Luis Melecio-Zambrano is the summer 2023 science writing intern at Science News. They are finishing their master’s degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where they…
Category: Life
Pupil Size Regulated by Orexin, Not Stress Hormones
Summary: Researchers have discovered that the neurotransmitter orexin, not the stress hormone noradrenaline, regulates pupil size, challenging prior understanding. Orexin neurons affect pupil size in response to emotional states and…
New Dads with Prior Antidepressant Use 30x More Likely to Restart Treatment
Summary: New fathers with a history of antidepressant use are over 30 times more likely to require such treatment again in the first year after their child’s birth. The study,…
Live Music Outperforms Recorded Shows for Infant Engagement
Summary: The magic of live performances is not lost on infants, as new research suggests that live music captivates them more than recorded versions of the same show. Researchers noticed…
Aspartame spins the $25 billion Wheel of Mis-Fortune: How the environmental activist—tort lawyer money machine manipulates journalists, misleads policymakers and scares the public
Does aspartame, used in thousands of products, from Diet Coke to Trident Gum to Log Cabin Sugar Free Syrup, cause cancer? This Friday, two United Nations-affiliated organizations will publicly release…
Breast Milk Component Boosts Infant Brain Connectivity
Summary: Researchers have discovered that myo-inositol, a small cyclic sugar molecule found in breast milk, plays a crucial role in promoting neuronal connections in infants’ brains. Prior studies indicated the…
Aggression Is A Result of Self-Control, Not Lack Thereof
Summary: A new study contests the belief that aggression stems from poor self-control. Instead, it suggests that aggression is often a deliberate, controlled act, inflicted to maximize retribution. This finding,…
Eyeing Fear: Neurons That Drive Visual Aversion Uncovered
Summary: Scientists have unearthed a cluster of neurons, which control our urge to avert our gaze from frightening situations. The team studied fruit fly brains and found these neurons release…
Michael P. Moore – Functional Ecologists
Current Institution: University of Colorado Denver, USA Research interests: I study how physiology and ontogeny limit the ways that organisms adapt to their environments. I am especially interested in using…
