Antibiotic Doxycycline May Cut Schizophrenia Risk
Summary: A large population-based study suggests that doxycycline, a common antibiotic, may reduce the risk of schizophrenia when prescribed to adolescents receiving mental health care. Researchers analyzed data from more than 56,000 young patients and found that those who took doxycycline had a 30–35% lower chance of developing schizophrenia later in life. The effect is […]
3D Brain Map Reveals How Inflammation Reawakens Developmental Genes
Summary: Researchers have developed the most detailed molecular map yet of how the brain develops and reacts to inflammation, revealing that disease processes can “reawaken” genes from early life. Using a new spatial tri-omics technique, the team tracked how gene activity, epigenetic changes, and protein production interact in specific brain regions. They found that inflammation […]
AI Creates the Most Detailed 3D Map of the Human Brain Ever Made
Summary: A new AI-powered atlas called NextBrain allows researchers to visualize the human brain in unprecedented detail, down to hundreds of tiny subregions previously invisible on MRI scans. Built from 10,000 microscopic slices of post-mortem brains and aligned with AI, the atlas precisely maps 333 brain regions in 3D. When tested on thousands of MRI […]
AI Can Spot Lies, But Not as Well as Humans Can
Summary: A large-scale study tested whether AI personas can detect when humans are lying—and found that while AI can sometimes spot deception, it’s still far from trustworthy. Across 12 experiments involving 19,000 AI participants, the systems performed inconsistently, showing a strong bias toward identifying lies rather than truths. In some cases, AI matched human accuracy, […]
AI Maps the Brain’s Hidden Bridge, Revealing Genetic Links to Mental Health
Summary: For the first time, scientists have mapped the genetic architecture of the brain’s communication bridge—the corpus callosum—using AI and MRI data from over 50,000 people. The study uncovered dozens of genes that shape this vital structure’s size and thickness, many active during prenatal development when the brain’s wiring is established. Differences in these genes […]
BrainSTEM Atlas Maps Every Cell of the Developing Human Brain
Summary: Scientists have built one of the most comprehensive single-cell maps of the developing human brain. The new BrainSTEM framework analyzed nearly 680,000 fetal brain cells to chart their growth and interactions, offering a detailed reference for studying neuron development. By pinpointing midbrain dopaminergic neurons—the cells most affected in Parkinson’s—it gives researchers a powerful tool […]
Your Brain Knows a Viral Message Before You Do
Summary: A large-scale brain imaging analysis reveals that our brains can forecast what kinds of messages will go viral. Researchers found that persuasive messages consistently activate brain regions associated with reward, empathy, and social understanding, predicting both personal preferences and public appeal. Interestingly, while emotional brain activity predicted message success in larger audiences, it did […]
Antioxidant Defense System in the Brain Discovered
Summary: A new study identifies biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) as a crucial enzyme defending neurons from oxidative stress, acting independently of its traditional role in bilirubin production. Using genetically modified mice, researchers found that BVRA binds directly to NRF2, a master regulator of antioxidant defense, ensuring the activation of protective genes that maintain cellular health. […]
Long-Term Melatonin Use Linked to Higher Heart Failure Risk
Summary: A large-scale analysis of more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia found that long-term melatonin use—defined as one year or more—was associated with a striking increase in heart failure, hospitalization, and mortality risk. Using global health records, researchers found that melatonin users had about 90% higher odds of developing heart failure and were nearly […]
Why Warm-Blooded Animals Evolved the Biggest Brains
Summary: A global study of vertebrates reveals that body temperature is the key driver behind brain size evolution. Warm-blooded species like mammals and birds can maintain the energy demands of larger brains, while cold-blooded species are limited by fluctuating external temperatures. Researchers also found that species producing larger offspring tend to evolve bigger adult brains, […]