Almost two years ago, I wrote an article hoping “we are finally at a place when a few influential scientists with integrity will have the courage to speak out and demand…
Category: Life
Link Found Between Common Ear, Nose, and Throat Infections in Preschoolers and Increased Risk of Autism
Summary: Preschoolers with common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues may be at risk of autism or high levels of autism traits, according to a study published in BMJ Open.…
A long-term precipitation manipulation field experiment in a shrub-encroached grassland in Inner Mongolia, China – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Yankun Zhu—Associate Professor at Sanming University, China—discusses his paper: Increased precipitation attenuates shrub encroachment by facilitating herbaceous growth in a Mongolian grassland—recently shortlisted for the 2022…
Monkey See, Monkey Think: Groundbreaking Study Reveals Primate’s Ability for Complex Decision-Making
Summary: Move over humans, monkeys can think deeply too! A novel study has shown that monkeys are capable of careful decision-making by considering costs, consequences, and constraints. Findings reveal our…
Inside the feeding behavior of a pollinivore – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Laura Bellec—a new ecological researcher working at the Univ Rennes 1, Rennes, France—discusses her paper: Factors driving the within-plant patterns of resource exploitation in a herbivore—recently…
Early Indicators of Autism May Be Identified in Fetal Brain Scans
Summary: A study by King’s College researchers has identified a link between autism traits and isolated fetal ventriculomegaly – a common antenatal brain abnormality. Using MRI brain scans, the study…
Biofilms, an underrated yet important way of life – Functional Ecologists
In this new post, Hugo Sentenac, a PhD student at Labaoratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (LEFE), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France, discusses his review paper: The significance of biofilms…
Stress Rapidly Increases Biological Age, but Recovery Turns Back the Clock
Summary: Stress can cause rapid and transient increases in biological age, which can be reversed upon recovery, according to a new study. Using DNA methylation clocks, researchers found that stress…
Sniffing Out the Mechanism Behind Parkinson’s Smell Loss
Summary: Up to 90% of patients report experiencing a diminished sense of smell, even prior to the onset of other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. A new study reveals the mechanism…