Human Quirks: Health & Medicine
September 26, 2025
Top Headlines
Sep. 25, 2025 New studies show that a bacterial molecule, peptidoglycan, is present in the brain and fluctuates with sleep patterns. This challenges the idea that sleep is solely brain-driven, instead suggesting it’s a collaborative process between our bodies ...
Sep. 24, 2025 For decades, scientists believed Alzheimer’s was driven mainly by sticky protein plaques and tangles in the brain. Now Purdue researchers have revealed a hidden culprit: fat. They found that brain immune cells can become clogged with fat, leaving ...
Sep. 24, 2025 Researchers reviewing 46 studies found evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen (Tylenol) exposure with higher risks of autism and ADHD. The FDA has since urged caution, echoing scientists’ advice ...
Sep. 23, 2025 AI-powered analysis of routine blood tests can reveal hidden patterns that predict recovery and survival after spinal cord injuries. This breakthrough could make life-saving predictions affordable and accessible in hospitals ...
Sep. 23, 2025 Not drinking enough water could intensify stress responses. Researchers found that under-hydrated individuals had cortisol levels more than 50% higher during stressful situations. Poor hydration didn’t make participants feel thirstier, but it did ...
Sep. 22, 2025 Sneezing from cats, dust mites, or mold may one day be preventable with a flip of a switch. Researchers at CU Boulder found that UV222 light can alter allergen proteins, reducing allergic reactions ...
Sep. 20, 2025 Researchers have created a two-stage acne patch with tiny arrowhead-shaped spikes that deliver healing compounds directly under the skin. Trials showed pimples vanished in seven days, and the technology may expand to treat other ...
Sep. 19, 2025 For decades, scientists have puzzled over why smoking makes Crohn’s disease worse but seems to protect people from ulcerative colitis. Now, researchers at RIKEN have discovered that smoking creates metabolites like hydroquinone that allow mouth ...
Sep. 18, 2025 Using laser light instead of traditional mechanics, researchers have built micro-gears that can spin, shift direction, and even power tiny machines. These breakthroughs could soon lead to revolutionary medical tools working at the scale of ...
Sep. 17, 2025 Scientists at the University of Geneva have created the first detailed catalogue of gut bacteria at the subspecies level, unlocking powerful new ways to detect colorectal cancer. By applying machine learning to stool samples, they achieved a 90% ...
Sep. 16, 2025 Switching clocks twice a year disrupts circadian rhythms in ways that harm health. Stanford scientists found permanent standard time would reduce obesity and stroke rates nationwide, making it the ...
Sep. 16, 2025 Some people taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro notice that food suddenly tastes sweeter or saltier, and this subtle shift in flavor perception appears tied to reduced appetite and stronger feelings ...
Latest Headlines
updated 11:13am EDT
Sep. 24, 2025 A new wearable device, a-Heal, combines AI, imaging, and bioelectronics to speed up wound recovery. It continuously monitors wounds, diagnoses healing stages, and applies personalized treatments like ...
Sep. 24, 2025 Researchers found that magic mushrooms and fiber caps independently evolved different biochemical pathways to create psilocybin. This convergence shows nature’s ingenuity, but the reason why ...
Sep. 15, 2025 Eye drops combining pilocarpine and diclofenac helped patients read extra lines on vision charts, with effects lasting up to two years. The treatment could revolutionize presbyopia care as a safe, ...
Sep. 14, 2025 A massive study of over 4 million adults has revealed that cannabis use may nearly quadruple the risk of developing diabetes. Despite some earlier suggestions that cannabis might have metabolic ...
Sep. 14, 2025 Chronic insomnia may do more than leave you groggy, it could speed up brain aging. A large Mayo Clinic study found that people with long-term sleep troubles were 40% more likely to develop dementia ...
Sep. 9, 2025 Orangutans, humans’ close evolutionary relatives, have developed remarkable strategies to survive in the unpredictable rainforests of Borneo. A Rutgers-led study reveals that these apes balance ...
Sep. 8, 2025 Scientists from Finland and the UK have uncovered groundbreaking evidence that heart attacks may be triggered by infectious processes rather than just cholesterol and lifestyle factors. Hidden ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Earlier Headlines
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 ...
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. ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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. 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. 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. 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. 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 ...
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 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. 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. 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 ...
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 ...
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Friday, August 29, 2025
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- Rats Walk Again After Breakthrough Spinal Cord Repair With 3D Printing
- The Common Cold’s Unexpected Superpower Against COVID
- Common Painkillers Like Advil and Tylenol Supercharge Antibiotic Resistance
Monday, August 25, 2025
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Monday, August 25, 2025
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
- Scientists Discover Brain Layers That Get Stronger With Age
- The Parasite That Turns Off Your Body’s Pain Alarm and Sneaks in
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Monday, August 11, 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