Everyday Skills Protect the Developing Brain from Prenatal Stress

Summary: Building strong adaptive skills in early childhood, such as communication and self-care, can shield a child’s brain from the long-term impact of prenatal stress. Researchers used Superstorm Sandy as…

Mathematical Rule for How Social Norms Click

Summary: How does a group of strangers settle on a shared habit or workplace norm? A new study suggests it isn’t through imitation or complex calculation. Instead, researchers found that…

Freeze-Dried Platelets Combat TBI Brain Swelling and Bleeding

Summary: Researchers have identified a potential breakthrough for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) using a freeze-dried blood product called “Thrombosomes.” Originally designed for battlefield hemorrhage, this product has demonstrated a unique…

Giant, kraken-like octopuses may have ruled the Cretaceous deep

The kraken — a gigantic, tentacled sea monster capable of dragging ships and sailors down into the depths — is a creature of Norwegian myth. But millions of years ago,…

Emotional Touch Leaves a Permanent Mark on the Mind

Summary: Why does the memory of a comforting hug last a lifetime while the sensation of a handshake vanishes instantly? A new paper introduces the first comprehensive neurobiological model of…

Some plants can feed on dust that lands on their leaves

Instead of relying on the soil for nutrients, plants may grab some of those essentials from airborne particles. Feeding through leaves is already well-established in agriculture — farmers spray liquid…

Early Imaginative Play Predicts Better Mental Health

Summary: Toddlers who excel at pretend play are significantly less likely to experience emotional and behavioral difficulties by the time they reach primary school. A major longitudinal study tracked over…

Pooja Radhakrishnan | Game over: Conflict resolution through strategic growth in an invertebrate – Functional Ecologists

In this week’s blog post, we’re climbing the ranks to understand strategic growth in invertebrates! Discussing their paper: “Game over: Conflict resolution through strategic growth in an invertebrate”, author Pooja…

Sweat bees turn a greenish color in muggy weather

When the weather gets muggy, iridescent bees shift their metallic hue. The insects are a rich blue-green when ambient humidity is low. But as the amount of moisture in the…