Biological exceptionalism: How two Italian sisters lived to 100

In my endless email about COVID-19 popped up a new paper analyzing the health of two Italian sisters who lived to remarkably old ages. “The Phenotypic Characterization of the Cammalleri…

Untangling the Human Mind: The Interplay Between Cognition and Personality

Summary: Researchers make strides in mapping the complex interplay between human cognition and personality traits. This study synthesized data from over 1,300 studies globally, representing 2 million participants, to examine…

Empathy’s Influence on Drinking Patterns

Summary: A recent study reports a surprising correlation between daily affective empathy and alcohol consumption. The study found that on days when people experienced higher levels of affective empathy (empathy…

Unexpected Role of Immune Autoantibodies in Schizophrenia

Summary: A study reveals a connection between schizophrenia and autoimmune reactions. The researchers identified autoantibodies against the synaptic protein neurexin 1α in about 2% of patients with schizophrenia. These autoantibodies,…

These ants build tall nest hills to help show the way home

Some ants have figured out how to keep from getting lost: Build taller anthills. Desert ants that live in the hot, flat salt pans of Tunisia spend their days looking…

A global synthesis of nutrient resorption control in terrestrial plants – Functional Ecologists

In this new post, Xibin Sun—a PhD candidate at Sun Yat-sen University, China—presents his work ‘Widespread controls of leaf nutrient resorption by nutrient limitation and stoichiometry’. Xibin discusses were the…

How a new Lyme vaccine for mice may protect people

A vaccine to fight Lyme disease, decades in the making, has received a temporary green light from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But it’s not for people — it’s for…

RSV vaccine breakthrough prevents respiratory infections that pose serious hazards to older adults

It is not every day that drug development results in a breakthrough with the potential to eliminate an often serious and sometimes fatal disease, but one of those days occurred…

Meditation Diminishes Bias Toward Negative Information

Summary: A new study reveals that daily mindfulness meditation can help reduce individuals’ tendency to avoid negative information. The practice of regular mindfulness meditation allows people to better process uncomfortable…

Iron Deficiency’s Unseen Impact on Mental Health

Summary: Recent research emphasizes the role of iron, an often overlooked nutrient, in maintaining mental health. Researchers suggest iron deficiency could exacerbate mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.…