Key Questions Answered: Q: When do genes linked to mental illness start affecting the brain?A: Many genes associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases are active during the earliest stages of…
Category: Life
Discovering Life’s Meaning Through Emotion and Exploration
Key Questions Answered: Q: What is the “Geographic Model of Meaning in Life”?A: It’s a conceptual framework proposing that life’s meaning is not fixed but emerges as individuals explore their…
Old Injuries Rewire the Brain to Feel Fear and Pain Forever
Quick Q&A Q: Can past injuries increase sensitivity to future pain or stress?A: Yes — this study shows that old injuries can prime the brain to overreact to new stressors,…
Intense Grief Can Raise Your Risk of Death by Nearly 90%
Summary: While grief is a natural part of loss, some people experience persistently high levels that can have long-term health consequences. A decade-long study in Denmark found that individuals with…
This desert beetle runs to cool off
In the hot dunes of Southern Africa’s Namib Desert, the black beetle Onymacris plana runs fast for its tiny size. Turns out, the speed not only helps the beetles find…
Chef Aiman: New Dubai restaurant helmed by AI chef
Dubai is known for pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and it is once again making headlines—this time with a restaurant run by an artificial intelligence (AI) chef. Set…
Decoding Fish Roles in Seagrass Ecosystems – Functional Ecologists
In this week’s blog post, we’re getting served an interesting dish all about seagrass! Author Dr. Bruno Bellisario explains the fascinating world of seagrass meadows from the article: “The fingerprint…
What Drives Women to Kill? Emotion & Threat, Not Psychopathy
Summary: Women who commit lethal violence rarely display psychopathy, instead acting out of provocation and perceived threats. A 15-year Swedish study of 175 cases found that about half of the…
Emotional Pain Brain Circuit Drives Cocaine Relapse
Summary: A new study reveals that a brain circuit driving negative emotions during cocaine withdrawal plays a key role in relapse. Researchers found that this “anti-reward” network becomes hyperactive during…
Inflammation Influences Cannabis’s Effects on Anxiety and Sleep
Summary: A new study shows that inflammation levels influence how cannabis affects anxiety and sleep quality. Researchers found no overall change in inflammatory markers after 4 weeks of cannabis use,…
