Scicurious

Science & Society

Spiny media battle highlights importance of scientific credit

Media coverage of research on invasive lionfish tolerating brackish water brought up issues of attribution and recognition in science.

Neuroscience

For rats, a break from stress isn’t worth the relief

An unplanned vacation from stress might seem like a good idea, but a new study in rats shows that unpredictable escapes from pressure produce more strain on the first day back.

Psychology

To do your best, find a rival

There are rivals in every walk of life. A new study shows that for runners, a rival might help them do their best.

Neuroscience

In female flies, sex is more complex than yes or no

A female fruit fly’s role in mating has appeared to be a simple yes or no. But now three new papers show the behavior is far more subtle, and intricate, than first thought.

Science & Society

Main result of Facebook emotion study: less trust in Facebook

Facebook’s controversial manipulation of emotional posts raises key questions about how to study online behavior.

Neuroscience

A mutated bacterial enzyme gobbles up cocaine

Cocaine is highly addictive, and those attempting to quit often relapse. Modifications to an enzyme that breaks down cocaine could help prevent abstinence setbacks.

Neuroscience

The simplest form of learning is really quite complex

Habituation, the ability to ignore irrelevant stimuli, is the simplest form of learning but may require a whole neural network.

Neuroscience

Neurons pull together as a brain learns

Learning and memory in rats is linked with increases in cortical oscillations, or brain cells firing off in groups, a new study shows.

Humans

There’s more to acing interviews than holding the vocal fry

A new study of vocal fry, a low razz in human speech, suggests job interviewees might want to hold the fry. But there's more to a job interview than a little vocal sizzle.

Neuroscience

Stress and the susceptible brain

Some of us bounce back from stress, while others never really recover. A new study shows that different brain activity patterns could make the difference.

Health & Medicine

Separating wheat from chaff in gluten sensitivity

Some people who think they are sensitive to gluten might not be after all: Fermentable short chain carbohydrates, or FODMAPs, may be to blame in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Life

A slow heartbeat in athletes is not so funny

Endurance athletes often experience sinus bradycardia, a slow heartbeat. A new paper shows this effect may be due to changes in the “funny channel” of the sinoatrial node.