All Stories by Bethany Brookshire
- Science & Society
Tracking fireballs for science
Watching a meteor race across the night sky is a romantic experience. And now it can be a scientific one as well.
- Agriculture
Sweet potato weevils have favorite colors
When it comes to eradicating the sweet potato weevil, the devil is in the colorful details.
- Neuroscience
All mice are the same, until they’re not
A new study shows substantial differences in how two closely related mouse strains respond to drugs. It offers new options for linking genes and behavior and may change how scientists think about the similarity of their mouse strains.
- Psychology
When stressed, the brain goes ‘cheap’
A new study shows that stress makes you go with your gut, biasing your decisions against the more “expensive” method of thinking things through.
- Genetics
You are what your dad ate, perhaps
Your development is affected by what your mother ate while she was pregnant with you. Is it also affected by what your father ate? A new study suggests that folate deficiency in dads can affect their offspring through epigenetic changes.
- Neuroscience
Lighting up the lightning speed of vesicle formation
While the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles is speedy, we always thought vesicle formation was slow. It turns out that vesicle formation can zip along much faster than we thought.
- Life
Male contraceptive test targets sperm’s travel route
Most efforts at a male contraceptive have focused on hormones, trying to stop production of sperm. A new study in mice explores leaving the sperm to themselves, and instead stops their transport.
- Chemistry
Keeping wine fine for a longer time
Trace metals in wine can be oxidized, producing browning and a nasty smell. A new study shows how we might be able to keep wine fine using chelators. The catch? You may not be able to drink it.
- Neuroscience
The memory benefits of distraction
We usually think of distraction as a bad thing for memory. But under certain conditions, distraction may help rather than hurt.
- Psychology
People prefer to just get pain over with
A new study shows that people would rather experience pain ASAP, even if it means experiencing more pain.
- Neuroscience
Gene that boosts Alzheimer’s risk might protect against it too
Carrying certain genetic versions of apolipoprotein E is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. A new study looks at the effects of different types of APOE on the major markers of Alzheimer’s in mice and shows that all forms are not equal.
- Genetics
Sexy male mice have competitive moms
Moms allowed to compete for mates produce sons that make sexy pheromones, live hard and die young. How? Epigenetics.
