Author: healthadmin

Two major fault systems along the west coast of North America, the Cascadia subduction zone and the San Andreas fault, may be more closely related than previously thought. A new study suggests that activity on one fault can trigger earthquakes on the other, resulting in closely timed seismic events. “We’re used to the story of the ‘Big One’ — Cascadia — being this catastrophic behemoth,” said Chris Goldfinger, a marine geologist at Oregon State University and the study’s lead author. “It turns out that’s not the worst-case scenario.” Deep-sea evidence reveals hidden patterns To investigate this possibility, Goldfinger and his…

A work of mechanical art first conceived in 1775 to recreate the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius has now been realized for the first time 250 years after its conception. This resurgence has been made possible by modern technology and the creativity of two University of Melbourne engineering students. The original idea came from Sir William Hamilton, who served as British ambassador to Naples and Sicily from 1765 to 1800. He also had a deep interest in volcanology. His concept combined artistic expression and mechanical design to capture the dramatic visual effects of a volcanic eruption. The device was designed…

Recent research published in journals neuropsychopharmacology There is evidence that using cocaine and alcohol together alters brain pathways that contribute to drug relapse. This study suggests that the specific brain circuits that promote return to cocaine use in single-drug scenarios are no longer the primary driving force when alcohol is involved. These findings indicate that treating polysubstance use may require a completely different medical approach than treating cocaine use alone. Scientists conducted this study to better understand how the brain changes when ingesting multiple addictive substances. Most laboratory models of addiction focus entirely on a single substance, such as cocaine.…

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a built-in process that removes existing amyloid plaques from the brains of mice in an Alzheimer’s disease model while also helping maintain memory and thinking skills. The discovery focuses on astrocytes, star-shaped supporting cells in the brain that are directed to clear toxic plaque deposits common in Alzheimer’s disease. The research team found that increasing levels of Sox9, a protein that plays a key role in regulating astrocyte activity as we age, significantly improved the ability of these cells to clear amyloid plaques. The survey results are natural neurosciencepoints to the possibility…

Scientists have discovered new clues about how crabs developed their unique lateral movements. The new study was released as a reviewed preprint. e-lifehas compiled the largest dataset to date on how crabs move. By comparing many species, researchers were able to trace this unusual walking pattern back to a common ancestor that lived about 200 million years ago. eLife editors say the findings are valuable, broadly relevant to scientists who study how animals move, and supported by nearly convincing evidence. Why lateral movement is important Sidewalking is a characteristic of the “true crabs” (bracula), the largest group of decapod crabs.…

New research published in journal emotions This provides evidence that people tend to feel more connected to each other when they voluntarily participate in scary activities with others, such as visiting a haunted house. The findings suggest that experiencing fear in a safe environment fosters a subjective sense of bond, but whether relationships are truly strengthened may depend largely on talking about the experience afterwards. Humans are highly social creatures, and forming bonds with others is strongly tied to overall health and psychological well-being. Scientists have assembled substantial evidence that sharing positive emotions, such as laughing at a comedy show…

Explore key updates in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, including stricter sugar limits and processed food curbs, alongside critiques, metabolic health evidence, and clinical interventions for dietitians, researchers, and specialists.

A team of environmental and public health scientists is raising concerns about free-living amoebas, a largely overlooked group of microorganisms that may pose an increasing risk around the world. In a recent perspective article published in biological contaminantsresearchers explain that these tiny life forms are becoming a new global health risk. Their spread is being facilitated by rising temperatures, aging water infrastructure, and limited systems to detect and track them. Most people have never heard of free-living amoebas, but scientists say they deserve more attention. What is a freely living amoeba? Amoebas are single-celled organisms that naturally live in soil,…

Researchers have long argued that men’s friendships are shallower and less emotionally supportive than women’s, a pattern known as the “gender friendship gap.” But new research questions how universal it really is. Published in sexual rolesThe study found that this gap is primarily driven by white men in particular, rather than men overall. Much of the research on the gender friendship gap relies on primarily white, middle-class samples, raising important questions. Do these patterns actually hold true for different racial and socio-economic groups? Researcher Emily C. Fox reconsidered this assumption by taking an intersectional approach, examining how gender and ethnic…

A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common abortion methods in the United States by blocking prescriptions for mifepristone from being mailed. Friday’s unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns regulations set by the federal Food and Drug Administration that require abortion pills to be distributed only in person and in clinics. The decision, which will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, is the biggest shock to American abortion policy since the 2022 Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe v. Wade and…