insert_link Health / Medical Why do we usually sleep at night? What happens when we don’t sleep? Expert insights into this essential part of our lives By Karine Scheuermaier, University of the Witwatersrand; Alison Bentley, University of the Witwatersrand; Dale Rae, University of Cape Town; Francesc Xavier Gomez-Olive Casas, University of the Witwatersrand; Gosia Lipinska, University of Cape Town; Jonathan Davy, Rhodes University; Joshua Davimes, University of the Witwatersrand; Nomathemba Chandiwana, University of the Witwatersrand, and Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, Obafemi Awolowo University Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. It […] todayMarch 14, 2024 20
insert_link Health / Medical Bacteria in your gut can improve your mood − new research in mice tries to zero in on the crucial strains The difference between one mouse’s fear and another mouse’s calm might be in their gut bacteria. Katriel Cho, CC BY-NC-ND By Andrea Merchak, University of Florida Probiotics have been getting a lot of attention recently. These bacteria, which you can consume from fermented foods, yogurt or even pills, are linked to a number of health and wellness benefits, including reducing gastrointestinal distress, urinary tract infections and eczema. But […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 11
insert_link Health / Medical Our sense of taste helps pace our eating – understanding how may lead to new avenues for weight loss A team of scientists uncovers a logic the brainstem uses to control how fast and how much we eat. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images Zachary Knight, University of California, San Francisco As a scientist who investigates hunger and weight control, I’m interested in the way our brains let us know we’ve had enough. As we begin to feel full, we slow down how quickly we eat. For decades, scientists have thought that […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 10
insert_link Health / Medical The contraceptive pill also affects the brain and the regulation of emotions Like natural hormones, known as endogenous hormones, the artificial hormones contained in the pill, known as exogenous hormones, can have effects on the brain. (Shutterstock) Alexandra Brouillard, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Marie-France Marin, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, are used by more than 150 million women worldwide. Approximately one-third of teenagers in North America and Europe use them, […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 26
insert_link Health / Medical Is our sense of fairness driven by selfishness? We’re studying the brain to find out Even kids know how to share. Monkey Business Images Patricia Christian, Karolinska Institutet We’ve all been there. You’re dying to grab that last piece of cake on the table during an office meeting, but you are not alone. Perhaps you just cut off a small piece – leaving something behind for your colleagues, who do exactly the same thing. And so you all watch the piece of cake getting smaller […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 25
