Virtually every living thing on Earth, from Patagonian penguins to newborn human babies, has been touched by the synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. In fact,…
Category: Humans
I’m a doctor who helped rename PCOS to PMOS – a 10‑year process of listening to 14,000 patients and health professionals speak on how to improve care
A disease’s name can have a significant influence on its diagnosis and treatment – or lack thereof. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition that affects millions of people…
Study Exposes Risks of Emotional Bonds With AI Chatbots
Summary: A new study revealed that while people are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for emotional and mental health support, the vast majority of users view these systems as…
Ancient anaesthetic shows sophisticated surgical practice in Ming China.
Archaeologists have unearthed the first chemical evidence of an anaesthetic used in surgery in ancient China, providing new insight into the sophistication of Ming Dynasty medicine. The discovery was based…
Toggling Embodied Cognition via the Rubber Hand Illusion
Summary: A psychological replication study established an empirical link between a person’s abstract psychological identity and their physical, bodily awareness. The research utilizes the classic “rubber hand illusion” to demonstrate…
Economic Inequality May Drive Rising Youth Perfectionism
Summary: College students face substantially more intense pressure to be perfect than they did a generation ago. The research compiled data from 307 studies spanning 1989 to 2024, evaluating over…
Should you get a second medical opinion? A surgeon explains why doing so can make you a more confident patient
Imagine you have heartburn. For years you’ve managed with antacids, but one day you’re struggling to swallow steak without vomiting. Your gastroenterologist finds a large hiatal hernia, an enlarged opening…
Paternal Anxiety Rewires Embryonic Growth Settings
Summary: A father’s psychological stress prior to conception can actively alter his offspring’s physical growth via small molecular signals carried in sperm. The research demonstrates that prolonged pre-conception stress elevates…
Ancient mega-structure discovered in Romania
Archaeologists investigating a prehistoric settlement in northeastern Romania have uncovered evidence from a massive communal building that could transform our understanding of how some of Europe’s earliest large communities were…
Simple Dietary Switches Lower Clinical Depression
Summary: A randomized controlled tria demonstrated that incorporating a single glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie into a daily diet can significantly improve mental wellbeing and lower depression…
