Summary: The sensation of hunger itself may slow aging. Researchers discovered that flies induced to feel hungry, either through diet or brain stimulation, lived longer. They also found that hunger…
Category: Life
Why some hammerhead sharks seem to ‘hold their breath’ during dives
Even fish sometimes hold their breath in cold, dark, deep water. Scalloped hammerhead sharks living near Hawaii spend their days basking in warm surface waters. But at night, these fish…
Aging in the Arctic—Insights from a study on woody shrubs – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Jackson Drew—a PhD candidate in Alaska—presents his work ‘Age Matters: older Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa are more sensitive to summer temperatures in the Alaskan Arctic‘. Here…
Empathy Unleashed: AI’s Personal Disclosures Boost User Acceptance
Summary: When artificial intelligence (AI) agents disclose personal information, it can boost users’ empathy towards them, thus increasing acceptance of AI technologies. The study involved online experiments where participants engaged…
Ground squirrels hibernate to avoid predation, but not at the expense of reproductive opportunities – Functional Ecologists
Austin Allison—a PhD student at Colorado State University and recent MS graduate from the University of Idaho—discusses his recently accepted paper: “Why hibernate? Tests of four hypotheses to explain intraspecific…
Viewpoint: Here’s the wacky formula used by Environmental Working Group to stoke unwarranted fears about safe chemicals
The EWG study, published in Environmental Research, is a model. Rather than actually measure serum levels of PFOs [Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid], the group merely measured the quantity of PFOs in…
Restoring Gamma Wave Signals Could Counter Depression
Summary: A new study found that restoring certain signals in the brain region that processes smell can counter depression. The study reported the timing and strength of gamma signals in…
New Antidepressant Reduces Stress and Depression With Low Side Effects
Summary: Scientists developed a potential anti-depressant drug that exhibits anti-stressing and anti-depressant effects with minimal side effects. The drug, KNT-127 quickly acts on the patient without inducing resistance. Researchers found…
Pregnancy may hamper bats’ ability to ‘see’ in the dark
Pregnancy can do weird things to the body. For some bats, it can hamper their ability to “see” the world around them. Kuhl’s pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus kuhlii) echolocate less frequently…
