Married Minds: Oral Microbiota May Mediate Shared Anxiety

Summary: A new study suggests that oral microbiota transmission between newlywed couples may influence the onset of depression and anxiety symptoms. Researchers observed that healthy spouses of partners with insomnia,…

Boosting Ketamine’s Antidepressant Effects to Last Two Months

Summary: Ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant that can relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) within hours, even in treatment-resistant cases. However, its effects typically last only a week, and…

Why People Trust Those Who Grew Up With Less

Summary: New research reveals that people are more likely to trust others who grew up in lower-income households than those from privileged backgrounds. Across multiple experiments, participants consistently showed greater…

Brain Activity Linked to Implicit Suicidal Thoughts

Summary: For the first time in Veterans, researchers have identified brain regions activated during subconscious associations between the self and suicide-related concepts using the Suicide Implicit Association Test (S-IAT). These…

Empowering small farmholders and indigenous cultures is central to preserving at risk plants and forests

Empowering farmers, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and scientists to conserve and use genetic resources is key to resilient agrifood systems As the world faces widespread hunger, malnutrition and poverty, exacerbated…

Blood Test Identifies Depression Risk in Teenagers

Summary: Researchers have identified nine blood-based microRNAs that are elevated in teens diagnosed with depression, offering a potential biomarker for early detection. These molecules, absent in adult depression, may signal…

Penguin poop gives Antarctic cloud formation a boost

Penguins’ poop may be making Antarctica cloudier — and helping mitigate the regional impacts of climate change. Gases emitted from the birds’ guano are supplying key chemical ingredients to form…

Combined light & traffic noise exposure enhances songbirds’ antioxidant capacity & lowers damage – Functional Ecologists

In our latest post, author Caroline Isaksson explores the impacts of urban pollutants on songbirds! In their recent paper: “Effects of short-term multi-pollutant exposure on the oxidative stress status of…

Long COVID Is Fueling a Mental Health Crisis in Children

Summary: A new study reveals that nearly 40% of children with long COVID are experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety or depression, many for the first time. Using validated mental health…

Color Knowledge Tied to Language-Visual Brain Circuitry

Summary: A new study shows that our ability to recall details about familiar objects, like a banana’s typical color, depends on strong connections between visual and language-processing areas of the brain.…