Life Changes
Healing Through Storytelling: Lessons from The Odyssey
The journey of Odysseus in Homer's 'The Odyssey' offers profound insights into healing...
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- Written by: Barbara Moran, Boston University
New research suggests that excess sugar—especially the fructose in sugary drinks—might damage your brain.
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- Written by: Julie Cohen, University of California, Santa Barbara
Healthier people mean not only less disease but also reduced greenhouse gas emissions from health care. Changing your diet, therefore, could be a way to fight climate change.
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- Written by: Christina Sumners, Texas A&M University
Spermidine—a compound in foods like aged cheese, mushrooms, soy products, legumes, corn, and whole grains—may prevent liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.
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- Written by: Patrick Ercolano, Johns Hopkins University
A “congestion tax” that discourages downtown driving not only cuts traffic and pollution, but also sharply reduces children’s asthma attacks.
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- Written by: University of Michigan
A small number of people—about 6 percent—who had not been taking opioids before an operation, but got them to ease post-surgery pain, are still taking painkillers three to six months later. That’s long after what is considered normal for surgical recovery.
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- Written by: Sandra Knispel, University of Rochester
People with symptoms of depression may not feel like socializing, but doing something fun with friends can improve mood, a new study shows.
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- Written by: Andrea Kunicky, University of Pittsburgh
The common but otherwise harmless reovirus can trigger the immune system response to gluten that may lead to celiac disease, new research shows.
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- Written by: Marc David
This is the greatest favor I can do for you as a nutritionist: A diet program that doesn’t tell you exactly which foods to eat and in what amounts. Empowering you to be in deeper relationship with food and with the genius in your body is the surest road to your most powerful metabolism.
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- Written by: Morgan Sherburne, University of Michigan
Previously, researchers knew that depriving mice of sleep after the mice performed a task resulted in the mice forgetting aspects of that task. But researchers weren’t sure what function of the hippocampus
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- Written by: Blaine Friedlander, Cornell University
A new way to test for a wide range of micropollutants in waterways has already turned up a nightmarish cocktail of contaminants.
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- Written by: Christina Sumners, Texas A&M University
A nasal spray can limit damage to the brain from a seizure disorder called status epilepticus, a study in animals shows.
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- Written by: John Mathews, University of Melbourne
CT scans provide essential diagnostic images but carry a small risk of cancer, particularly in children. Recent studies show a slight increase in cancer risk for young patients exposed to CT scans, leading to discussions on the necessity of these scans and the development of guidelines to minimize unnecessary exposure. Understanding these risks is crucial for informed medical decisions.
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- Written by: Yasmin Anwar University of California, Berkeley
The unmet sleep needs of the elderly elevate their risk of memory loss and a wide range of mental and physical disorders, say researchers.
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- Written by: Nigel Stepto, Victoria University
Vibration machines promise significant fitness benefits with minimal effort, claiming that just ten minutes of use equals an hour of traditional exercise. However, evidence supporting these claims is mixed, particularly concerning weight loss. While some studies suggest benefits for certain populations, more research is needed to validate the effectiveness of these machines for general fitness.
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- Written by: Mark A.S. Laidlaw, RMIT University; et al.
Recent research reveals that shooters, whether professional or recreational, face significant risks of lead poisoning from bullets and airborne particles at shooting ranges. With elevated blood lead levels found in many participants across various studies, understanding the sources of lead exposure and its potential health impacts is crucial for all involved in shooting activities.
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- Written by: National University of Singapore
A recent study reveals that drinking tea can significantly lower the risk of cognitive impairment, with a 50% reduction overall and up to 86% for older adults at genetic risk for Alzheimer's. This simple lifestyle change may offer a promising avenue for dementia prevention as current pharmacological treatments remain inadequate.
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- Written by: Lindsay Wu, UNSW
It was once a fringe topic for scientists and a pseudo-religious dream for others.
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- Written by: Robin Reese, Emory University
Specific patterns of activity on brain scans may help clinicians identify whether psychotherapy or antidepressant medication is more likely to help a patient recover from depression.
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- Written by: Lisa Chedekel, Boston University
Continuing or initiating cigarette use after stopping the use of illicit drugs is linked to an increased likelihood of substance use relapse, research shows.
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- Written by: Nicholas Pearson
Obsidian asks us not to look upon the broken pieces that lay on the ground; rather, obsidian helps us to see ourselves as the perfection that is revealed from within when the unnecessary parts of ourselves are stripped away.
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- Written by: David Hill, University at Buffalo
Gum disease and tooth loss may be associated with a higher risk of death among postmenopausal women, according to a new study.
