When building a bird nest in ant territory, the best defense could be an offensive fungus. Swollen-thorn acacia trees are aggressively defended by multiple species of ants. And yet, several…
Category: Life
Viewpoint: Chemophobic demonizing of DEET — Boston Museum of Science’s fact-free endorsement of ’non chemical’ insect repellent alternatives
I’m sure you know by now that I often speak about the harms of the appeal to nature fallacy and messaging that exploits chemophobia (the unfounded and irrational fear of…
AI Detects Depression Through Eyes and Facial Cues
Summary: Researchers are developing AI-driven smartphone applications to detect signs of depression non-invasively. One system, PupilSense, monitors pupillary reflexes to identify potential depressive episodes with 76% accuracy. Another tool, FacePsy,…
Teens Risk Brain Damage in New TikTok “Chroming” Trend
Videos on TikTok are contributing to a resurgence in “chroming,” the dangerous practice of inhaling toxic fumes from household items like markers or nail polish. The study analyzed over 100…
Huntington’s Protein Mutation Blocks DNA Repair
Summary: Researchers have discovered that the protein mutated in Huntington’s Disease fails to properly repair DNA, leading to reduced brain cell healing. The huntingtin protein normally stimulates the production of…
‘Night Magic’ invites you to celebrate the living wonders of the dark
Night MagicLeigh Ann HenionAlgonquin Books, $30 I feel like I’ve been out all night. In my mind, I’ve been walking the mountains and meadows of the Appalachian region after dark.…
Unexpected Sounds Boost Dopamine, Leading to Riskier Decisions
Summary: A new study shows that unexpected sounds can cause dopamine bursts in the brain, which may lead to riskier decision-making. Researchers found that participants were 4% more likely to…
Mycorrhizal Fungi Role in Post-Fire Landscapes – Functional Ecologists
It’s been just over a month since the 12th International Conference on Mycorrhiza. In these blog posts, we hear from some of the winners of Functional Ecology’s poster and talk…
