With more than 18 months of the pandemic in the rearview mirror, researchers have been steadily gathering new and important insights into the effects of COVID-19 on the body and brain. These findings are raising concerns about the long-term impacts that the coronavirus might have on biological processes such as aging. As a cognitive neuroscientist, […]
Home »
Not even a global pandemic can stop poor hand hygiene
New Curtin research has identified that the average Australian only occasionally washed their hands properly during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite hand hygiene being one of the key recommendations for protecting against the deadly disease. The study, published in Psychology and Health, surveyed people across the nation to understand the behaviors behind these results, as well […]
Our Malta Is Even Better Than the Island!
Sure, the island is beautiful, but a trip to the ASPCA to meet our Malta is even better! Malta came to the ASPCA from a home with many other cats where she likely had very little—if any—experience with people. She is still getting used to petting and enjoys spending time near the people she trusts, […]
WHO recommends masks — even for vaccinated people — because of delta variant
Biden touts COVID vaccine progress amid Delta variant warning Fox News correspondent Gillian Turner has the latest from the White House on ‘Special Report’ As the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus gained traction around the world, the World Health Organization urged vaccinated people to continue to wear masks and social distance, according to […]
Getting a Prescription to Die Remains Tricky Even as Aid-in-Dying Bills Gain Momentum
Linda Heim knew her dad didn’t plan to wait for the cancer to kill him. For decades, he’d lived in Montana, which they’d thought was one of the few places where terminally ill people could get a prescription to end their life. After two years of being sick, Heim’s dad got the diagnosis in 2019: […]
Here are things even a professional organizer wouldn’t throw away
When you’re in purging mode, tossing things you may need sometimes comes with the territory. Who hasn’t regretted throwing away a pair of shoes or a dress that you thought you wouldn’t need? Finding the difference between hoarding and keeping things that you’ll likely need in the long run can be a tricky business. According […]
HCQ has no significant impact on heart rhythm in lupus patients, even those with CKD
New research shows that adults with lupus who take the antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, do not have any differences in their corrected QT (QTc) intervals, an electrocardiogram (EKG) measurement of the heart’s electrical signals, even if they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), a complication of lupus that can be associated with increased levels of the medication. […]
Can air pollution make COVID even deadlier?
People with long-term exposure to air pollutants may be more likely to die from COVID-19, according to a new study. In an analysis of more than 3,000 U.S. counties, researchers found that just a small increase in long-term average exposure to fine-particle pollutants (PM2.5) upped the risk of death from COVID by more than 10%. […]
Face-specific brain area responds to faces even in people born blind
More than 20 years ago, neuroscientist Nancy Kanwisher and others discovered that a small section of the brain located near the base of the skull responds much more strongly to faces than to other objects we see. This area, known as the fusiform face area, is believed to be specialized for identifying faces. Now, in […]
Should Kids Even Be Allowed to Wear Scary Halloween Costumes?
When my son turned 7, he began showing signs of turning from a little kid into a big kid. He strove for independence, although he didn’t always quite get the hang of it. (For example, he wanted to shower by himself, but was afraid of getting shampoo in his eyes, so he came up with […]