Summary: Researchers have developed a new scale to measure how human-like robots appear, identifying four key qualities: appearance, emotional capacity, social intelligence, and self-understanding. Robots lacking any of these traits risk being perceived as cold or unsettling, limiting their usefulness in customer service.The study shows that people evaluate robots similarly...

Summary: Researchers have uncovered a groundbreaking mechanism called Electro-Calcium (E-Ca) coupling that integrates electrical and calcium signaling in brain capillaries. This process ensures precise blood flow delivery to active neurons, crucial for brain health and cognitive function.Using advanced imaging, they demonstrated how electrical waves amplify calcium activity, fine-tuning blood flow...

Summary: Researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique to “write” new learning patterns directly into the brain using real-time neurofeedback from fMRI imaging. Participants in the study learned new visual object categories without explicit teaching, as their brain activity was subtly shaped to align with predesignated patterns.This approach demonstrates that it’s...

Summary: Researchers have developed MovieNet, an AI model inspired by the human brain, to understand and analyze moving images with unprecedented accuracy. Mimicking how neurons process visual sequences, MovieNet can identify subtle changes in dynamic scenes while using significantly less data and energy than traditional AI.In testing, MovieNet outperformed current...

Summary: Researchers have identified a natural substance, hederagenin, that blocks the NPFFR1 receptor, a protein involved in pain perception in the brain and spinal cord. NPFFR1 has long been a challenging target due to its similarities to related receptors, but advanced screening and computer modeling revealed its unique binding mode.This...

Summary: New research challenges stereotypes about older adults, revealing that they are more willing to take risks than younger individuals and are equally adept at resisting manipulation. Using gambling tasks, researchers found that while older adults initially made more mistakes, they quickly improved with practice, achieving decision-making proficiency comparable to...

Summary: Glioblastoma organoids, lab-grown replicas of a patient’s tumor, accurately predict how the tumor responds to CAR T cell therapy. This breakthrough allows real-time testing of therapies, showing that responses in the organoid closely mirror those in the patient. These organoids also help clinicians gauge risks of neurotoxicity and personalize...

Summary: Children with autism exhibit distinct eye movement patterns when viewing faces, particularly in the initial stages of visual processing. A new study found that autistic children are more likely to use an exploratory eye movement pattern, focusing on broader areas rather than immediately fixating on facial features. This behavior...

Summary: New research reveals that fetuses can mount immune responses against infections long before birth, challenging the assumption that they rely solely on maternal immunity. A study on Zika virus infections found that immune cells like microglia protect the developing brain, while others, like monocytes, can cause damaging inflammation.Researchers demonstrated...

Summary: Chronic pain, affecting millions worldwide, may be alleviated by adopting a healthy diet, according to new research. A new study found that eating more vegetables, fruits, grains, lean proteins, and dairy was linked to less pain, especially among women, regardless of body weight.This suggests that diet quality influences pain...