‘The single most notorious killer of humans’: What are the true origins of the 14th century Black Plague?

It’s rare that compelling clues converge to illuminate a longstanding medical mystery: the origin of the Black Death, a bubonic plague that killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe…

Could Neurogenesis and Navigating Change Be Key to Cognitive Flexibility?

Summary: Researchers are closing in on the relationship between cognitive adaptability and adult neurogenesis. They developed a novel animal model to test cognitive flexibility by adding layers of complexity to…

Bright-Light Treatment’s Power Over Stress-Induced Sleep Problems

Summary: Researchers unveiled the neural pathway linking chronic stress to sleep disturbances, shedding light on how bright-light treatment rectifies these issues. The study, involving mouse models, emphasized the crucial role…

Truth Relativism and its Ties to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Summary: Researchers explored the link between the belief that truth is relative and susceptibility to conspiracy theories. Two studies, involving Swedes and Brits, evaluated participants’ perspectives on truth and their…

Scientists grow humanized kidneys in pig embryos

Scientists have successfully grown kidneys made of mostly human cells inside pig embryos — taking researchers yet another step down the long road toward generating viable human organs for transplant.…

Viewpoint: Outdated organic technology? By rejecting gene editing, growers left with more disease-prone, pest-infested crops

East Yorks mixed farmer Paul Temple suggests that in closing its mind to new genetic technologies, the organic sector may miss out on a major opportunity to transform the productivity,…

Jersey Numbers and Perception: How Numbers Impact Our View of Athlete Physique

Summary: A new study confirms that football wide receivers wearing jersey numbers between 10 and 19 are perceived as slimmer than those wearing 80-89, even with identical body sizes. This…

A DNA leaf swab technique could revolutionize biodiversity monitoring

Just a few swabs from a handful of leaves can say a lot about what animals are roaming in the area. Two dozen leaf swabs from plants in Uganda’s Kibale…

Memory in Touch: Fingertips Recall Past Forces

Summary: Researchers have explored how a fingertip’s mechanical memory of prior forces influences tactile neuron activity. The study unveils the importance of fingertip viscoelasticity, where deformations last longer than the…

Toddlers Use Logic Before Language

Summary: Toddlers as young as 19 months old exhibit natural logical thinking, independent of language knowledge. This ability, manifesting as exclusion by elimination, allows toddlers to make conclusions about unknown…