Vivid Dreams May Actually Make Your Sleep Feel Deeper, New Study Finds
A new study from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca finds that vivid, immersive dreams can actually make sleep feel deeper, even when brain activity is higher.
Austin Burgess
Scientists Finally Understand How Mosquitoes Zero In on Human Targets “Like Little Robots”
A new mathematical model built from 20 million data points reveals the precise rules mosquitoes use to zero in on humans.
Scientists Discover Unusual Pigment Structures in Platypus Fur
A recent study published in Biology Letters reports that platypus hair contains hollow, spherical melanosomes, a combination not previously documented in mammals or other vertebrates.
Coffee and Tea Linked to Lower Dementia Risk Over Decades of Tracking
A long-term study led by researchers from Mass General Brigham found that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea was associated with a lower risk of dementia and improved cognitive performance in participants over time.
Innovative New Design Helps Superconductors Withstand Heat and Magnetic Fields
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology shaped the surface where superconducting material is grown, improving its performance at higher temperatures, and preserving its stability in strong magnetic fields.
Falling Fruit Reveals a Hidden Pact Between Plants and Pollinating Beetles
A team at Kobe University has discovered a previously overlooked dynamic between the Japanese red elder plant and a group of beetles that both harm and help the plant.
The Origins of a Mysterious Structure Beneath the North Sea Has Finally Been Revealed—Along With the Tsunami Its Formation Caused
After years of debate, scientists have finally solved the mystery of a structure hidden under the North Sea.
New African Species May Reveal the Evolutionary Origin of Magic Mushrooms
An international team of researchers from Africa and the United States identified a newly described species of psychedelic mushroom that is the closest known wild relative of P. cubensis.
Dolphin-Shaped Robot Skims Oil From Water Using Sea-Urchin-Inspired Technology
Researchers at RMIT University designed a small, remote-controlled robot that uses a sea urchin-inspired filter to remove oil from water.
Ancient DNA Reveals Ice Age Forests in the Lost World of Doggerland
Thousands of years before the North Sea flooded the region, a vast landscape known as Doggerland once connected Britain to mainland Europe.
Ancient DNA Reveals How Bronze Age Europeans Adapted to a Changing World
An interdisciplinary study recently published in Nature Communications provides a clearer picture of life in Central Europe between 1300 and 800 BCE, during the Urnfield culture.
Groundbreaking Research May Reveal How Forgotten Memories Can Be “Reactivated” in the Brain
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that the brain can reactivate stored memories even without conscious awareness.
The Scholarship of Comics: Scholars Argue Western Definitions of Comics Overlook Global Traditions
A new book challenges what co-editor Dr. Joe Sutliff Sanders of the University of Cambridge calls a very narrow Anglo-European idea of what comics are.
Scientists Discover “Hidden” Lifeforms Thriving Beneath the World’s Driest Desert
A recent study from the University of Cologne has revealed that microscopic soil worms called nematodes form surprisingly diverse communities throughout the Atacama.
Researchers Create ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’ to Test the Limits of Artificial Intelligence
Tests that once challenged advanced AI models are now being solved with ease, making it harder for researchers to pinpoint what current systems are actually capable of.
NASA Study Suggests Martian Ice Could Preserve Signs of Ancient Life for Millions of Years
If life once existed on Mars, the most likely place to find evidence of it may be locked away in the planet’s ice.
Jurassic ‘Sword Dragon’ Fossil Narrows Timing of Ichthyosaur Evolution
The specimen, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, also known as the "Sword Dragon of Dorset," was found near Golden Cap in Dorset in 2001 by fossil collector Chris Moore.
Mysterious Greek Inscription Found in a Syrian Mosque Reopens Debate Over Roman “Temple of the Sun”
A mysterious inscription within the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria is raising new questions over the location of the Roman Temple of the Sun.
Tiny Reef Fish Show Unexpectedly Advanced Awareness in Mirror Tests, New Study Reveals
A recent study reveals how tiny reef fish demonstrate advanced awareness by using mirrors to inspect marks placed on their bodies.
Brain Researchers Finally Know Why Cannabis Use Increases Appetite
Researchers at Washington State University and the University of Calgary recently published a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that cannabis use led to a measurable increase in food intake among human participants, regardless of body weight, sex, or when they last ate.
Scientists Have Long Searched for Evidence of Psychedelic DMT in the Brain—A New Study Challenges This Idea
For many years, researchers have questioned whether the psychedelic compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is produced naturally in the brain and if it might act as a signaling substance similar to serotonin.
This Ancient Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Has a Major Heart Health Benefit, New Study Finds
Recent clinical trials show that baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, can lower blood pressure as much as brisk walking.
Study Challenges Long-Held View That Habits Cause Compulsive Behavior
In a recent study published in Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) found that inflammation in a key decision-making region of the brain led to more deliberate behavior, rather than more compulsive actions.
Brain Imaging Reveals How Psychedelics Blend Memory With Perception
In a recent study published in Communications Biology, researchers from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Germany used high-resolution brain imaging to show that psychedelics may redirect visual processing toward memory-related regions.
As States Legalize Psilocybin, NIH Moves to Study the Real-World Impact
For the first time, federal researchers will study what happens when people access psychedelic treatment outside tightly controlled clinical trials.
Easter Island’s Enigmatic Collapse Was More Complex Than Past Theories Suggest, as Researchers Point to Compelling New Evidence
Researchers found that a severe drought began around 1550, leading to a significant drop in rainfall on Easter Island.
Recurring Drought Forced Ancient Bison Hunters to Abandon an 1,100-Year-Old Montana Hunting Ground
While bison still lived in the grasslands and the vegetation patterns remained unchanged, hunters stopped visiting the Bergstrom site, which had been used on and off for generations.
Neuroscientists Re-Examining a Classic Model Now Say Humans May Have As Many As 33 Senses
Neuroscientists and philosophers are re-examining Aristotle’s model of the five senses by investigating how the brain processes sensory information.
This Remote Greek Peninsula May Preserve a Living Link to the Ancient World
A remote peninsula in southern Greece may hold a living genetic link to the ancient Mediterranean world.
Exercise and Food Restriction Shape Psilocybin’s Effects, New Study Finds
A new study from Monash University, published in Genomic Press Psychedelics, found that psilocybin changes social behavior and immune signaling in female mice.
Thousands of Alien Plant Species Could Soon Take Root in the Arctic
A recent study published in NeoBiota indicates that thousands of non-native plant species could now find suitable conditions in the Arctic.
Modern CT Scans Are Helping Scientists Unwrap the Lives of Ancient Egyptians
Recent advances in medical imaging are providing new insights into the daily lives of ancient Egyptians.
Pairing THC With an Anti-Inflammatory Reduced Alzheimer’s Pathology in Mice
Scientists say combining a low-dose of THC with a common anti-inflammatory drug improved cognition and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain changes in mice.
Clinicians Push Back on Common Myths About Dissociation
A new clinical handbook, Working with Dissociation in Clinical Practice, by Helena Crockford, Melanie Goodwin, and Paul Langthorne, explains that dissociation is more than a brief loss of focus or a rare mental health condition.
Scientists Deploy “Bat Accelerator Machine” to Unlock the Secret to How Bats Navigate in the Dark
In a new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, scientists from the University of Bristol reframe the concept of echolocation.
Could Cannabis Beverages Help Reduce Alchohol Consumption? New Survey Findings Say Its Possible
A recent survey found that cannabis-infused beverages may fit into a similar social context as alcohol, with participants reporting lower alcohol consumption after they began using cannabis drinks.
Closer to Home: New DNA Analysis Reframes the Story of the “Beachy Head Woman”
For over a decade, the Roman-era skeleton known as the Beachy Head Woman has fueled discussions about the identity of the remains as well as migration in ancient Britain.
This Wild Potato May Rewrite What We Know About Life Before Farming
New research shows that a wild potato was carried across the region more than 10,000 years ago, helping it spread far beyond its natural range.
Global Study Finds Invasive Species Are Helping Drive Sharp Insect Losses
A recent global analysis shows that invasive alien species are linked to significant declines in insect populations and diversity worldwide.
Droughts and Floods Weakened the Tang Dynasty Before Its Collapse, Researchers Say
New research suggests that environmental stress played an important role in weakening the Tang dynasty before its eventual collapse.
Ancient Cannabis Enzymes Reveal How THC and CBD First Evolved
A team of scientists has taken a closer look at the origins of cannabis chemistry by reconstructing enzymes from ancient plants.
“Auto-Brewery Syndrome”: What Happens When the Body Starts Brewing Its Own Alcohol?
A very small number of people can naturally experience symptoms of intoxication despite not consuming any alcohol.
A Newly Discovered Species Offers Clues to the Great Salt Lake’s Past
Researchers have discovered a new species in the Great Salt Lake, offering scientists a new tool for monitoring environmental change.
A New Brain-Stimulation Tool Could Help Scientists Trace the Origins of Consciousness
Although researchers can monitor brain activity associated with perception, pain, and awareness, it remains unclear which neural pathways are tied to the origins of consciousness.
Ancient DNA Reveals a Virus That Learned to Live Inside the Human Genome
A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of years.
Novel Compound Activates Key Psychedelic Receptor Without Behavioral Effects
Laboratory tests of a novel serotonin-binding compound have revealed an unexpected disconnect between receptor activation and behavior, raising new questions about how psychedelic effects emerge in the brain.
A Jurassic-Era Discovery Reveals How Earth’s Orbit May Help Explain Why Some Shale Layers Are Rich in Oil
New research reveals the role of our planet's orbit in why some shale layers are rich in organic material.
Ancient Teeth Reveal a Surprise That Challenges Our Ideas on Early Migrations Into England
A recent bioarchaeological study shows that human migration in England continued from the end of Roman rule through the Norman Conquest.
Fossilized Bones Can Reveal Chemical Traces of Ancient Biology, New Research Demonstrates
A new study in Nature led by scientists at New York University reports that fossil bones as old as 3 million years still contain thousands of preserved metabolic molecules.
Some Brains ‘Switch Gears’ More Efficiently Than Others—New Research Reveals Why
The brain’s ability to switch between fast and slow processes depends on communication between regions, new research reveals.