carbon emissions from human activity hit an all-time high last year, my family zeroed out emissions from our home and cars while getting an…
Targeting Inflammation Reduces ALS Symptoms
Summary: New research reveals that in people with ALS, structural changes in neurons activate immune cells, leading to inflammation and reduced motor function. A study explores the correlation between neuron…
Laugh Lines: Humor Differences Between Men and Women Revealed
Summary: A new study analyzing print cartoons from 1930-2010 reveals intriguing gender differences in humor preferences. Men tend to favor visual jokes, while women prefer humor involving politics or close…
