Today, you’ll learn about how feeling the effects of racism might actually change the victim’s brain chemistry, how scientists have successfully completed the first embryo transfer in an endangered rhino, and how handwriting increases brain connectivity.    Racism & The Brain    “Experiencing racism may physically change your brain.” by Jon Hamilton, Rachel Carlson, & Rebecca Ramirez. 2024.  “Association of Racial Discrimination With Neural Response to Threat in Black Women in the US...

Today, you’ll learn about a bacteria that turns plastic into spider webs, a massive deep-sea discovery right in our own backyard, and how CRISPR could reshape agriculture for an entire continent.    Silk-Making Bacteria    “Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Eat Plastic, Make Multipurpose Spider Silk.” Technology Networks. 2024.  “Two-step conversion of polyethylene into recombinant proteins using a microbial platform.” by Alexander Connor, et al. 2023. “Our planet is choking on plastic.”...

Today, you’ll learn about a new discovery that turns our understanding of hunter-gatherer diets on its head, the effect of self-checkout on our sense of loyalty to grocery stores, and some good news about the majestic emperor penguin.     Hunter-Gatherer Diets    “Hunter-gatherers were mostly gatherers, says archaeologist.” by Hannah Devlin. 2024.  “Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular?” by Mayo Clinic Staff. 2022.  “What Paleo diets get wrong: We’re not evolved for meat, and our...

Today, you’ll learn about the fastest mini robots ever created, how Bigfoot sightings may help scientists study bear populations, and the link between financial stress and poor health.    Insect Robots    Mini-robots modeled on insects may be smallest, lightest, fastest ever developed.” Washington State University. 2024.  “A New 1-mg Fast Unimorph SMA-Based Actuator for Microrobotics.” by Conor K. Trygstad, et al. 2023.    Bigfoot & Bears    “Bigfoot: If it’s there, could it be a bear?”...

Today, you’ll learn about a new test that can show how well each of your organs are aging, some interesting links between comfort food and stress, and a surprising finding about certain snails.    Organ Age    “Are your organs ageing well? The blood holds clues.” by Max Kozlov. 2023.  “Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly.” by Michelle Roberts. 2023.    Comfort Food     “Comfort eating can impair body’s recovery from stress, study shows..” by Rachel Hall. 2023.  “Stress and...

Today, you’ll learn about ants that play doctor to their fellow ants after going into battle, a possible game-changing way to sequester carbon at the bottom of the ocean, and the changes that can happen in the female mind during menstruation.     Ant Doctors    “Ants Recognize Infected Wounds and Treat Them.” Universitat Wurzburg. 2024.  “Innovative drugs, chemicals, and enzymes within the animal production chain.” by Yousef I. Hassan, et al. 2018.  “Targeted treatment of injured nestmates...

Today, you’ll learn about a breakthrough in our understanding of how the brain creates long-term memories, the effect of chronic childhood ear infections on the development of language, and how salt may have helped shape the planet Mercury.     Long-Term Memories    “Neurons aren’t the only cells that make memories in the brain, rodent study reveals.” by Emily Cooke. 2023.  “Brain Microvascular Pericytes in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.” by Maiko T. Uemura, et al. 2020.  “All...

Today, you’ll learn about a new polymer that could battle antibiotic resistant infections, a possible new way to detect life on other planets from afar, and what to expect when you’re expecting to adopt a furry friend,     Powerful Polymer    “Texas A&M Team Develops Polymers That Can Kill Bacteria.” by Shana K. Hutchins. 2023.  “The global threat of antibiotic resistance.” ReAct. N.d.  “Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of N-methylpyridinium-fused norbornenes to access antibacterial...

Today, you’ll learn about how hearing aids may help you live longer, a potential breakthrough that could help usher in the age of quantum computing, and the incredible power of simply saying, “Hi”.     Hearing Aids    “Hearing aids may help people live longer.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Association between hearing aid use and mortality in adults with hearing loss in the USA: a mortality follow-up study of a cross-sectional cohort.” by Janet S. Choi, M.D. et al. 2024.  “The Impact of Hearing Loss...

Today, you’ll learn about communicating with sleepers, a possible new miracle cure for skin injuries called super melanin, and the secret social lives of garter snakes.     Dreamtalk    “The study of dreams: Scientists uncover new communication channels with dreamers.” by Basak Turker & Delphine Oudiette. 2024.  “Behavioral and brain responses to verbal stimuli reveal transient periods of cognitive integration of the external world during sleep.” by Basak Turker, et al. 2023.  “Lucid...

Today, you’ll learn about a bacterial discovery that challenges our understanding of how and when life formed on Earth, the importance difference between self control and willpower, and the truth about whether or not your dog really loves you.     Origin of Life    “Scientists Just Made a 1.75 Billion-Year-Old Discovery About the Origin of Life.” by Mirjam Guesgen. 2024.  “The Great Oxygenation Event as a consequence of ecological dynamics modulated by planetary change.” by Jason Olejarz, et...

Today, you’ll learn about a supervitamin you might already be taking some good news about the health of the world’s forests, and a new study that mapped ketamine’s effects on the brain.     B12    “Vitamin B12 emerges as key player during cellular reprogramming.” by Alba Vilchez-Acosta. 2023.  “Vitamin B12: A key player in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration.” ScienceDaily. 2023.    Healthy Forests    “Twenty-year study confirms California forests are healthier when burned - or...

Today, you’ll learn about how your ears are eavesdropping on your eyes, a bold new study on the anti-inflammatory effects of psychedelics, and an astonishing new discovery linking hoarding disorder with ADHD.    Ears & Eyes     “Your Eyes Talk to Your Ears. Scientists Know What They’re Saying.” by Dan Vahaba. 2023.  “Research Discovery: Astonishing Connection Between Vision and Hearing.” by Doug Garfield. 2023.  “Parametric information about eye movements is sent to the ears.” by...

Today, you’ll learn about a new ink that can 3D print inside your body using soundwaves, why saying no to invitations isn’t as bad as you might think, and some new drugs that could potentially make your dog live longer.     3D Ink    “Soundwaves Harden 3D-Printed Treatments in Deep Tissues.” by Michaela Martinez. 2023.  “Dental curing light.” Wikipedia.  “Self-enhancing sono-inks enable deep-penetration acoustic volumetric printing.” by Xiao Kuang, et al. 2023.     RSVP No    “Just say no to...

Today, you’ll learn about why you may want to consider letting yourself daydream, how a sense of humor might protect you from depression and anxiety, and the effects of caffeine on the performance of soccer players.     Daydream Brain     “What Happens in the Brain While Daydreaming?” by Catherine Caruso. 2023.  “Is the role of sleep in memory consolidation overrated?” by Mohammad Dastgheib, et al. 2022.  “Cortical reactivations predict future sensory responses.” by Nghia D. Nguyen, et al....

Today, you’ll learn about the 139 genes that set the human mind apart from our primate cousins, a new gel that could change the game for those suffering from dry mouth, and why psychopaths could be immune from the contagious yawn.    Human Genes     “139 Genes Set Human Cognitive Ability Apart From Other Primates.” by Sarah Whelan, PhD. 2023.  “Comparative single-cell transcriptomic analysis of primate brains highlights human-specific regulatory evolution.” by Hamsini Suresh, et al....

Today, you’ll learn about how the bilingual brain might be better at multitasking, good news for women who are at risk for morning sickness, and the strangely complex science behind cat purring.    Bilingual Brain    “The bilingual brain may be better at ignoring irrelevant information.” EurekAlert!. 2023.  “Bilingual attentional control: Evidence from the Partial Repetition Cost paradigm.” by Grace deMeurisse & Edith Kaan. 2023.      Morning Sickness    “Cause of Morning Sickness and a...

Today, you’ll learn about how babies pick up language before they’re even born, an AI that takes on the busy work for doctors, and new insight into how humans collaborate.     Baby Language    “Babies’ Brains Are Primed For Their Native Language Before Birth.” by Nyla Husain. 2023.  “Prenatal experience with language shapes the brain.” by Benedetta Mariani. 2023.  “The What and When of Universal Perception: A Review of Early Speech Sound Acquisition.” by Katerina Chladkova & Nikola...

Today, you’ll learn about a new brain interface that allows people to play games with their minds, how bad luck might make you less committed to achieving greatness, and some alarming news about how the way humans use salt is not just bad for our bodies, but the planet as well.     Brain Game     “New brain-computer interface allows people to play a game using their thoughts.” by Vladimir Hedrih. 2023.  “Combining brain-computer interfaces and multiplayer video games: an application based on...

Today, you’ll learn about the brain’s ability - or inability - to rewire itself, the imagination of rats, and how dogs can have a positive effect on those suffering from PTSD.     Brain Rewiring     “Our brains are not able to ‘rewire’ themselves, despite what most scientists believe, new study argues.” University of Cambridge. 2023.  “Against cortical reorganisation.” by Tamar R. Makin & John W. Krakauer. 2023.    Rat Imagination     “Rats have an imagination, new research finds.”...

Today, you’ll learn about a microchip-sized laboratory, how childhood traumas can lead to a lifetime of headaches, and strange blobs in the Earth’s mantle.     Lab on a Chip    “‘Lab on a chip’ genetic test device can identify viruses within three minutes with highest accuracy.” University of Bath. 2023.  “LoCKAmp: lab-on-PCB technology for 3 minute virus genetic detection.” by Sotirios Papamatthaiou, et al. 2023.  “What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test?” by Nate...

Today, you’ll learn about a new blood test that could revolutionize bipolar diagnoses, how music could help knock out pain, and how a changing climate is changing puffins.     Bipolar Blood Test    “Simple blood test can help diagnose bipolar disorder.” University of Cambridge. 2023.  “Bipolar Disorder.” NIH. n..d. “Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorders.” by Fernando S. Goes. 2023.    Music & Pain    “Emotional responses to favorite and relaxing music predict music-induced...

Today, you’ll learn about an ancient diagnostic tool getting an AI upgrade, the world’s slipperiest surface, and some insight into the minds of everyone who loves this show!     Healthy Tongue   “Eyes may be the window to your soul, but the tongue mirrors your health.” University of South Australia. 2023.  “Ancient tongue diagnosis for the 21st century dental hygienist.” by Kathryn Gilliam. 2023.  “Analysis of Tongue Color-Associated Features among Patients with PCR-Confirmed COVID-19...

Today, you’ll learn about how people who have lost the power of speech could get their voices back through AI, the cool truth about the weighted blanket fad, and an 8-billion-year-old blast from outer space.     Speech Reconstruction    “Neural Networks Help Reconstruct Speech From Brain Activity.” Technology Networks. 2023.  “How Intel Gave Stephen Hawking a Voice.” by Joao Medeiros. 2015.  “Distributed feedforward and feedback cortical processing supports human speech production.” by Ran...

Today, you’ll learn about the hunt for the elusive sixth taste, a new discovery showing how HIV keeps fighting the immune system even with effective treatment, and the altruism of bees.     Sixth Taste    “And then there were 6 - kinds of taste, that is.” by Darrin S. Joy. 2023.  “How does our sense of taste work?” NIH. 2020.  “Researchers Say Ammonium Is the Sixth Basic Taste: Here’s What to Know.” by Julia Ries. 2023.    HIV Immunity Battle    “‘Dormant’ HIV has ongoing skirmishes with the...