Summary: A new study reveals that inflammation and immune system activation are closely linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in those resistant to standard antidepressants. Researchers analyzed gene expression…
Category: Life
Targeting Liver X Receptor Beta for Depression Treatment
Summary: A recent review highlights the potential of liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) as a target for treating depression and anxiety. Known for regulating cholesterol, LXRβ is emerging as a…
Some tadpoles don’t poop for weeks. That keeps their pools clean
Some tadpoles don’t poop for the first weeks of their lives. At least, that’s the case for Eiffinger’s tree frogs (Kurixalus eiffingeri), scientists report September 22 in Ecology. Eiffinger’s tree…
AI Admissions Essays Align with Privileged Male Writing Patterns
Summary: Researchers analyzed AI-generated and human-written college admissions essays, finding that AI-generated essays resemble those written by male students from privileged backgrounds. AI essays tended to use longer words and…
What separates human thinking from that of other animals and when did our uniqueness emerge?
The human mind is unlike any other. It’s the key that unlocked language, culture, abstract reasoning, long-term planning, and large-scale political coordination — all the cognitive features that set us…
Dual-Targeting Drug Halts Tau Accumulation in Alzheimer’s
Summary: Scientists have developed a drug that targets both major aggregation-promoting sites of the Tau protein, a key player in Alzheimer’s disease. This peptide inhibitor, RI-AG03, effectively prevents Tau buildup…
Psychedelics Reduce Anxiety Without Hallucinations
Summary: New research has pinpointed the specific brain region and neuron type responsible for reducing anxiety using the psychedelic drug DOI, without triggering hallucinations. The study revealed that DOI targets…
My Experiences in Ecology – Functional Ecologists
For Black History Month 2024, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists around the world and sharing their stories. In this blog, Dr Bashir…
Dolphins’ open-mouth behaviors during play are like smiles, a study claims
Dolphins are known for what appear to be big, contagious smiles. But do they actually, well, smile? The answer, according to a new study of dolphin play, is a resounding…
