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Phys.org / Microbial ancestor of complex life was more sophisticated than previously thought, studies suggest
Our single-celled ancestor lived in a world without plants, animals or oxygen-rich oceans. Yet, this seemingly simple microorganism took the first steps toward complex life. From this ancestor emerged all multicellular (complex) ...
Tech Xplore / Multiply and subtract your way to more lifelike VR avatars
POSTECH's (Pohang University of Science and Technology) Professor Inseok Hwang's team has developed ArithMotion, a mobile virtual reality (VR) system that enables anyone to express a wide range of avatar motions with ease. ...
Medical Xpress / Better sleep could reduce anxiety in later life
As humans grow older, their emotional stability and sleep patterns can change significantly. For instance, some past studies have found that many older adults find it harder to manage negative emotions, experience higher ...
Phys.org / A new clue to how the body detects physical force
Every time we feel a gentle tap on the skin, specialized nerve cells convert that physical force into an electrical signal the brain can interpret as touch. While scientists have long known that a protein called PIEZO2 acts ...
Phys.org / Scientists develop new model to accurately assess global salt marsh carbon sinks
A research team from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed an innovative model to accurately assess the carbon sequestration capacity of global salt marshes, addressing a long-standing ...
Medical Xpress / Index provides flu risk for each state
Infectious disease can afflict a population in complex ways. Understanding the varying risks is an equally complex challenge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a general metric for assessing the ...
Medical Xpress / PET imaging study reveals how ketamine relieves treatment-resistant depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and approximately 30% of patients develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a condition that does not respond adequately to conventional ...
Phys.org / Ancient Greek priestesses may have turned ergot fungus into a psychedelic brew during the Eleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were secret religious rites in ancient Greece honoring the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, and aimed to remove the fear of death. The ceremonies included days of fasting, rituals and ...
Medical Xpress / Creating less trippy, more therapeutic 'magic mushrooms'
Psilocybin—the psychoactive compound in "magic mushrooms"—is gaining scientific attention for its potential in treating neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and certain neurodegenerative ...
Medical Xpress / Machine learning can predict preeclampsia by week 34 of pregnancy
A machine-learning model developed by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators may provide clinicians with an early warning of a complication that can occur late in pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a sudden onset condition that involves ...
Medical Xpress / Enhanced brain cells clear away dementia-related proteins
The new generation of Alzheimer's disease drugs—the first proven to change the course of the disease—typically extend independent living for patients by 10 months. Called monoclonal antibodies, they reduce the accumulation ...
Phys.org / Why woodpeckers rarely get rattled: Skulls built to control rotation, not cushion blows
Woodpeckers are well known for striking tree trunks with remarkable force and precision. These birds deliver thousands of high-speed impacts per day, generating mechanical loads that would destabilize the skulls of most other ...
