Cicadas use darkness cues from shadows to move toward trees

When periodical cicadas surface after years underground, they don’t grope blindly for trees. They head for the shadows, researchers report March 20 in the American Naturalist. A detailed analysis of…

Why the Dark Web Attracts Young, Impulsive Risk-Takers

Summary: The dark web isn’t just for whistleblowers and privacy advocates; it’s a digital magnet for individuals with specific criminological traits. A new study analyzed a national sample of 1,750…

Fossil reveals that an early relative of spiders had claws

A stunningly preserved fossil shows that early relatives of spiders and scorpions were already armed with their hallmark front claws about half a billion years ago. The newly described animal…

Link Found Between Antibiotics and Depression in Pregnancy

Summary: While antibiotics are lifesaving tools, their impact may extend beyond fighting infection to affecting maternal mental health. A massive nationwide study has identified a “stepwise” link between antibiotic use…

Direct Link Between Stress and Addiction Found

Summary: Why does a stressful day at work make a drink feel like a necessity rather than a choice? Researchers have mapped a previously unknown “direct line” in the brain…

Why Adolescents Struggle to Reciprocate Kindness

Summary: It’s a common trope that teenagers can be self-centered, but new research provides a computational look at why. A study reveals that while adolescents are just as good as…

Secrets of the Bees zooms in on life in a hive

At the edge of a wildflower meadow sits an unassuming tan box with a pitched roof. But a closer look reveals the box is buzzing with activity — literally. The…

Irregular Bedtime Doubles Cardiac Risk

Summary: It’s not just how much you sleep, but when you go to bed that matters for your heart. A decadelong study revealed that inconsistent bedtimes in midlife can double…

40% of Bullied Children Show Clinical Symptoms of Trauma

Summary: Bullying is often dismissed as a “normal part of growing up,” but new research reveals a much darker reality. A study of 250 elementary students (grades 3–5) found that…

Ultrasound Helps to Unlearn Fear

Summary: Can we “unlearn” fear using sound? Neuroscientists demonstrated for the first time that targeted ultrasonic waves can help the human brain overcome fearful memories more quickly. By directing high-frequency,…