Ancient DNA reveals China’s first ‘pet’ cat wasn’t the house cat

The house cat (Felis catus) slunk into China in the eighth century. But long before that, the ancient Chinese were by no means catless. Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) might have…

AI Is Changing the Way Humans Grieve, Remember, and Face Death

Summary: Generative artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how humans process grief, remembrance, and mortality. Digital reconstructions of the deceased may offer comfort, but they also risk blurring the natural boundary…

Cognitive Profiles in Schizophrenia Are Being Ignored

Summary: A major scientific review reveals a deep knowledge gap in how cognition is affected when schizophrenia and personality disorders occur together. Despite the high prevalence and severe outcomes tied…

Hormones reflect the impacts of reproductive rest on subsequent pregnancy in a marine predator – Functional Ecologists

In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, we’re doing things the Weddell seal way! In her recently published paper: “Hormones reflect the impacts of reproductive rest on subsequent pregnancy in…

Creativity Key to Slowing Brain Aging

Summary: Regular creative activity is linked to a younger-looking brain and slower brain aging, according to a large international brain-imaging analysis. People who regularly danced, made music, created visual art,…

Abuse Survivors Show Unique Injury Signatures Tied to Suicide Risk

Summary: A new study finds that victims of intimate partner violence who also experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors show distinct and severe injury patterns on medical imaging. These patients were…

How the pro-life movement undermined Trump’s free IVF campaign promise

Social and religious conservatives spent more than a year lobbying first the Trump campaign and then the administration against mandating or subsidizing insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization, which they…

The Way You Drive Might Signal Mild Cognitive Impairment

Summary: Researchers found that long-term driving behavior can reveal early signs of cognitive decline years before clinical diagnosis. Older adults who later developed impairment showed gradual reductions in trip frequency,…

CBD Can Reduce Aggression in Dogs

Summary: A massive multi-year analysis of tens of thousands of dogs reveals that CBD use is becoming increasingly common among aging companion animals. While dogs given CBD initially showed higher…

Brain Damage in Schizophrenia May Begin in Specific Neural Epicenters

Summary: New brain imaging research shows that structural damage in schizophrenia spectrum disorders may begin in specific “epicenter” regions before spreading across connected brain networks. Individuals with the condition showed…