Human Quirks: Mind & Brain
August 25, 2025
Top Headlines
Aug. 24, 2025 Researchers uncovered that hypothalamic neurons safeguard blood sugar overnight by directing fat breakdown, preventing hypoglycemia during early sleep. This subtle control system may explain abnormal metabolism in ...
Aug. 21, 2025 A large-scale review finds that acetaminophen use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism and ADHD in children. The strongest studies showed the clearest links, pointing to biological ...
Aug. 21, 2025 Scientists have finally uncovered the missing link in how our bodies absorb queuosine, a rare micronutrient crucial for brain health, memory, stress response, and cancer defense. For decades, ...
Aug. 20, 2025 Scientists at UCSF have uncovered a surprising culprit behind brain aging: a protein called FTL1. In mice, too much FTL1 caused memory loss, weaker brain connections, and sluggish cells. But when researchers blocked it, the animals regained youthful ...
Aug. 19, 2025 MSU researchers discovered that microbes begin shaping the brain while still in the womb, influencing neurons in a region critical for stress and social behavior. Their findings suggest modern birth practices that alter the microbiome may have ...
Aug. 18, 2025 A sweeping review of 67 trials has cast doubt on the use of ketamine and similar NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain relief. While ketamine is frequently prescribed off-label for conditions like fibromyalgia and nerve pain, researchers found ...
Aug. 12, 2025 A six-month randomized trial challenges the idea that eating more sweet foods increases a person’s preference for sweetness. Participants on diets with high, low, or mixed sweetness levels showed no changes in their sweet taste preferences, energy ...
Aug. 12, 2025 Researchers have discovered that parts of the human brain age more slowly than previously thought—particularly in the region that processes touch. By using ultra-high-resolution brain scans, they found that while some layers of the cerebral cortex ...
Aug. 8, 2025 High-fat diets and obesity reshape astrocytes—star-shaped brain cells in the striatum that help regulate pleasure from eating. French researchers discovered that tweaking these cells in mice not only impacts metabolism but can also restore ...
Aug. 4, 2025 Scientists at Johns Hopkins have grown a first-of-its-kind organoid mimicking an entire human brain, complete with rudimentary blood vessels and neural activity. This new "multi-region brain ...
July 31, 2025 Stepping into a virtual forest or waterfall scene through VR could be the future of pain management. A new study shows that immersive virtual nature dramatically reduces pain sensitivity almost as ...
July 30, 2025 A newly mapped neural circuit shows how our skin senses cool temperatures and sends that info to the brain, revealing an unexpected amplifier in the spinal cord and offering insight into cold-related ...
Latest Headlines
updated 1:39pm EDT
Aug. 15, 2025 Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered a small but powerful section of DNA, called HAR123, that could help explain what makes the human brain so unique. Instead of being a gene, HAR123 acts like ...
Aug. 13, 2025 UC Berkeley scientists found oxytocin is key for quickly forming strong friendships, but less critical for mate bonds. In prairie voles, a lack of oxytocin receptors delayed bonding and reduced ...
July 30, 2025 A new global study reveals a striking post-pandemic surge in gut-brain disorders like IBS and functional dyspepsia. Researchers compared data from 2017 and 2023 and discovered sharp increases IBS up ...
July 30, 2025 Sometimes a gentle touch feels sharp and distinct, other times it fades into the background. This inconsistency isn’t just mood—it’s biology. Scientists found that the thalamus doesn’t just ...
July 28, 2025 Over-the-counter (OTC) products like St John’s Wort and omega-3s have long been touted for helping with depression, but new research reveals that ...
July 24, 2025 Even people who never caught Covid-19 may have aged mentally faster during the pandemic, according to new brain scan research. This large UK study shows how the stress, isolation, and upheaval of ...
July 24, 2025 You may be seeing faces in clouds, toast, or cars—and it turns out your brain is wired to notice them. A fascinating new study shows how our attention is hijacked not just by real faces, but by ...
July 23, 2025 When imagining the future, optimists' brains tend to look remarkably alike, while pessimists show more varied neural activity. This neurological alignment could explain why optimists are often more ...
July 22, 2025 A surprising discovery from Emory University shows that psilocin, the active metabolite of psychedelic mushrooms, can delay cellular aging and extend lifespan. Human cells lived over 50% longer, and ...
July 19, 2025 Erythritol, a widely used sugar substitute found in many low-carb and sugar-free products, may not be as harmless as once believed. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that ...
Earlier Headlines
July 17, 2025 Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging may be some of the best natural remedies for improving sleep and tackling insomnia, according to a large analysis comparing various treatments. While cognitive ...
July 17, 2025 A groundbreaking study from Flinders University reveals that it's not just making eye contact that matters, but precisely when and how you do it. By studying interactions between humans and ...
July 5, 2025 In the frozen reaches of the planet—glaciers, mountaintops, and icy groundwater—scientists have uncovered strange light-sensitive molecules in tiny microbes. These “cryorhodopsins” can ...
July 7, 2025 Feeling jittery as the week kicks off isn’t just a mood—it leaves a biochemical footprint. Researchers tracked thousands of older adults and found those who dread Mondays carry elevated cortisol ...
July 6, 2025 Immersing stressed volunteers in a 360° virtual Douglas-fir forest complete with sights, sounds and scents boosted their mood, sharpened short-term memory and deepened their feeling of ...
July 3, 2025 Anger isn’t just a fleeting emotion—it plays a deeper role in women’s mental and physical health during midlife. A groundbreaking study tracking over 500 women aged 35 to 55 reveals that anger ...
July 2, 2025 A new brain scan tool shows how quickly your body and mind are aging. It can spot early signs of diseases like dementia, long before symptoms begin. The scan looks at hidden clues in your brain to ...
July 2, 2025 Locked-down Hungarians who gained or lost pets saw almost no lasting shift in mood or loneliness, and new dog owners actually felt less calm and satisfied over time—hinting that the storied “pet ...
July 1, 2025 Over a thousand students revealed a striking link between lactose intolerance and nightmare-filled nights, hinting that midnight stomach turmoil from dairy can invade dreams. Researchers suggest ...
July 6, 2025 Ambroxol, long used for coughs in Europe, stabilized symptoms and brain-damage markers in Parkinson’s dementia patients over 12 months, whereas placebo patients worsened. Those with high-risk genes ...
July 1, 2025 A sweeping review of more than a century’s research upends the popular notion that left-handers are naturally more creative. Cornell psychologist Daniel Casasanto’s team sifted nearly a thousand ...
July 4, 2025 Mice taught to link smells with tastes, and later fear, revealed how the amygdala teams up with cortical regions to let the brain draw powerful indirect connections. Disabling this circuit erased the ...
June 29, 2025 Deleting a gene called PTEN in certain brain cells disrupts the brain’s fear circuitry and triggers anxiety-like behavior in mice — key traits seen in autism. Researchers mapped how this genetic ...
June 25, 2025 Our brains may work best when teetering on the edge of chaos. A new theory suggests that criticality a sweet spot between order and randomness is the secret to learning, memory, and adaptability. ...
June 25, 2025 A blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug might be doing more than controlling blood sugar it could also be protecting the brain. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that people ...
June 24, 2025 A groundbreaking wireless implant promises real-time, personalized pain relief using AI and ultrasound power no batteries, no wires, and no opioids. Designed by USC and UCLA engineers, it reads brain ...
June 20, 2025 A common diabetes drug may be the next big thing for migraine relief. In a clinical study, obese patients with chronic migraines who took liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, experienced over 50% ...
June 20, 2025 Self-esteem scores jumped a remarkable 131% within just one year of bariatric surgery, according to a large study presented at ASMBS 2025. Tracking nearly 5,800 patients, researchers found a direct ...
June 19, 2025 With $860K in Navy funding, MSU psychologists are developing tools to spot people who can handle complex tasks under pressure. The key? Mastering "placekeeping" staying focused and accurate ...
June 18, 2025 Imagine diagnosing Parkinson s disease not with pricey scans or subjective checklists, but with a simple ear swab. Scientists in China have developed a promising early screening method that detects ...
Thursday, July 17, 2025
- Tai Chi, Yoga, and Jogging Rival Pills for Beating Insomnia
- It’s Not That You Look—it’s When: The Hidden Power of Eye Contact
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
- A Midlife MRI That Spots Rapid Aging and Signals Disease Long Before Symptoms
- The Pandemic Pet Boom Was Real. The Happiness Boost Wasn’t
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Friday, July 4, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- The Brain’s Sweet Spot: How Criticality Could Unlock Learning, Memory—and Prevent Alzheimer’s
- 1.7 Million Patients Reveal Stunning Link Between Semaglutide and Lower Dementia Risk
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025
- Diabetes Drug Cuts Migraines in Half by Targeting Brain Pressure
- Self-Esteem Skyrockets 131% After Weight-Loss Surgery, Study Reveals
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
- Your Brain Has a Hidden Beat — and Smarter Minds Sync to It
- Single Psilocybin Trip Delivers Two Years of Depression Relief for Cancer Patients
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
- Brain-Computer Interface Restores Real-Time Speech in ALS Patient
- The Hunger Switch in Your Nose: How Smells Tell Your Brain to Stop Eating
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Whales Blow Bubble Rings--And They Might Be Talking to Us
- Cannabis Use Among Seniors Surges 46% in Two Years--Study Reveals
Monday, June 2, 2025
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Overlooked Cells Might Explain the Human Brain's Huge Storage Capacity
- Why After 2000 Years We Still Don't Know How Tickling Works
- Emotional Responses Crucial to Attitudes About Self-Driving Cars
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, May 5, 2025
- Ancient Andes Society Used Hallucinogens to Strengthen Social Order
- Children as Young as Five Can Navigate a 'tiny Town'
Friday, May 2, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Artificial Sense of Touch, Improved
- New Research Reveals How Physiology-Inspired Networks Could Improve Political Decision-Making
- Good Karma for Me, Bad Karma for You
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Advancing AI for Diverse Applications in Manufacturing, Business and Education
- A Neuro-Quantum Leap in Finding Optimal Solutions
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Monday, April 21, 2025
Friday, April 18, 2025
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
- AI Models of the Brain Could Serve as 'digital Twins' In Research
- Scientists Complete Largest Wiring Diagram and Functional Map of the Brain to Date
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
- First Therapy Chatbot Trial Shows AI Can Provide 'gold-Standard' Care
- Feeling the Future: New Wearable Tech Simulates Realistic Touch
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Friday, March 21, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025
- Novel Memristors to Overcome AI's 'catastrophic Forgetting'
- Insomniac Fruit Fly Mutants Show Enhanced Memory Despite Severe Sleep Loss
- Why Don't We Remember Being a Baby? New Study Provides Clues
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
- A Rubber Hand Alleviates Pain
- To the Brain, Esperanto and Klingon Appear the Same as English or Mandarin
Monday, March 17, 2025
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Thursday, March 6, 2025
- Paralyzed Man Moves Robotic Arm With His Thoughts
- Touchless Tech: Control Fabrics With a Wave of Your Finger
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Monday, March 3, 2025
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Friday, February 21, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Monday, February 3, 2025
Friday, January 31, 2025
- Sound Is a Primary Issue in the Lives of Skateboarders, Study Shows
- The Big Chill: Is Cold-Water Immersion Good for Our Health?
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- Scientists Identify Neurons in Mice That, Once Activated, Can Change Body's Metabolic Rate, Induce Hibernation-Like State
- Building Sentence Structure May Be Language-Specific
- 'Unprecedented' Level of Control Allows Person Without Use of Limbs to Operate Virtual Quadcopter