Endocannabinoids in the brain play a key role in regulating food intake and energy use. A study on mice found that inhibiting a specific molecule (ABHD6) reduced food motivation and increased interest in physical activity, without exhibiting signs of anxiety or depressive behavior
https://www.chumontreal.qc.ca/en/actualites/targeting-brain-enzyme-curb-obesity
https://redd.it/1hpqxq3
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Preclinical study finds surges in estrogen promote binge drinking in mice | The study establishes–for what is thought to be the first time–that circulating estrogen increases binge alcohol consumption in females and contributes to known sex differences in this behavior.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069216
https://redd.it/1hpm2bz
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Crossing the Uncanny Valley: Breakthrough in technology for lifelike facial expressions in androids. Researchers developed a technology that allows androids to dynamically express their mood states, such as “excited” or “sleepy,” by synthesizing facial movements as superimposed decaying waves.
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2024/20241223_2
https://redd.it/1hplmqz
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Antimicrobial Resistance can be reduced substantially if we improve public knowledge and attitudes towards antimicrobial use
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316122#:~:text=Results,antibiotics%20are%20effective%20against%20colds.
https://redd.it/1hpk5as
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New research explores Eastern Europe’s extreme summer of 2023, placing it in a 138-year context. Findings reveal a surge in heatwaves since 1980, driven by both natural variability and climate change.
https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/24/4683/2024/
https://redd.it/1hpgmqd
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Women are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and related disorders. Female sex hormones estradiol and progesterone may influence the fear and anxiety responses. The ingestion of 2 mg of estradiol facilitates the extinction of a fear response but also contributes to its stronger return later.
https://www.psypost.org/estradiol-levels-may-influence-the-success-of-exposure-therapy-in-women-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1hp5w36
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Parents who endured difficult childhoods provided less financial support -on average $2,200 less– to their children’s education such as college tuition compared to parents who experienced few or no disadvantages
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/parents-childhood-predicts-future-financial-support-childrens-education
https://redd.it/1hoyp2x
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People with a growth mindset - who believe our abilities, intelligence and other attributes are all changeable - are more likely to have better mental health in tough times. A growth mindset was associated with lower levels of depression and higher levels of wellbeing during COVID-19.
https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/a-growth-mindset-could-help-maintain-mental-health-in-tough-times
https://redd.it/1hosew7
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A floating solar still that can both desalinate water and generate thermoelectricity could help combat water scarcity in developing countries or remote areas | Refractory plasmonic material based floating solar still for simultaneous desalination and electricity generation
https://www.dal.ca/news/2024/10/31/saltwater-desalination-device.html
https://redd.it/1honj9n
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Io Probably Doesn’t Have a Global Magma Ocean After All
https://eos.org/articles/io-probably-doesnt-have-a-global-magma-ocean-after-all
https://redd.it/1hogpos
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A study finds no evidence that increased mutation rates explain the genetic differences in dogs living near Chornobyl's nuclear plant. Selection and environmental factors may instead be responsible.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315244
https://redd.it/1hoesrs
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Analyzing 2,135 neuroimages of Americans, researchers found that individuals in countries with higher inequality levels exhibited reduced brain volume and disrupted connectivity, particularly in the temporo-posterior and cerebellar regions, which are essential for memory and cognitive function
https://www.tun.com/home/societal-disparities-impact-brain-health-and-aging-landmark-study-reveals/
https://redd.it/1ho8hxh
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Similarity-attraction proves to be a surprisingly unshakable psychological effect | These findings contribute to our understanding of intergroup relations in increasingly diverse societies.
https://www.psypost.org/similarity-attraction-proves-to-be-a-surprisingly-unshakable-psychological-effect/
https://redd.it/1ho7czu
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Genetic defects of brain immunity in childhood herpes simplex encephalitis - Nature
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08119-z
https://redd.it/1ho3wqu
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Temporary resident postdocs make up the majority of US STEM postdocs and are dependent on employers for their visas. They have lower salaries, fewer benefits, less mentoring, and are less involved in collaboration, grants and teaching-- But have higher average research productivity.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048733324001264
https://redd.it/1ho1rj2
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Breast cancer's spread may be inherited, but a lab-made antibody could stop its exodus
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/breast-cancer-spread-inherited
https://redd.it/1hppuvk
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Adolescents with ADHD tend to eat more snacks than their peers. New research has found that 16-to-20-year-olds with ADHD tend to consume more snacks (e.g., dried snacks, chips, nuts, soft drinks, fruit juice, and energy drinks) than their peers without this disorder.
https://www.psypost.org/adolescents-with-adhd-tend-to-eat-more-snacks-than-their-peers/
https://redd.it/1hpmr3t
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Study found that conservatives in Europe tend to have more children and grandchildren than liberals, a trend that is shifting the balance of political attitudes over time | These findings suggest that reproductive behavior might play an unexpected role in shaping the political landscape.
https://www.psypost.org/demographic-differences-in-fertility-linked-to-generational-shifts-in-the-political-landscape/
https://redd.it/1hpkx4t
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Single cigarette takes 20 minutes off life expectancy, study finds - Figure is nearly double an estimate from 2000 and means a pack of 20 cigarettes costs a person seven hours on average.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/30/single-cigarette-takes-20-minutes-off-life-expectancy-study
https://redd.it/1hpil2i
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Previously unknown mechanism of inflammation shows in mice Covid spike protein directly binds to blood protein fibrin, cause of unusual clotting. Also activates destructive immune response in the brain, likely cause of reduced cognitive function. Immunotherapy progressed to Phase 1 clinical trials.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07873-4
https://redd.it/1hpdrhc
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Global glacier evolution. Under high-emission scenarios, annual losses to continuously increase until 2100, peaking around 3 times current losses and translating into losses of 46 %–54 % over the 2015–2100 time period.
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/18/5045/2024/tc-18-5045-2024.html
https://redd.it/1hp3adv
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Lonely individuals show reduced cardiovascular adaptability under social stress. Loneliness is linked to reduced heart rate variability during social stress, suggesting a decreased ability of autonomic nervous system to regulate heart function. This effect was more pronounced in women than in men.
https://www.psypost.org/lonely-individuals-show-reduced-cardiovascular-adaptability-under-social-stress/
https://redd.it/1hotudw
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A new study reveals that secondhand smoke caused 7.4 deaths per 100,000 people globally from heart disease & stroke in 2019
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316023
https://redd.it/1hopkat
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New study found that coercive food practices are associated with poorer emotional regulation in preschoolers, which in turn is linked to emotional overeating.
https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-coercive-food-practices-to-emotional-overeating-in-preschoolers/
https://redd.it/1homhnl
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New research finds a worse pattern than the Dark Triad. The Social Narcissist (23%) was just as selfish and manipulative as the All-Round Malevolent (16%). They disguise their self-interest when self-reporting, or when stakes are low, yet cheat and act competitively when there is an opportunity.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/fulfillment-at-any-age/202412/could-anything-be-worse-than-the-dark-triad
https://redd.it/1hogjyp
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Singapore has been ranked among the world’s top 10 nations - and first in Asia – for its readiness to address the challenges and leverage the opportunities of an ageing population, study finds. Switzerland tops the rankings, with Japan ranking 15th globally and second in Asia, while USA ranks 24th.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069207
https://redd.it/1hobds8
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Scientists have discovered a fundamental conflict in how the brain learns and forms memories, challenging long-held assumptions about classical and operant conditioning. These two learning systems cannot operate simultaneously, as they compete for dominance in the brain
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/health-and-medicine/tau-groundbreaking-discovery-illuminates-the-brains-memory-wars/2024/12/26/
https://redd.it/1ho918m
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Hiigher levels of inequality are linked to reduced brain volume and disrupted connectivity, especially in temporo-posterior and cerebellar regions essential for memory and cognitive function. Associations persisted even after accounting for factors such as education, age, sex, cognition ability
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069058
https://redd.it/1ho5t9v
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The titan arum, a plant with a phallus-shaped spike that stands up to 3 metres tall, warms up to 36C at night and gives off the stench of a rotting corpse. A recent study revealed the pungent odours include the aptly named compound putrescine, which is given off by rotting animal carcasses.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/27/plantwatch-the-smelly-deception-of-titan-arums-phallic-spadix
https://redd.it/1ho3kb2
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Study: In situ, breast cancer has decreased since 2009, consistent with decreasing use of screening mammography, but decrease did not appear to have translated to more advanced breast cancer stages at diagnosis or decreases in the proportion of cases treated with partial mastectomy.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1069095
https://redd.it/1hnw0w4
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