Brain releases feel-good serotonin after swallowing “good food”

Researchers have discovered a fascinating new link between the gut and the brain: swallowing nutritious food causes the release of the feel-good chemical serotonin. The findings open the door to developing new treatments for eating disorders.Continue R… Continue reading Brain releases feel-good serotonin after swallowing “good food”

How a “supervoid” and modified gravity could solve a cosmic conundrum

One of the biggest cosmological mysteries centers on a discrepancy in how fast the universe is expanding. A new study comes to an intriguing solution by applying a modified theory of gravity and an unsettling “supervoid” that our galaxy resides in.Cont… Continue reading How a “supervoid” and modified gravity could solve a cosmic conundrum

Tough, cheap sensor uses satellite signals to monitor water levels

Water level sensors serve an important purpose in rivers, warning of floods and unsafe recreational conditions. A new one is claimed to be not only more robust and reliable than others, but also considerably less expensive.Continue ReadingCategory: Sci… Continue reading Tough, cheap sensor uses satellite signals to monitor water levels

Puzzling astronomical observations support alternative theory of gravity

Astrophysicists have observed some puzzling behavior in star clusters that seem to defy our current understanding of gravity at cosmic scales. Intriguingly, the observations fit with an alternative theory of gravity that could negate the need for dark … Continue reading Puzzling astronomical observations support alternative theory of gravity

Fat-burning molecule recruits neighboring cells in fight against obesity

Over the past decade or so we’ve seen research illuminate the important differences between the various types of fat in the human body. Part of this effort has focused on ways we might be able to turn bad fat into good fat to tackle obesity, and a new … Continue reading Fat-burning molecule recruits neighboring cells in fight against obesity

Researchers demonstrate how milk can trigger MS symptoms

For decades those with multiple sclerosis have suggested dairy products can exacerbate the symptoms of their disease. Now researchers from the Universities of Bonn and Erlangen-Nuremberg have demonstrated exactly how this could be occurring, by finding… Continue reading Researchers demonstrate how milk can trigger MS symptoms

MRI and CT scan tech used to nondestructively classify “new” octopus

Ordinarily, if biologists wish to confirm that an animal specimen represents a new species, they have to perform a dissection – essentially destroying it. Now, though, the task has been accomplished non-invasively, using MRI and CT scan technologies.Co… Continue reading MRI and CT scan tech used to nondestructively classify “new” octopus

Scientists successfully extract insect DNA from amber – from 2014

Scientists have successfully extracted DNA from insects trapped in amber. But before you start dreaming of a certain park, there’s one huge caveat to mention – any creatures you might revive from this would hail from the not-so-distant past of about 20… Continue reading Scientists successfully extract insect DNA from amber – from 2014

Activating brown fat receptors helps mice burn fat, build muscle

Researchers have found a way to reverse some signs of aging in mice. By triggering receptors on a fast-burning form of fat, the team was able to give older animals less fat and more muscle, making them as healthy as much younger mice. And better yet, h… Continue reading Activating brown fat receptors helps mice burn fat, build muscle

Parts of the universe may be expanding faster than others

One of the core components of cosmology is the understanding that the universe is expanding evenly in all directions. It was predicted by theory decades ago, and supported by measurements of the cosmic microwave background. But new X-ray observations n… Continue reading Parts of the universe may be expanding faster than others