Human Quirks: Health & Medicine
September 6, 2025
Top Headlines
Sep. 6, 2025 Hidden fat wrapped around organs, known as visceral fat, has now been linked to faster heart aging. Using AI and imaging from more than 21,000 people in the UK Biobank, scientists found that this invisible belly fat accelerates stiffening and ...
Sep. 4, 2025 Meal timing shifts with age, and researchers found that eating breakfast later is tied to depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and an increased risk of death. Monitoring when meals are eaten could provide an easy health marker for aging ...
Sep. 2, 2025 High-ventilation breathwork with music can evoke psychedelic-like states, shifting blood flow in the brain and reducing negative emotions. Participants experienced unity and bliss, pointing to a natural therapeutic tool with powerful ...
Aug. 30, 2025 Scientists have uncovered a surprising new healing mechanism in injured cells called cathartocytosis, in which cells "vomit" out their internal machinery to revert more quickly to a stem cell-like ...
Aug. 29, 2025 Yale scientists discovered that cavefish species independently evolved blindness and depigmentation as they adapted to dark cave environments, with some lineages dating back over 11 million years. This new genetic method not only reveals ancient ...
Aug. 26, 2025 University of Minnesota researchers developed a 3D-printed scaffold that directs stem cells to grow into functioning nerve cells, successfully restoring movement in rats with severed spinal cords. This promising technique could transform future ...
Aug. 26, 2025 A nationwide study found that recent colds caused by rhinoviruses can give short-term protection against COVID-19. Children benefit most, as their immune systems react strongly with antiviral defenses, helping explain their lower rates of severe ...
Aug. 26, 2025 Painkillers we often trust — ibuprofen and acetaminophen — may be quietly accelerating one of the world’s greatest health crises: antibiotic resistance. Researchers discovered that these drugs not only fuel bacterial resistance on their own ...
Aug. 25, 2025 A large study of nearly 16,000 adults found no link between eating animal protein and higher death risk. Surprisingly, higher animal protein intake was associated with lower cancer mortality, supporting its role in a balanced, health-promoting ...
Aug. 25, 2025 UBC researchers revealed that gut bacteria can digest cellulose-based food thickeners, once thought indigestible, by using enzymes activated by natural dietary fibers. This discovery suggests these common additives may play a more active role in our ...
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 ...
Latest Headlines
updated 4:52am EDT
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Aug. 17, 2025 Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against ...
Aug. 14, 2025 Cats can naturally develop dementia with brain changes strikingly similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, including toxic amyloid-beta buildup and loss of synapses. A new study shows these ...
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 ...
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 ...
Aug. 12, 2025 Scientists have discovered a parasite that can sneak into your skin without you feeling a thing. The worm, Schistosoma mansoni, has evolved a way to switch off the body’s pain and itch signals, ...
Aug. 11, 2025 French fries may be more than just a guilty pleasure—they could raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by 20% if eaten three times a week, while the same amount of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes ...
Earlier Headlines
Aug. 10, 2025 Sunniva Kwapeng struggled with lipoedema, a painful condition causing disproportionate fat accumulation, until finally being diagnosed in her 40s. An NTNU study found that a low-carb diet helped ...
Aug. 6, 2025 Australian skinks have developed a remarkable genetic defense against venomous snake bites by mutating a key muscle receptor, making them resistant to neurotoxins. These tiny but powerful molecular ...
Aug. 2, 2025 Scientists in Japan have discovered a genetic "silencer" within the HTLV-1 virus that helps it stay hidden in the body, evading the immune system for decades. This silencer element ...
Aug. 2, 2025 In a fascinating twist, Mayo Clinic researchers discovered that a sugar molecule cancer cells use to hide from the immune system might also protect insulin-producing beta cells in type 1 diabetes. By ...
Aug. 1, 2025 Ape behavior just got a name upgrade — “scrumping” — and it might help explain why humans can handle alcohol so well. Researchers discovered that African apes regularly eat overripe, ...
Aug. 1, 2025 Women who drank heavily, even though they strongly wished to avoid pregnancy, were 50% more likely to become pregnant than those who drank little or not at all, according to new research. ...
Aug. 1, 2025 Scientists have discovered the oldest direct evidence of betel nut chewing in Southeast Asia by analyzing 4,000-year-old dental plaque from a burial in Thailand. This breakthrough method reveals ...
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 ...
Aug. 7, 2025 Scientists discovered that jewel wasp larvae that undergo a developmental "pause" live longer and age more slowly at the molecular level by nearly 30%. This slowdown is tied to conserved ...
July 29, 2025 Fast walking, even just 15 minutes a day, can dramatically reduce the risk of death, especially from heart disease, according to a large study involving nearly 80,000 low-income and predominantly ...
July 29, 2025 A mysterious gut hormone may be behind many cases of chronic diarrhea, especially in people with undiagnosed bile acid malabsorption, a condition often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. ...
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 ...
Aug. 3, 2025 Scientists have discovered that flossing between your teeth could one day help vaccinate you. By targeting a uniquely permeable gum tissue called the junctional epithelium, this new method stimulates ...
July 30, 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 ...
July 29, 2025 Scientists at Columbia Engineering have developed an injectable hydrogel made from yogurt-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) that could revolutionize regenerative medicine. These EVs serve both as ...
July 27, 2025 Scientists at the University of Toronto have developed a new non-stick material that rivals the performance of traditional PFAS-based coatings while using only minimal amounts of these controversial ...
Aug. 5, 2025 Fresh grapes contain a potent mix of over 1,600 compounds that benefit heart, brain, skin, and gut health. New evidence suggests they deserve official superfood recognition, with benefits even at the ...
July 25, 2025 Millipedes, often dismissed as creepy crawlies, may hold the secret to future painkillers and neurological drugs. Researchers at Virginia Tech discovered unique alkaloid compounds in the defensive ...
July 25, 2025 A virus from humble black-eyed peas is showing extraordinary promise in the fight against cancer. Unlike other plant viruses, the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) can awaken the human immune system and ...
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Saturday, August 2, 2025
- Hidden Gene in Leukemia Virus Could Revolutionize HIV Treatment
- This Sugar Molecule Could Stop Type 1 Diabetes, by Fooling the Immune System
Friday, August 1, 2025
- Did Drunk Apes Help Us Evolve? New Clues Reveal Why We Digest Alcohol So Well
- Unwanted Pregnancies Surge With Alcohol, but Not With Cannabis, Study Finds
- 4,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal the Earliest Human High — Hidden in Plaque
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
- Walk Faster, Live Longer: How Just 15 Minutes a Day Can Boost Lifespan
- This Gut Hormone Could Explain 40% of IBS-D Cases—and Lead to a Cure
Monday, August 4, 2025
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
- Pain Relief Without Pills? VR Nature Scenes Trigger the Brain’s Healing Switch
- Why Cold Feels Good: Scientists Uncover the Chill Pathway
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
- Millipedes Make Ants Dizzy — and Might Soon Treat Human Pain
- The Plant Virus That Trains Your Immune System to Kill Cancer
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Thursday, July 24, 2025
- Even Without Catching COVID, the Pandemic May Have Quietly Aged Your Brain
- A Deadly Virus No One Talks About — and the HIV Drugs That Might Stop It
Friday, July 25, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Monday, July 28, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Monday, July 28, 2025
Thursday, July 17, 2025
- Cognitive Collapse and the Nuclear Codes: When Leaders Lose Control
- Tai Chi, Yoga, and Jogging Rival Pills for Beating Insomnia
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- 1,000-Year-Old Health Hacks Are Trending—and Backed by Science
- New Study Cracks the “tissue Code” — Just Five Rules Shape Organs
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
- Bigger Crops, Fewer Nutrients: The Hidden Cost of Climate Change
- Matching Your Workouts to Your Personality Could Make Exercising More Enjoyable and Give You Better Results
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Friday, August 8, 2025
- Scientists Find Brain Cell Switch That Could Reverse Obesity’s Effects
- Scientists Discover Amino Acid Switch That Turns Fat Into a Calorie-Burning Furnace
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
- Multisensory VR Forest Reboots Your Brain and Lifts Mood—study Confirms
- Pregnancy’s 100-Million-Year Secret: Inside the Placenta’s Evolutionary Power Play
Wednesday, July 2, 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
Monday, June 30, 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- Vitamin C Flips Your Skin’s “youth Genes,” Reversing Age-Related Thinning
- The Pleasure Prescription: Why More Sex Means Less Menopause Pain
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- Scientists Reveal Your Morning Coffee Flips an Ancient Longevity Switch
- 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
Monday, June 23, 2025
- Recycled Plastic Is a Toxic Cocktail: Over 80 Chemicals Found in a Single Pellet
- From Cursed Tomb Fungus to Cancer Cure: Aspergillus Flavus Yields Potent New Drug
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025
- Cold Sore Virus Hijacks Human Genome in 3D--and Scientists Found Its Weak Spot
- Fitness Trackers Are Failing Millions — This Fix Could Change Everything
- Self-Esteem Skyrockets 131% After Weight-Loss Surgery, Study Reveals
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
- Only 13 % Know: The One-Minute Self-Exam That Could Save Young Men’s Lives
- Single Psilocybin Trip Delivers Two Years of Depression Relief for Cancer Patients
- The Invisible Killer: PM 1 Pollution Uncovered Across America
Saturday, June 14, 2025
- Space-Laser AI Maps Forest Carbon in Minutes—a Game-Changer for Climate Science
- CRISPR-Edited Stem Cells Reveal Hidden Causes of Autism
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
- Pincer Plot Twist: How Female Earwigs Evolved Deadly Claws for Love and War
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Monday, June 9, 2025
- Burning for Beauty: How TikTok Skin Trends Are Harming Young Girls
- Common Supplement Reverses Premature Aging in Landmark Human Trial
- 5-Minute STI Test Poised to Transform Sexual Health Diagnostics
Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Why Your Diet Might Be Making You Sad--Especially If You're a Man
- Cannabis Use Among Seniors Surges 46% in Two Years--Study Reveals