Summary: A new study reveals that a person’s face tends to evolve to suit their name, demonstrating the profound impact of social expectations. The research showed that adults’ faces could…
Category: Life
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…
Men can’t do Zumba. Is it in their genes?
Zumba saved me during the pandemic. Prior to COVID, I took 3 or 4 of the ATP-burning classes a week (for the uninitiated, ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, the molecule…
Key Neurons for Maternal Bonding Identified
Summary: A new study reveals that specific neurons in the brain’s zona incerta (ZI) are crucial for early social interactions between infants and their mothers. These neurons, which express somatostatin,…
Cancer Drug Shows Promise for Autism Cognitive Function
Summary: A new experimental cancer drug could ease cognitive difficulties for those with Rett syndrome, a rare autism-linked disorder, by enhancing brain cell functions. The drug, ADH-503, improves the activity…
The importance of individual behavior for bird-mediated seed dispersal – Functional Ecologists
In our latest post Valentin Graf, PhD student at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre in Frankfurt, presents his work ‘Individual behavior shapes patterns of bird-mediated seed dispersal’. He…
Breathing Visualization Enhances Interoception and Mental Health
Summary: Visualizing breathing patterns can improve interoceptive awareness and mental well-being. Researchers used a spherical object on screens and spatial audio to mirror users’ breaths, significantly enhancing their bodily awareness…
Anxiety Raises Dementia Risk – Neuroscience News
Summary: A new study reveals that chronic and new anxiety are linked to a higher risk of dementia, while resolved anxiety shows no such association. Following 2,132 Australian individuals for…
