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…
Category: Life
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…
Don’t Ignore the Winter Blues, It Could Be Seasonal Depression
Summary: As daylight fades, many experience fatigue or low mood—but for millions, these symptoms signal seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a serious form of depression. Reduced sunlight disrupts serotonin, melatonin, and…
How Chocolate’s Puckering Taste May Stimulate the Brain
Summary: Japanese researchers have uncovered how the astringent “bite” of cocoa flavanols can activate the brain—even though little of the compound enters the bloodstream. In mice, the sensation of astringency…
Rotating Brain Waves Help the Mind Refocus After Distraction
Summary: Neuroscientists have discovered that when the brain is distracted, coordinated “rotating” waves of neural activity help it steer back to focus. Using electrical recordings in animals, the team found…
Human Mind Prefers Simple Explanations Over Complex Truths
Summary: New research shows that people tend to prefer simple explanations even when complex ones are more accurate. The study found that individuals focus mainly on visible or known causes…
Happy 43rd birthday, GMO insulin. FDA approval in 1982 took 5 months. How many years would it take now?
October 29th marks the 41st anniversary of one of biotechnology’s most significant milestones — the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of Humulin, human insulin synthesized in genetically engineered…
Common Antidepressant Eases Core Symptoms Within Two Weeks
Summary: A new analysis of the PANDA clinical trial reveals that sertraline, one of the most prescribed antidepressants, improves key emotional symptoms of depression—such as sadness, self-loathing, and suicidal thoughts—within…
Toddler Gut Bacteria Linked to Childhood Anxiety and Depression
Summary: A new study suggests that a child’s gut microbiome at age 2 may influence their emotional health years later. Researchers found that higher levels of bacteria from the Clostridiales…
