Research published in the Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that claims of censorship or “forbidden knowledge” polarize perceptions and critical thinking based on political ideology. Victoria A. Parker and colleagues explored how censorship claims about controversial topics, such as COVID-19, influence public perceptions. Building on past research into the...
Scientists are uncovering new insights into the mechanisms driving neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These fatal diseases are linked to mutations in the C9orf72 gene, the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTD. This mutation generates toxic dipeptide repeats (DPRs), specifically poly-PR and...
Despite recent efforts to restrict them, diversity training programs have become as ubiquitous in American offices as the water cooler. They’re everywhere. But our recent update on the state of diversity training research confirms that these programs have different levels of effectiveness and widely varying results. In our prior work,...
Reconstructing history often demands more than reading ancient texts or uncovering ruins. By integrating archaeomagnetic research with archaeology, scientists have uncovered new insights into the events described in the Hebrew Bible, particularly the military campaigns against the kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the 10th to sixth centuries BCE. These...
A new study has identified six groups of tactics that individuals use to invest in their romantic relationships. Those who employed tactics categorized as emotional and material gestures reported higher marital satisfaction. These individuals also tended to engage more in shared activities with their partner and their partner’s family and...
How does your brain transform written words into spoken ones in mere milliseconds? A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has found that a key brain region traditionally associated with speech production is engaged in reading far earlier than expected. Using targeted brain stimulation, researchers demonstrated that the...
The impact of internet use on health remains a focus of active research in the digital age. A recent study has introduced an intriguing perspective, exploring whether patterns of internet use among older adults could affect their likelihood of developing dementia. The study, published in the Journal of the American...
Wildfires have surged dramatically in recent years, leaving trails of destruction across continents. In the first eight months of 2017 alone, the United States faced nearly 40,000 wildfires, consuming approximately 2.3 million hectares. That same year, California and Portugal experienced their worst wildfire seasons on record. In 2019, Australia’s severe...
On farms worldwide, cattle are free to relieve themselves wherever they please, often contaminating soil and waterways. While confining them to barns mitigates this, it creates a new problem: the mixing of urine and feces produces ammonia, a harmful byproduct. Ammonia indirectly contributes to climate change when microbes in the...
Seismic imaging has uncovered two immense regions in Earth’s mantle that challenge our understanding of its composition and history. These continent-sized anomalies, known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), rest near the planet’s core, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. They’re distinguished by their unique composition and their slower transmission of...
Leptin, a hormone derived from adipose tissue, plays a central role in maintaining energy balance and controlling hunger. It sends signals to the brain to suppress food intake and regulate body weight. Within the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, leptin influences two key neuronal populations. One, the agouti-related protein...
A new study published in Social Psychological & Personality Science reveals that highlighting shared values between U.S. Republicans and Democrats can reduce perceived polarization and foster hope. Political polarization in the United States is often seen as deep and intractable. Surveys show that over 80% of Americans are worried about...
Kidney stones, those painful crystalline formations in your urinary system, might soon be defeated by an innovative medical technique combining two ultrasound technologies. This approach, detailed in a study published in The Journal of Urology, shows promise in moving or breaking up kidney stones in the ureter without anesthesia and...
An analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Study focusing on Black participants found that older adults with higher participation in religious or spiritual activities were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Those who never attended religious services had 2.37 times higher odds of being diagnosed...
A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics sheds light on the importance of consistent bedtime routines for children. The research reveals that six-year-olds who maintained regular sleep schedules demonstrated stronger emotional control and better behavior in social and stressful situations compared to peers with irregular...
Exercise is often celebrated for its role in keeping children physically fit, but what if it could also boost brainpower? A recent meta-analysis published in Pediatrics has demonstrated that structured physical activity programs improve intelligence in young people. The study found a 4-point average increase in IQ scores among participants,...
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has shed new light on the relationship between sedentary behavior and the risk of developing dementia. The research, which utilized data from the UK Biobank and accelerometer data from study participants, indicates that individuals aged over 60...
Jupiter’s poles have long been a focus of intrigue for planetary scientists. Recent studies have uncovered massive dark ultraviolet (UV) ovals at the gas giant’s north and south poles. These phenomena, embedded in the stratospheric haze layers capping the planet’s poles, provide a window into complex atmospheric and magnetic processes....
A Chicago-based science initiative recently turned middle school students into bona fide biomedical scientists, blending hands-on learning with groundbreaking research. These students uncovered a novel compound with the potential to slow melanoma and ovarian cancer growth, demonstrating the transformative power of STEM education when paired with real-world research. The discovery...
Astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary planetary system that offers fresh insights into the dynamics of planets orbiting in extreme environments. This discovery involves a Sun-like star named K2-360, situated about 750 light-years from Earth, and two fascinating planets: one of the densest known ultra-short-period (USP) planets and a mysterious outer...
Periods of stress and mental fatigue are often when people feel least equipped to resist temptation. But why? A new study published in PNAS Nexus has discovered that after intense mental effort, not only is self-control depleted, but rewards also feel more satisfying. The study, which examined both rats and...
Loneliness and social isolation among Americans aged 50 to 80 have largely reverted to the levels observed before the pandemic, according to a recent study published in JAMA. However, over one-third of older adults still experience loneliness, and nearly as many report feeling socially isolated. The research highlights significant disparities,...
The development of emotion-sensitive technologies is revolutionizing how devices interact with humans, moving beyond traditional methods like facial expression analysis and voice recognition. These technologies are exploring physiological signals that provide a more nuanced understanding of emotions. One such signal is skin conductance, a measure of the electrical properties of...
Scientists at the University of Exeter have uncovered a surprising potential ally in the quest to enhance human health and extend longevity: hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. The research study, sponsored by the US Army and The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, discovered that directing tiny quantities of H2S to particular cell...
A study on mice found that interventions increasing the creation of new neurons in the hippocampus (hippocampal neurogenesis) weaken memories of traumatic events and reduce PTSD symptoms. The research was published in Molecular Psychiatry. Early researchers of brain development believed that the brain stops creating new neurons once a person...
A recent study published in Brain challenges long-held assumptions about Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that new monoclonal antibody drugs may slow cognitive decline by increasing levels of a critical brain protein called amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42), rather than simply reducing amyloid plaques in the brain....
A new book retraces Carla Sozzani’s life in words, images, including her relationship with Azzedine Alaïa, sister and longtime Vogue Italia EIC Franca Sozzani.
Bespoke fragrances are being created by perfumers from Guerlain, Henry Jacques, Louis Vuitton and Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Gildo Zegna discusses his passion of a lifetime, skiing, which he believes has shaped his personality and drive.
Shopping editors share the best Amazon gifts under $50 on sale for Cyber Monday. Find beauty, fashion, and home Christmas gifts for men and women here.
