Genetics

The origin of twins

(Medical Xpress)—The egregious presumption of universal fact has a long history in science. The ever popular Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in the year 1600 for crimes against the state; namely, declaring not only ...

Neuroscience

Why evolutionarily ancient brain areas are important

Structures in the midbrain that developed early in evolution can be responsible for functions in newborns which in adults are taken over by the cerebral cortex. New evidence for this theory has been found in the visual system ...

Neuroscience

Size of personal space is affected by anxiety

The space surrounding the body (known by scientists as 'peripersonal space'), which has previously been thought of as having a gradual boundary, has been given physical limits by new research into the relationship between ...

Cardiology

Solving a 100-year mystery in blood pressure research

The baroreceptor reflex is a fascinating medical phenomenon. The reflex is controlled by specialized neurons that react in just a fraction of a second to keep blood pressure fairly consistent.

Neuroscience

Neurological signals from the spinal cord surprise scientists

With a study of the network between nerve and muscle cells in turtles, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have gained new insight into the way in which movements are generated and maintained. In the long term, ...

Health

Why do we get muscle cramps?

Many of us know the feeling of a cramp – whether you've been struck down on the sports field or woken with a start in excruciating pain in the middle of the night. A cramp is the involuntary contraction of our skeletal ...

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