News
Pain lasts longer in women, and immune cells may the culprit
2+ hour, 28+ min ago (596+ words) Night Sky This Week Pain is something most people experience after an injury, whether from a sprained ankle, surgery or car accident. Normally pain fades as the body heals. But it may last longer in women than in men, making…...
The 'sweet spot' of overconfidence — project a bit to be perceived as competent, but don't be 'too seduced,' a cognitive neuroscientist explains in a Q&A
3+ hour, 28+ min ago (926+ words) Q&A with cognitive neuroscientist Steve Fleming: What the science of self-awareness can tell us about confident decision-making Night Sky This Week Fleming explored these issues in his 2021 book, Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness. In the 2024 Annual Review of…...
'It doesn't lie. So who are you?': What happens when DNA tests show a woman is not the mother of the child she gave birth to?
2+ day, 2+ hour ago (662+ words) "At first, I kind of laughed " But they were serious. I could just see the seriousness in their faces." In this book excerpt, Lise Barn'oud explores the limitations of DNA testing. Night Sky This Week Lydia Fairchild was 26 years old…...
Diagnostic dilemma: A parasite never before seen in humans was behind a woman's lung infection, organ damage and forgetfulness
4+ day, 11+ hour ago (620+ words) A woman developed a persistent infection, and doctors couldn't pinpoint the cause for many months. The patient: A 64-year-old woman in New South Wales, Australia The symptoms: The woman was admitted to the hospital after experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea…...
How menopause affects the brain — and what we still don't know
1+ week, 3+ hour ago (778+ words) A new study shows that that menopause was associated with worse sleep, increased mental health problems and even changes within the brain itself. Menopause is a key period in a woman's life. This transition is often accompanied by wide-ranging physical…...
'Some of them have accuracy that's close to zero': Experts unpack the promise and pitfalls of genetic tests aimed at consumers
1+ week, 5+ hour ago (1064+ words) Live Science spoke with a bioethicist and sociologist about emerging genomic technologies, including those that enable parents to "score" and "select" IVF embryos. The past decade ushered in a surge of discovery in the field of human genetics " and simultaneously,…...
'The limits of human longevity have still not been reached,' study suggests
1+ week, 1+ day ago (992+ words) A new study, analyzing 450 regions in western Europe, focused on where the oldest people end up residing across the continent. For over a century and a half, life expectancy has steadily increased in the wealthiest countries. Spectacular climbs in longevity…...
2,000-year-old skulls reveal people in ancient Vietnam permanently blackened their teeth — a stylish practice that persists today
1+ week, 1+ day ago (323+ words) In a study of 2,000-year-old skulls from Vietnam, archaeologists discovered that iron was the primary component that dyed teeth black. Gleaming black teeth have been considered a high standard of beauty in parts of Vietnam since at least the late…...
What is rigor mortis, and why does it happen?
1+ week, 1+ day ago (547+ words) Bodies usually stiffen after death in a process known as rigor mortis. But why does this happen, and how long does it last? After death, a series of natural processes begin within the human body. The corpse cools, pales and…...
'Universal' nasal-spray vaccine protects against viruses, bacteria and allergens in mice
1+ week, 2+ day ago (461+ words) In an early animal test, a new nasal-spray vaccine has shown promise against a variety of germs and a common allergen, scientists report. What if a single vaccine could offer protection against a range of disease-causing bacteria, common allergens and…...