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…
Category: Life
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…
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…
Early Life Loss Impacting Immune System in Later Life
Summary: Losing a parent or caregiver early in life can adversely affect immune health in later life. Researchers investigated how such losses impact the body’s response to cytomegalovirus (CMV), a…
Stress Neurons Mapped the Brain, Exposing Estrogen Link
Summary: Researchers pinpointed a specific group of nerve cells in the mouse brain that play a role in negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which were mapped using…
Revelations from the embryo: Glimpses into the prenatal period
Two weeks after sperm fertilizes egg is a critical time in human prenatal development. Intricate waves of signals stamp cells with their eventual fates as part of a particular organ.…
Testosterone’s Dual Role in Brain Development: Affects Emotion Control Differently Across Ages
Summary: Higher testosterone levels influence emotion control differently during adolescence and adulthood. Using brain imaging, they discovered a positive impact of testosterone on the engagement of the brain’s anterior prefrontal…
Laughter as Medicine: Humor Therapy Reduces Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
Summary: Humor therapy might alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. The comprehensive study comprised 29 diverse studies from nine countries, involving 2,964 participants with depression, anxiety, or both. While most…
GLP podcast and video: Allergy-free, gene-edited eggs; Mosquito-borne illness on the rise? Doctors should debate RFK, Jr.
Gene editing has yielded allergy-free eggs that might prevent severe episodes of anaphylaxis in young children. Ticks and mosquitoes are bringing potentially serious diseases to parts of the US where…
