Obesity Alters Brain’s Response to Food Cues

Summary: New research using molecular imaging with 18F-flubatine PET/MRI shows a distinct response to food cues in the brains of obese individuals compared to those of normal-weight individuals. The study…

COVID-19 Worries Influence Emotional Quality of Daydreams

Summary: A new study investigated the connection between COVID-19-related anxieties and the emotional content of daydreaming and nighttime dreaming. It found a significant correlation between daily COVID-19 worries and the…

A grisly trick helps snow flies survive freezing: self-amputation

A few years ago, John Tuthill was trail running in the Cascade mountains in Washington state when he spotted something dark skittering across the snow. It was about the size…

Should you get COVID and flu shots together?

Over the past several years, the medical community has learned, to its dismay, that we can experience a “twindemic” of winter infectious diseases – simultaneous outbreaks of COVID-19 and flu,…

Sense of Purpose May Shield Against Loneliness

Summary: A sense of purpose in life, irrespective of its nature, can be a robust defense against loneliness. A new study, involving over 2,300 Swiss adults, found fewer instances of…

Six Degrees of Connection: A Mathematical Take on Social Ties

Summary: Scientists used mathematics to explain the social phenomenon of six degrees of separation. Their work suggests that the balance between the cost and benefit of maintaining social connections shapes…

Bottlenose dolphin moms use baby talk with their calves

McKenzie Prillaman was the Spring 2023 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a minor in bioethics from the University of Virginia and…

A Power Nap a Day May Keep Brain Aging at Bay

Summary: Habitual daytime napping could help preserve brain health and slow down the brain shrinkage that comes with aging. Using Mendelian randomization and examining DNA snippets, researchers linked napping to…

Adolescent Stress Shapes Motherly Behavior

Summary: Stress during adolescence alters brain functions, influencing postpartum social behavior in mammals. The research utilizes optogenetics and calcium imaging techniques to understand neuronal communication in mice that experienced psychosocial…

Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, and Our Fears: A Journey of Understanding and Acceptance

Summary: As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, its intersection with neuroscience stirs both anticipation and apprehension. Fears related to AI – loss of control, privacy, and human value – stem from…