Treating brain diseases is extraordinarily challenging, because drugs often work poorly and implants require risky surgery that can jeopardize critical brain functions. A group at MIT has sought a ...

A new study is the first to show that two of our most sophisticated cognitive functions, using and understanding language and being able to sense how other people feel, have distinct origins in the ...

Microplastics have been found in our lungs, guts, and even our blood. Now, researchers say they may reduce protective enzymes and proteins that keep neurons strong. Stacey Leasca is an award-winning ...

Why does a comforting touch stay with us for years, while other sensations quickly fade from our minds? A new paper offers a ...

The DeepInMiniMicroscope developed by UC Davis electrical engineering professor Weijian Yang combines optical technology and machine learning to create a device that can take high-resolution ...

At a time when fiber, protein, or every other version of “maxxing” is used to focus on a specific diet goal, we have never been dialed in to how we eat. What’s new? Welcome to the year of brain foods.

Think back through your day and consider all the amazing tasks your brain has helped you perform. From brushing your teeth to eating your lunch and reading the words on this page, your thoughts, ...

The brain has its own waste disposal system – known as the glymphatic system – that’s thought to be more active when we sleep. But disrupted sleep might hinder this waste disposal system and slow the ...

While age-old challenges regarding the mind, self, and consciousness persist within the labyrinths of philosophy, scientists may be on the verge of solving them through empirical means, even in the ...

But why is that? What is it about our relationships that make them so central to our lives? According to neuroscientist Ben Rein’s new book, Why Brains Need Friends, it comes down to our brains. As he ...

Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. You probably think you’re listening to my voice right now. But what if I told you that you’re actually experiencing a ...

When we look for something moving in the sky, our expectation would be very different if the object is a bird flying past or a baseball coming straight at us. UC Davis scientists in a new study looked ...