For years, scientists have struggled to explain exactly what happens inside the brain during a psychedelic experience. New research combining hundreds of brain scans now suggests the answer may be more complicated than simply saying psychedelics disrupt normal brain activity. Researchers analyzed more than 500 brain scans from 267 people across 11 independent datasets and …
For millions of people, chronic pain can feel like a signal that never gets the message to stop. Scientists may now have a better idea of what keeps some pain going, after finding a surprising control system deep inside the brain. The discovery came from an experiment that produced almost the opposite result researchers expected. …
Ciara Burnside expected the first moments with her newborn son to be like those of any other new mother. Instead, when baby Ralph was placed on her chest, she immediately noticed something was wrong, and within minutes, medical staff had taken him away for urgent treatment. He wasn’t crying, his hands were bleeding, and patches …
A sugar found in everyday foods has become the focus of an unexpected cancer research finding. Scientists studying ovarian cancer found that fructose may help cancer cells spread after chemotherapy, at least in laboratory models and mice. The finding may sound alarming if you regularly drink sweetened beverages, but there is an important distinction. The …
A mouse that had stopped building nests began doing it again after researchers gave it two injections of an experimental nanoparticle treatment. The same animals also performed better on a memory test, while researchers found more neurons in their brains. The treatment, called Nano-ERASER, is still years away from becoming a human therapy. Yet the …
Thousands of patients with fever, exhaustion, and digestive problems had been tested for known tick-borne infections, yet many were left without a clear explanation for their symptoms. Researchers investigating these unexplained illnesses have now identified a previously undescribed virus that may account for some of those cases. The virus, called Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), …
As marijuana becomes increasingly accepted worldwide, its reputation as a harmless way to relax or relieve pain is growing alongside it. Yet, behind the haze of growing popularity, there lies a more complex picture. Recent research suggests that marijuana use, particularly for those over 30, might come with hidden costs that go beyond the high. …
Millions of people may be carrying a microscopic parasite that can form cysts inside the brain, often without causing obvious symptoms. Researchers have spent years investigating whether that quiet infection could influence behavior, brain chemistry, and vulnerability to certain psychiatric conditions. The organism is called Toxoplasma gondii, and its life cycle sounds almost like science …
When three people in Maine were recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis, the news landed with a mixture of surprise and concern. For many in the United States, tuberculosis feels like an old-world illness, relegated to history books or far-off places. Yet this bacterial infection—responsible for more deaths worldwide each year than any other infectious disease—has …
There are many ways to burn extra calories and to stay in a calorie deficit, and different methods will work for different people. However you choose to do it, reaching your exercise goal doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t have to be hard or overwhelming. With companies like Apple introducing fitness trackers that …
An immune cell can reach a tumor and appear ready to attack, yet sometimes it stops before doing anything. One reason may be sitting directly on the surface of the cancer cell: a coating made of sugars. Every cell in your body carries molecules called glycans on its surface. They help cells recognize one another, …
When it comes to fitness, it can be difficult to determine what is considered vegetarian, especially with the large variety of protein powders that are available on the market. The supplement company I use and completely trust has high standards for protein supplements, including a vegan option. One common question is related to whey products, …