Scavengers often get a bad rap — hyena giggles are nefarious, crows gather in “murders” and the naked necks of vultures speak for themselves. But the bodies of the dead…
Category: Life
Viewpoint: Controversy heats up over ‘informed consent’ for trans-identifying teenagers seeking a sex change operation
In the U.S., the mainstream medical (and legal) community strongly supports gender-affirming care for young people. Most American doctors “maintain… that “gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals…
Brain Adapts to Neuron Loss Through Rapid Rewiring
Summary: New research shows that the brain’s cortex can rapidly reorganize itself after losing neurons, allowing other nerve cells to take over lost functions. Scientists studied neural networks in the…
Different Autism Genes, Same Brain Signature
Summary: New research shows that different genetic forms of autism may produce a shared brain activity pattern, revealing a potential common neural signature despite distinct genetic origins. Using brain-wide recordings…
ECT Cuts Suicide Risk by 34% in Severe Depression
Summary: A new meta-analysis reveals that Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) reduces suicide risk by 34% and all-cause mortality by 30% in individuals with severe depression. The study, which pooled data from…
No Link Found Between Preterm Siblings and Child Behavior Issues
Summary: A large-scale European study found no evidence that having a sibling born preterm leads to more behavioral problems in children born at term. Researchers analyzed data from over 65,000…
Your Unique Breathing Patterns May Reveal Your Identity and Mental Health
Summary: New research reveals that each person has a unique breathing “fingerprint” that can be used to identify them with nearly 97% accuracy. By continuously monitoring nasal airflow over 24…
Viewpoint: Here’s why farmers use pesticides like atrazine and glyphosate—and why they are safe
Corn growers need access to all types of pesticides. [Glyphosate was] developed more than 50 years ago to control a wide range of problematic weeds. Atrazine is another valued herbicide…
This spider’s barf is worse than its bite
A single drawing from a 94-year-old scientific paper has revived interest in one of the more roundabout ways a spider preps its dinner. First swathe a fruit fly or other…
