News tagged with natural sciences


Research shows brain more flexible, trainable than previously thought

Opening the door to the development of thought-controlled prosthetic devices to help people with spinal cord injuries, amputations and other impairments, neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley, ...

Neuroscience created Mar 04, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (17) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

Team finds antibody that transforms bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells

In a serendipitous discovery, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to turn bone marrow stem cells directly into brain cells.

Medical research created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (11) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Deep brain stimulation studies show how brain buys time for tough choices

Take your time. Hold your horses. Sleep on it. When people must decide between arguably equal choices, they need time to deliberate. In the case of people undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease, that ...

Neuroscience created Sep 25, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (11) | comments 5 | with audio podcast

The Marshmallow Study revisited: Delaying gratification depends as much on nurture as on nature

For the past four decades, the "marshmallow test" has served as a classic experimental measure of children's self-control: will a preschooler eat one of the fluffy white confections now or hold out for two ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 11, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (11) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

New study represents major breakthrough in macular degeneration

University of Kentucky researchers, led by Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, have made an exciting finding in the "dry" form of age-related macular degeneration known as geographic atrophy (GA). GA is an untreatable condition that ...

Medical research created Aug 06, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researcher creates neurons that light up as they fire

In a scientific first that potentially could shed new light on how signals travel in the brain, how learning alters neural pathways, and might lead to speedier drug development, scientists at Harvard have created genetically-altered ...

Neuroscience created Nov 29, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Major step toward an Alzheimer's vaccine

A team of researchers from Université Laval, CHU de Québec, and pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has discovered a way to stimulate the brain's natural defense mechanisms in people with Alzheimer's disease. This ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia created Jan 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

New study solves mouse genome dilemma

Laboratory research has always been limited in terms of what conclusions scientists can safely extrapolate from animal experiments to the human population as a whole. Many promising findings in mice have not held up under ...

Genetics created May 29, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

When nerve meets muscle, biglycan seals the deal

A protein that has shown early promise in preventing the loss of muscle function in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has been found in a new study to be a key player in the process of joining nerves ...

Neuroscience created Feb 14, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Human brains share consistent genetic blueprint and possess enormous biochemical complexity

Scientists at the Allen Institute for Brain Science reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature that human brains share a consistent genetic blueprint and possess enormous biochemical complexity. The fi ...

Neuroscience created Sep 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

DNA packaging discovery reveals principles by which CRC mutations may cause cancer

A new discovery from researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah concerning a fundamental understanding about how DNA works will produce a "180-degree change in focus" for researchers who study ...

Genetics created Nov 16, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Socially isolated rats are more vulnerable to addiction, report researchers

Rats that are socially isolated during a critical period of adolescence are more vulnerable to addiction to amphetamine and alcohol, found researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. Amphetamine addiction ...

Neuroscience created Jan 23, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

'Brainbow,' version 2.0: Researchers refine breakthrough system for producing images of brain, nervous system

(Medical Xpress)—The breakthrough technique that allowed scientists to obtain one-of-a-kind, colorful images of the myriad connections in the brain and nervous system is about to get a significant upgrade.

Neuroscience created May 16, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Discovery could help combat chronic pain in diabetics

(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a class of natural compounds found within the body that may someday lead to pain relief for millions of diabetics and others suffering ...

Diabetes created Jun 26, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Scientists devise powerful new method for finding therapeutic antibodies

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found a new technique that should greatly speed the discovery of medically and scientifically useful antibodies, immune system proteins that detect and destroy invaders such ...

Medical research created Sep 11, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast