Researchers found that LSD alters perception of personal relevance and meaning, linked to serotonin receptors and brain areas involved in self-experience. The findings may lead to new targets for treating psychiatric illnesses or phobias.
Researchers discovered LSD binds at an angle, trapping it in the receptor, and part of the protein folds over, sealing it inside. This explains why LSD trips last for a full day despite small doses.
New research suggests postpartum depression and anxiety have distinct neural activity patterns compared to major depression. Women with PPD often experience less amygdala activation, while postpartum anxiety is estimated to be just as prevalent but receives less attention.
Researchers found that ants can decouple their direction of travel from their body orientation, maintaining a northerly direction by going forward or backward. This challenges the notion of simple stimulus-response behaviors in insects.
Researchers discovered that a specific bacterial species in moth gut microbes produces an antimicrobial peptide called mundticin KS, which defends its host against pathogens and promotes symbiosis. This finding has implications for agriculture and health, potentially leading to new biocontrol strategies and novel antibiotics.
Researchers discovered that immune cells use an active process to create gaps in blood vessel walls, involving the breakage of thin filaments and rapid reassembly. This process allows immune cells to squeeze through and survey organs for problems or join the fight against pathogens.
Researchers explore how emojis and emoticons aid in cross-cultural communication and provide insights into user personalities. Studies suggest that emoji use can be related to personality traits, such as agreeableness, and may impact social inclusion.
Researchers at Yale University have isolated the brain circuitry that coordinates predatory hunting in mice, revealing two distinct modules controlling pursuit and kill behaviors. The study found that activating specific neurons in the amygdala can drive aggressive behavior, including biting and killing, in response to prey.
A study on killer whales found that older females stop reproducing due to conflict with their daughters, which helps younger family members survive. This evolutionary trait is driven by both cooperation and competition within the family group.
Researchers found that glial cells experience bigger changes than neurons as people age, with astrocytes and oligodendrocytes shifting their regional gene expression patterns upon aging. The study provides a tool to understand how aging in the brain may be linked to the causes of age-related disorders.
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based transplantation approach that restores vision in blind mice with end-stage retinal degeneration. The treatment strategy involved transplanting human iPSC-derived retinal tissue, which restored visual function in nearly half of the mice.
Researchers found that women with pro-inflammatory bacterial species were at a 4-fold higher risk of acquiring HIV than those with healthy vaginal bacteria. The study suggests specific genital bacteria can increase HIV risk by making it easier for the virus to find a foothold.
Researchers found that hummingbird brains are uniquely attuned to detect fast visual motion in any direction. This discovery sheds light on the birds' remarkable ability to zoom and stop quickly while sipping nectar. The findings have implications for understanding flight behaviors, competitive interactions, and courtship displays.
Researchers aim to remove senescent cells, which accumulate with age, to regrow hair, improve organ function and combat aging. However, hurdles include safety issues, off-target effects and high costs, limiting translation to humans.
A study in obese mice reveals that physical inactivity is linked to altered dopamine receptors, contradicting the assumption that excess body weight is the primary cause. The research suggests that dopamine signaling defects contribute to reduced movement in obesity.
Researchers found that certain human gut bacteria must be lost for a diet to be successful. A new approach identifies the organisms that help promote beneficial effects of a particular diet in humans.
Researchers have found that ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs had teeth as young juveniles that were gradually lost as they grew up. The discovery reveals a unique developmental process where the toothed jaws of juvenile individuals transition to a completely toothless beaked jaw in more mature individuals.
Researchers developed a method for generating Leydig cells by directly converting adult skin cells into functional testosterone-producing cells. The approach successfully restored normal testosterone levels in male rodents with hypogonadism, offering a promising alternative to existing therapies.
Research reveals that individuals with dyslexia have a fundamental brain difference in sensory perception, leading to difficulties in processing speech and written words. Brain activity remains high in both cases, suggesting that they do not adapt as much, while those with better reading skills show greater adaptation levels.
Research shows that brain maturation varies by individual and region, making it difficult to pinpoint a static baseline for maturity. Leah Somerville highlights the importance of considering brain development in policy-making decisions.
Researchers found that exposure to malaria's blood stage inhibits the formation of protective immune cells and antibodies. This discovery highlights the need for a vaccine that targets both stages of infection to effectively prevent malaria.
Scientists found that female mice are more susceptible to vaginal Zika virus infection during a specific stage of their reproductive cycle. The study suggests that sex hormones play a role in allowing the virus to establish itself in the reproductive tract and spread beyond it.
A new species of octopod, the 'Casper', has been found at record-breaking ocean depths, and its eggs are laid on sponges attached to seafloor nodules rich in valuable metals. The removal of these nodules may put the lifecycle of these octopods at risk due to their association with manganese crusts.
Researchers used partial cellular reprogramming to reduce signs of aging and extend lifespan in mice with premature aging mutations. The approach altered epigenetic changes, suggesting that aging is a plastic process.
A study published in Cell Reports found that training participants to use their non-dominant hand by tricking their brain through virtual reality showed significant improvements in motor skills. The researchers used fMRI scans to track brain activity, which was correlated with improved performance.
Researchers have discovered a dinosaur tail complete with its feathers trapped in a piece of amber. The tail, from a juvenile theropod, is surrounded by feathers that preserve 3D and microscopic detail.
A team of researchers suggests that the lifelong immunity to toxoplasmosis, once thought to be absolute, may not be as robust as previously believed. Studies have shown that even expectant mothers infected with Toxoplasma gondii at birth can still test positive for antibodies, challenging the long-held dogma.
Researchers have discovered that transplanting immature interneurons into the brains of mice can help reduce fear response. The study found that these transplanted cells reactivated a juvenile-like plasticity in the mature amygdala, enhancing synaptic plasticity and modulating fear extinction behavior.
Scientists have isolated three families of proteins that can turn off CRISPR-Cas9 systems specifically used for gene editing. This discovery offers a new strategy to prevent unintended changes in the genome, making gene editing more precise and controlled.
Researchers discovered a 17th-century variola virus in a child mummy, providing a more accurate timeline for the evolution of smallpox. The study suggests that smallpox may have appeared in humans more recently than previously thought, and its evolutionary history was influenced by human migration and colonization.
Cryptophyte algae have been found to harness light energy at an unprecedented rate, thanks to the ability of molecular vibrations to enhance photon absorption. This discovery has potential applications in developing more efficient light-harvesting technologies, such as sensors and communication systems.
Researchers found that Caribbean spiny lobsters get 20% of their food from lucinid clams with chemosynthetic bacteria in their gills. This discovery highlights the importance of chemosynthesis in shallow waters, supporting populations and fisheries worth millions.
A study published in Neuron reveals the mechanisms behind learning social hierarchies, with the prefrontal cortex playing a key role. The researchers found that people can rapidly form coherent understandings of their own social hierarchy through integrating interaction outcomes.
A recent study published in Neuron found that deep brain stimulation did not improve memory performance, with a range of impairment from 5% to 20%. However, the researchers suggest that a different stimulation protocol may be necessary to boost memory.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that the BCG vaccine's broad-spectrum effects could be mediated by metabolic and epigenetic changes in monocytes, leading to trained immunity. This discovery could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to boost vaccine effectiveness.
A study found that gut microbes exacerbate motor symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, but antibiotic treatment and germ-free environments reduced motor deficits. The research could lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease.
Research in mice reveals that gut microbe movements can influence a host animal's circadian rhythms by exposing different microbes and their metabolites as the day goes by. The study shows profound effects on host physiology, including changes in liver function and gene expression.
French researchers have discovered that Streptomyces bacteria can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to pesticides. The bacteria promotes plant growth and controls pests in the soil. This study could lead to sustainable agricultural practices and reduce harm to human health and the environment.
Researchers found that dogs can recall a person's complex actions, even when they don't expect to be tested. The study used the 'Do as I Do' training method to demonstrate this ability.
Researchers found that jet lag increases both obesity-related liver disease and liver cancer risk by disrupting the body's internal homeostasis. The study suggests that lifestyle changes leading to chronic jet lag can also increase liver cancer risk in humans.
Research in mice shows that microbes communicate with hosts by sending metabolites that act on histones, influencing gene transcription. Diet composition impacts microbiome and epigenetic changes, with healthy diets promoting beneficial metabolite production.
Norovirus can shed for months or years, especially in immunocompromised individuals, and triggers other gut problems like IBS and IBD. Researchers discuss strategies to slow down the virus, including new vaccine approaches.
Research reveals that over 68% of individuals with different types of autism share a common set of epigenetic modifications in the brain. This finding suggests that a single global epigenetic pattern could underlie diverse manifestations of the psychiatric disease. Epigenetic drugs may hold potential as novel treatments for ASD.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that cardiac fibroblasts, which give rise to scar tissue after injury, can also produce bone-like cells. By blocking an enzyme involved in bone mineralization, they prevented calcification in mice, offering a potential new approach for treating abnormal calcium deposits in the heart.
Researchers sequenced the genome of a 5,310-year-old corn cob and found it was genetically more similar to modern maize than its wild ancestor. The study provides insights into the early stages of maize domestication and its dispersal across the Americas.
A recent study suggests that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may not always protect against heart disease as previously thought. HDL can actually enhance the inflammatory response of immune cells called macrophages, which counteracts its established anti-inflammatory effect in other cell types.
Researchers found that regulatory T cells in tumors have distinct features and differences compared to normal tissue, making them potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The study aims to improve cancer immunotherapies by targeting specific molecules expressed by these immune cells.
Researchers found that older adults can outperform younger counterparts on certain problem-solving tasks by broadening their attention more easily. This study challenges the common assumption that aging brains require high cognitive control and highlights the potential benefits of reduced focus.
Researchers have discovered a new lagerpetid and saurischian dinosaur together, providing insights into the evolution of dinosaurs. The findings suggest that dinosaurs and their precursors coexisted during the earliest stages of dinosaurs' rise, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers at Osaka University have created rigid self-healing materials that can recover up to 99% of their strength in semi-dry conditions. The materials use a combination of physical and chemical approaches to facilitate self-healing, utilizing polyrotaxane structures and reversible bonds.