In the high plains of western Texas, 600 or so farms in Gaines County are projected to receive an additional $258 million in government payments over the next decade under President Trump’s…
Category: Life
Promise of Reward Changes How We Pay Attention
Summary: A new study reveals that our brains treat sensitivity and decision bias as separate processes when rewards are at stake. Using eye-tracking and EEG during a visual task, researchers…
Do Dog Faces Shape Behavior?
Summary: Short-nosed dog breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are often perceived as calm, affectionate companions—but their behavior is influenced by more than just head shape. A new study of…
These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart
Call them nature’s own luxury high-rise condo rentals. Squamellaria plants, from the same family as coffee and quinine, are fat aerial tubers perched high in tropical trees. In Fiji, one…
How Kids Learn What Emotions Really Mean
Key Questions Answered Q: Why do young children struggle to recognize adult emotions?A: Young children rely heavily on facial perception and haven’t yet developed the conceptual knowledge needed to fully…
The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved
A mysterious disease has been turning sea stars into goo since 2013. Now, there’s a leading suspect behind the killings — a bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida, researchers report August 4 in Nature Ecology &…
Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk
Key Questions Answered Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked…
Fat Molecule May Control How You Feel Emotion
Key Questions Answered Q: What did researchers discover about the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor?A: They mapped how it activates different brain signaling pathways, offering insight into how mood and emotion are…
Empathy Can Be Emotionally Conditioned
Key Questions Answered Q: Can empathy be learned through emotional reward?A: Yes. The study found that when someone else’s joy is consistently paired with personal reward, the brain begins to…
Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections
Probiotics aren’t universally gut-friendly, a study in mice suggests. At least one type of usually beneficial gut bacteria may invite an unwanted guest. A single dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria,…
