Saima Iqbal is the fall 2023 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, where she studied the history of medicine, conducted research on…
Category: Life
Physiological ecology – Functional Ecologists
This blog post on ‘Physiological ecology’ is part of the BES ‘Key Concepts in Ecology’ series, designed to help ecologists in learning the key topics in ecology! Take a look…
Leap of Faith: How Belief in God Spurs Risk-Taking
Summary: Religious beliefs influence risk-taking behaviors. Focusing on Christian Americans, the research found that those who view God as a protective figure are more confident in undertaking risks. The study,…
Beer Goggles Myth Busted: Alcohol Doesn’t Alter Attraction
Summary: Researchers have debunked the “beer goggles” myth, suggesting that alcohol doesn’t necessarily make people appear more attractive due to facial symmetry. In their study, participants, including intoxicated individuals, rated…
Gen Z’s Mind Maze: Navigating a World of Perceived Extremes
Summary: A new study delves into the mental health crisis among Gen Z. The study, based on 40 interviews, highlights key risk factors like mass shootings, social media, and climate…
When do cats play fetch? When they feel like it
In news that probably won’t surprise cat owners, cats that play fetch do it on their own terms. Fetching felines tend to dictate when a fetching session begins and when…
TreeDì—Understanding tree diversity effects on Chinese subtropical forests – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, the group – PhD students at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany – discuss their experiences working on the BEF-China experiment, the…
Smoking Linked to Brain Shrinkage, Irreversible Even After Quitting
Summary: Researchers found that smoking causes the brain to shrink and age prematurely, a condition not reversible even after quitting smoking. The study analyzed data from over 32,000 individuals in…
