Summary: The brain communicates through more than just lightning-fast electrical pulses; it also relies on a slow, diffuse “chemical atmosphere” to regulate our moods. A study has identified SNAP-47 as…
Category: Life
A mouth built for efficiency may have helped the earliest bird fly
About 150 million years ago, in a coastal lagoon in what is now southern Germany, the oldest known bird gobbled up food with a beak built for efficient eating. It’s…
Less Experience Leads to Faster Neural Adaptation
Summary: For over a century, the cornerstone of psychology has been the Pavlovian idea that we learn through repetition—the more a bell rings before food, the stronger the association. However,…
Some dog breeds carry a higher risk of breathing problems
Many people find their flattened faces cute, but among dogs bred with a squished visage, 11 percent or less of some breeds can breathe easily. The findings, published February 18…
Regeneration of fins and limbs relies on a shared cellular playbook
In the 2012 movie The Amazing Spider-Man, a key character regrows his missing arm by imbibing reptilian DNA — but then turns into a monster lizard that Spider-Man must foil. While…
How tracking golden eagles in Nevada revealed a desert ‘death vortex’
Golden eagles in Nevada are dying at an alarming rate, and no one can pinpoint the cause. Their carcasses litter the landscape in Dry Lake Valley, a bone-white stretch of…
Single DMT Dose Provides Lasting Relief from Depression
Summary: While psychedelic research often focuses on hours-long “trips” with psilocybin or LSD, a landmark Phase IIa trial has proven that a much shorter experience can be just as potent.…
Brain Never Outgrows the Ability to Emotionally Evolve
Summary: The long-held belief that personality becomes “set in stone” after young adulthood is being challenged by new research. A comprehensive psychological study has found that older adults (ages 60–80)…
Some snakes lack the ‘hunger hormone.’ Experts are hungry to know why
Snakes would do great on Survivor. These animals can last weeks — even months — without food. A couple of recently discovered genetic changes may help. Certain snakes and some…
‘Not backed by evidence’: RFK, Jr. wrongly claims that keto diet can cure schizophrenia
… Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s claim that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may cure certain psychiatric conditions is misleading and not backed by evidence, experts say. … Kennedy said that a…
