Summary: War exposure in Syrian refugee children triggered unique DNA methylation changes, marking genes involved in brain development and stress responses. These epigenetic changes suggest potential long-term effects on health…
Category: Life
How Hunter-Gatherer Kids Learn Lifelong Skills by Age Six
Summary: Hunter-gatherer children in the Congo Basin learn critical skills like hunting, gathering, and childcare by age six or seven, thanks to a unique social learning environment. Unlike Western societies,…
Clams use fiber optics to channel sunlight to symbiotic algae
In a discovery that blurs the line between biology and technology, scientists have found that heart-shaped clams use fiber optic–like structures to channel sunlight through their shells in much the…
Robots Help Unlock the Mystery of Human Sense of Self
Summary: A new study explores how robots can model and test aspects of the human sense of self, offering new insights into this complex phenomenon. Robots can simulate processes like…
Humans are adapting to global warming. What are the policy implications
On [September 23rd, 2024], the New York Times ran a David Wallace-Wells column called “Our Adaptation to Global Warming Is Largely Fictional” featuring “a new, eye-opening paper,” entitled “Are We Adapting to Climate Change?”…
New Gene-Editing Tool Targets Mutations with Unmatched Precision
Summary: A breakthrough tool called Helicase-Assisted Continuous Editing (HACE) allows scientists to create precise genetic mutations in specific genes without affecting the rest of the genome. By combining helicase enzymes…
How Depression Alters Stress, Health, and Lifespan
Summary: Depression disrupts the body’s stress systems, causing physical health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, and reducing life expectancy by 7-10 years. The condition triggers brain structure changes,…
Mapping Protein Changes Across Aging
Summary: Researchers have developed the Mouse Aging Proteomic Atlas, a comprehensive database detailing protein changes in major tissues as mice age. By analyzing proteomes and transcriptomes across tissues like the…
How Stressful Events Alter Memories
Summary: Researchers have discovered how stress disrupts memory specificity, leading to generalized aversive memories—a hallmark of PTSD. Stress increases endocannabinoid release, enlarging memory engrams in the brain, which triggers fearful…
