In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, author Qiwen Guo, a PhD student in the Institute of Forest Ecology at BOKU University in Vienna, discusses her new article ‘Above- and…
Category: Life
Oxidative Stress May Drive Repetitive Behaviors Linked to Autism, OCD
Summary: A new study shows that oxidative stress—an imbalance between damaging molecules and antioxidants—may contribute to repetitive behaviors observed in mice, similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorder and…
Early Trauma Hardwires the Brain for Aggression and Self-Harm
Summary: A new study reveals that aggression and self-harm share a biological foundation in the brain’s response to early-life trauma. Researchers discovered that trauma increases activity in calcium channels within…
Antibiotic Doxycycline May Cut Schizophrenia Risk
Summary: A large population-based study suggests that doxycycline, a common antibiotic, may reduce the risk of schizophrenia when prescribed to adolescents receiving mental health care. Researchers analyzed data from more…
AI Can Spot Lies, But Not as Well as Humans Can
Summary: A large-scale study tested whether AI personas can detect when humans are lying—and found that while AI can sometimes spot deception, it’s still far from trustworthy. Across 12 experiments…
AI Maps the Brain’s Hidden Bridge, Revealing Genetic Links to Mental Health
Summary: For the first time, scientists have mapped the genetic architecture of the brain’s communication bridge—the corpus callosum—using AI and MRI data from over 50,000 people. The study uncovered dozens…
Viewpoint: RFK, Jr. and vaccines — here’s what a prominent physician says he gets dangerously wrong
In the months since he began serving as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made many public statements about vaccines that have…
Brain Circuit Found to Shape Risk and Impulse Differently by Sex
Summary: Researchers exploring risky decision-making in rats found that a specific reward-related neural circuit influences impulsivity and risk-taking in complex ways that depend on timing and biological sex. Manipulating the…
Mosquitoes infiltrated Iceland. Will they survive the winter?
Iceland’s first mosquitoes are poised to face a frosty test. Winter is coming, and it’s uncertain whether these newcomers might stick around until spring. The Nordic island, previously one of…
Why Kids Still Struggle With Capital Letters After Grade School
Summary: New research reveals that English-speaking children continue to refine their capitalization skills well past the early grades, despite being taught the rules early. Across two studies, students in Grades…
