The human brain is both a marvel and a mystery of evolution: Packed into a volume about one-quarter that of an inflated soccer ball, somewhere around 86 billion neurons form networks that enable us to do everything from mindlessly scrolling through Instagram to safely sending people into space. But a deeper understanding of the structure of those
Your Hyperbolic Mind Read More »
One way to get drugs through the blood-brain barrier: smuggle them across using sound waves. The blood-brain barrier, a name given to the tightly packed vascular cells in the brain’s capillaries, keeps the central nervous system remarkably free of most pathogens. But that defense is a major challenge for delivering drugs that treat brain disorders.
Riding a Wave of Sound Read More »
The human nose finds it simple to distinguish the aroma of fresh coffee from the stink of rotten eggs, but the underlying biochemistry is complicated. Researchers have now created an olfactory “map”—a geometric model of how molecules combine to produce various scents. This map could inspire a way to predict how people might perceive certain
Unraveling the Mathematics of Smell Read More »
When most people talk about “old people smell,” they’re complaining about something unpleasant. But in a new study, scientists report that the scent of the elderly isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s rather pleasant, at least compared to the intense odor of a middle-aged man. Volunteer judges used words like “earthy” or “mild” to describe
The smell of old people Read More »
The next time you find yourself craving a sweet, irresistible piece of candy in someone else’s hands, remember this: You can’t help it. Your brain is built to covet. Read more at Science News for Kids.
Candy on the brain Read More »
Not all fruit flies are born equal. Some can skip 12 hours of sleep without missing a beat; others need their beauty rest to keep buzzing. In recent experiments on these two varieties of flies, scientists found that the bugs that skip zzzz’s pay a price to stay awake: They don’t fare as well as
Costs of missing sleep Read More »
Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins found a way to permanently wipe some memories from mouse minds. I wrote this script for the Loh Down on Science. Listen here.
Spotless Mice Minds Read More »
