Birds do it. Bees do it. Even butterflies and moths do it. As lepidopterans flutter their wings, friction with the air causes them to accumulate static electricity — enough to…
Category: Life
Preteen Suicide Rates Rising, Especially Among Girls and Minorities
Summary: A recent study reveals that preteen suicide rates have increased by 8% annually since 2008, with the highest rises among female, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic preteens.…
Exercise Boosts Motivation to Combat Depression
Summary: A new study suggests that exercise reduces depression by boosting motivation through decreased inflammation and enhanced dopamine function. This understanding could lead to personalized exercise programs as treatment. The…
Environmental-Industrial Complex: How governments, advocacy groups, ‘progressive’ foundations and industry profit off of climate fears
Is history repeating itself? In 1961, US President Eisenhower gave an alarming farewell address, warning that the military-industrial (Congressional) complex was threatening democracy and leading to a disastrous rise of…
Umbilical Cord Blood Test Could Predict Autism Risk
Summary: A recent study suggests that measuring specific fatty acid metabolites in newborn blood could predict autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. Researchers found that higher levels of certain metabolites were…
Getting drugs into the brain is hard. Maybe a parasite can do the job
A mind-bending parasite may one day deliver drugs to the brain. Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that famously makes mice lose their fear of cats, but also can cause…
Study Reveals Shared Values Among US Voters Despite Political Divide
Summary: New research reveals that most American voters, regardless of political affiliation, share similar values, but fail to recognize their common ground. This misperception exacerbates societal conflict and pessimism about…
Komodo dragon teeth get their strength from an iron coat
Komodo dragon teeth are ironclad. Literally. The serrated edges and tips of the reptiles’ razor-sharp chompers are lined with a layer of iron, researchers report July 24 in Nature Ecology…
