Category: Life
Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated
Sweat keeps some animals cool in scorching heat. Salty secretions also serve one desert shrub a refreshing sip of water. The Athel tamarisk uses a special selection of salts excreted…
Fake fog, ‘re-skinning’ and ‘sea-weeding’ could help coral reefs survive
Erinn Muller should have reason to despair. The marine biologist studies coral health in Florida, a state whose reefs have been devastated by extreme heat, increasingly ferocious hurricanes and deadly…
Bilingual Boost: Preterm Children Thrive with Two Languages
Summary: Researchers discovered that bilingualism benefits children born prematurely, contradicting some health care professionals’ advice. The study found bilingual preterm children outperformed monolingual peers in cognitive tests. Bilingualism could be…
Do Roosters Recognize Their Own Reflection? Self Awareness Explored
Summary: Chickens, often dismissed as simple-minded, are now at the forefront of a study on self-awareness. Researchers have observed roosters potentially recognizing themselves in mirrors. However, the success of this…
Afterlife Conversations: Healing Power in Grief’s Journey?
Summary: Interactions with the deceased, or ADCs, are reported by 30-34% of individuals. A recent study explored the effects of ADCs on those grieving a partner. The findings reveal that…
The Two Faces of Stress: Nurturing Resilience and Recognizing Overload
Summary: Stress, a reaction to demands, isn’t universally negative; it has its benefits. The positive side, eustress, can foster well-being and resilience. Researchers clarify that the difference between helpful and…
Innocent Faces of Fentanyl: Opioid Use Linked to Distinct Birth Anomalies
Summary: Researchers have identified a potential new syndrome in babies born to mothers who used fentanyl during pregnancy. The infants displayed distinctive facial features, small heads, short stature, and various…
Curbing Overthinking in Teens Alters Brain Connectivity
Summary: Researchers revealed that Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RF-CBT) can significantly reduce overthinking in teens. This treatment method, originally designed for adults with recurrent depression, has been adapted for younger…
My unexpected path to academia – Functional Ecologists
In our latest post, Nate Anderson—a researcher at the University of Western Australia—discusses the healing and regenerative benefits of time spent in nature, working in majestic Red Tingle forests, and…
