Size matters: evolutionary changes in body size measured
For the first time, scientists have measured how quickly large-scale evolutionary changes in body size occur. Intriguingly, while it takes…
Magic mushrooms get MRI treatment
Two new studies published this week look into how psilocybin – the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – affects brain…
Racehorse “speed gene” traced to 18th century British mare
Irish researchers writing in the journal Nature Communications say that the original “speed gene” variant entered the equine Thoroughbred line…
Rising CO2 levels creating crazy fish
Rising oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are disrupting a key brain receptor in fish, causing dramatic changes in their brain…
IQ plummets for women in social settings
A new Virginia Tech study highlights the unexpected and dramatic consequences subtle social signals in group settings can have on…
Say what? Ambiguity makes language more efficient
To avoid conversational confusion and optimize language, linguists have traditionally argued that every word should have just one meaning, but…
Why gossip is good for you
Gossip has traditionally had a bad reputation, but a convoluted series of experiments carried out in the US have demonstrated…
La Niña cooking up mutated viruses?
The La Niña weather pattern is altering the migratory patterns of birds and possibly triggering the development of dangerous new…
Funding for artificial testicle project will get ball rolling
A joint venture between two US companies to develop an artificial testicle has been awarded funding from the National Institute…
Researchers mull bacterium’s link to autism
The bacterium Sutterella was found to be present at remarkably high levels in the gastrointestinal tracts of children with autism…
Milky Way has “billions” of habitable planets
Working with data from telescopes located around the world, an international team of astronomers have shown that planets around stars…
Disrupted biological clock damages brain
For the first time, scientists at Oregon State University have shown that disrupting the biological clocks found in many animals…
Nicotine patches reduce senior moments
Older people may benefit from the regular use of nicotine patches, according to a study that showed improvements in memory…
Insect cyborgs get onboard power source
Attaching tiny sensors, recording devices and control mechanisms to insects is now a more realistic prospect after the discovery that…
Monkeys feel the love on oxytocin
Duke University researchers evaluating the effectiveness of oxytocin – the “love” hormone – in treating autism and schizophrenia say that…
Stem cell injections produce robust anti-aging effects
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists say that mice injected with stem cell-like progenitor cells seemed to have “sipped…
Virtual sky makes for happier workers
The European developers of a luminous ceiling that mimics the lighting effects of passing clouds say that their artificial skyscape…
Scientists scope effects of marijuana ingredients via MRI
MRI brain scans of marijuana users under the influence of either tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) show that one chemical…
Hazardous levels of noise exposure for 90% of city dwellers
Nearly all city folk are exposed to sound levels that can cause permanent hearing loss, but University of Michigan researchers…