Summary: A new study finds that in some lemur species, evolving gender equality is linked to changes in the brain’s oxytocin system. Researchers compared seven closely related species, finding that more egalitarian species had higher numbers of oxytocin receptors, particularly in the amygdala.This shift suggests that both males and females...

Summary: A new study reveals that stress during pregnancy can molecularly reprogram newborns’ stress response systems, with significant differences between boys and girls. Researchers found that maternal stress altered entire families of tRNA fragments in umbilical cord blood, particularly those regulating acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter.These changes were most dramatic in...

Summary: New research uncovers that aging activates a new type of stem cell that rapidly produces fat cells, explaining why belly fat often expands in middle age. Scientists found that aging triggers adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) to evolve into committed preadipocytes, age-specific (CP-As), which actively generate new fat.A signaling pathway...

Summary: A new study found that artificial intelligence can better identify instances of physical child abuse in emergency rooms compared to traditional diagnostic coding methods. Researchers developed a machine-learning model that more accurately estimated abuse prevalence based on high-risk injuries and physical abuse indicators.The AI approach outperformed methods relying solely...

Summary: A new study explores how brain networks differ between patients in early and chronic stages of psychosis, shedding light on symptom evolution. Researchers mapped connectivity patterns and found that disruptions in the frontoparietal network are key to both early and chronic psychosis symptoms.Using machine learning on brain imaging data,...

Summary: A new study reveals that taking antibiotics within the first two years of life is associated with higher childhood body mass index (BMI) and increased obesity risk. Researchers found that early antibiotic exposure raised BMI, and increased the risk of being overweight by 9% and obese by 20%.No such...

Summary: New research shows that 40Hz sensory stimulation (GENUS) improves memory, enhances brain circuit connectivity, and increases new neuron growth in mice modeling Down syndrome. In the study, daily light and sound exposure boosted performance in memory tasks and promoted gene activity linked to synaptic development.Researchers also found higher expression...

Summary: Researchers have discovered that a gene previously seen as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, PHGDH, actually plays a causal role by disrupting gene regulation in the brain. Using AI, the team revealed that PHGDH has a hidden DNA-binding function unrelated to its known enzymatic activity.This malfunction triggers early Alzheimer’s...

Summary: Humans have an exceptional ability to learn socially, but most studies have focused on overly simplified tasks. In a new study using Minecraft, researchers found that the most successful participants dynamically balanced individual exploration and social learning. Adaptability, rather than relying solely on one strategy, predicted better performance across...

Summary: A large international study finds that babies living in insecure conditions, including as refugees, display key social skills on par with children raised in more stable environments. Using eye-tracking technology, researchers found that over 800 children from Sweden, Uganda, Bhutan, and Zimbabwe equally followed social cues like shared attention,...