Dietary RNA Molecules May Hold the Key to Slowing Cellular Aging

Summary: Living longer doesn’t always mean living healthier, and researchers are exploring how diet can extend healthspan. A study in worms shows that specific dietary RNA molecules protect cells from…

A grapevine bacteria may help douse wildfire-tainted wine’s ashy aftertaste

Grape plant bacteria might help mitigate smoke taint in wine by breaking down chemicals that evoke an ashy taste.

Eric Riddell – Functional Ecologists

In this blog post, we hear from Associate Editor Eric Riddell, Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina.  Eric Riddell holding a gray cheeked salamander (Plethodon metcalfi) in a respirometry chamber.…

Vision in Challenging Environments – from Darkness to Dazzling Light – Functional Ecologists

Zuzana Musilova and Sara Mae Stieb When animals look out into their world, they don’t all see the same thing. For some, light is abundant, even overwhelming. For others, it…

Psilocybin Worsens Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Summary: New research shows psilocybin, often studied as a treatment for mental health disorders, may worsen symptoms of postpartum depression in mice. Mothers given the drug showed more anxiety, avoidance…

Alzheimer’s Study Finds Blood-Brain Barrier Largely Intact

Summary: A new study suggests that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains intact in a widely used mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Using a tracer molecule and advanced analysis, scientists found…

High Pollen Levels Tied to Rising Suicide Risk

Summary: A U.S. study combining pollen and suicide data from over a decade shows that high pollen days are linked to a measurable rise in suicide risk. The risk increased…

What’s the genetic secret to living past 110?

There’s no escaping the unrelenting passage of time, but supercentenarians who live to see their 110th birthday have a peculiar ability to postpone the inevitable. A thorough health evaluation of…

Every Heartbeat Shapes Thoughts and Emotions

Summary: Researchers emphasize that the heart and brain are deeply interconnected, with every heartbeat influencing cognition and emotion within milliseconds. This link helps explain why cardiovascular diseases like hypertension often…

Skin-to-Skin Contact Boosts Brain Development

Summary: Very preterm infants who received more skin-to-skin contact during their hospital stay showed stronger development in brain regions tied to stress and emotional regulation. Brain scans revealed that longer…