As you stroll along the beach, you may look down and see colorful pieces of used glass mixed in with the sand. But the little treasures you found started out as discarded trash. As an environmental science teacher, I find these gifts from the sea particularly interesting. I analyzed sand from around the world and… Read More »
Each human body contains a complex community of trillions of microorganisms that are important to your health while you are alive. These microbial symbionts help digest food, produce essential vitamins, protect you from infections, and perform many other critical functions. In turn, the microbes, which are mainly concentrated in the intestine, are able to live… Read More »
For one in 13 people who suffer from phobias, the mere mention of spiders, heights, enclosed spaces or other triggers can cause distress. Fortunately, phobias are highly treatable with a psychological therapy called “exposure therapy.” This type of treatment involves interacting with phobic triggers in a safe environment. Our recent review showed that a single,… Read More »
In recent years, the trend of microdosing psychedelic substances has gained popularity, with enthusiasts touting a wide range of potential benefits, from increased creativity to improved mood and concentration. However, a recent scientific review published in Journal of Psychopharmacology raised concerns about potential health risks associated with long-term microdosing of psychedelics. In particular, researchers have… Read More »
For good reason, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a huge critical and commercial success. Its characters are complex and vivid, its world is full of intrigue, and it offers unparalleled freedom for players to interact with it on their own terms. But it could be so much better if it weren’t built on such a shaky… Read More »
Most gardeners know that earthworms help keep soils healthy, so now scientists have assessed the importance of their underground activities to global food production – and how to protect them. In research published on Tuesday, scientists found that earthworms can be thanked for more than six percent of global grain production every year, due to… Read More »
If we believe the headlines, seaweed can do just about anything, from store tons of carbon and stop cows from releasing methane, to produce biofuels and renewable plastics — all while supporting vibrant coastal ecosystems and feeding communities. Add to that list its potential wound-healing properties and possible anti-aging effects, and it’s no wonder the… Read More »
Per Wenju Cai and Guojian Wang, CSIRO and Ocean University of China. Melbourne: Reports of a possible “super El Niño” this year may have been greatly exaggerated. Media headlines may say that the world could face a “super El Niño” this year, but in reality the likelihood of that happening is low. Following a triple-dip… Read More »
Science is hard. The science of consciousness is particularly difficult, beset by philosophical difficulties and a dearth of experimental data. So in June, when the results of a head-to-head experimental competition between two rival theories were announced at the 26th annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness in New York City,… Read More »
A fascinating parasitic plant found lurking in clusters around the bases of trees has optimized its life strategy so well that it has been able to prune out almost a third of its genome. The genus, known as Balanophoraceae, can be mistaken for a strange, fleshy, pink fungus, emerging almost phallically from the leaf litter.… Read More »
