Ever wondered how people make decisions? It turns out, our brains use a clever trick called the Successor Representation (SR). This trick helps us avoid the hassle of imagining every little step into the future. Instead, our brains group future states together and make predictions over multiple step
Did you know that some plastics can soak up heavy metals like a sponge? Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mulch is designed to replace conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch in farming. The goal? To cut down on plastic waste and microplastics in soil. But it turns out, these tiny plastic bits can al
Imagine what happens when you toss a disposable face mask into a landfill. Scientists have been looking into this, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mask use. They found that these masks can break down over time, releasing tiny pieces called microplastics and harmful chemicals
Complementary feeding is a vital stage in a child's growth, but poor hygiene can lead to malnutrition and illness. In Ethiopia, there's not much data on how mothers of kids aged 6-24 months handle hygiene during this time. To fill this gap, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis
You know how wheat bran is great for managing blood sugar levels? Well, it turns out that what happens to it during digestion can change its effectiveness. Scientists decided to see exactly how much the digestive process alters wheat bran's power to lower blood sugar. They looked at how well it bind
Ever wondered how stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia manage to sit down and stand up? Researchers took a closer look at the forces acting on their hip, knee, and ankle joints during these movements. They wanted to figure out how these forces relate to the moments created by these joints. Spasti
Have you heard about Streptococcus suis? It's a sneaky bug that's caused some serious problems in pigs, leading to major losses for the farming industry. Yet, its threat to humans was often overlooked, even after a big outbreak in Sichuan, China, that left people very sick. Scientists in Zhejiang P
Scientists are making big strides in understanding how our genes contribute to risk for esophageal cancer. This type of cancer, called esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), often starts with a condition called Barrett's esophagus (BE). Many genetic factors have been linked to these conditions, but how th
Imagine you're missing a tooth and the bone around that area needs help to grow back. Would you rather have a membrane made of gelatin and polylactic acid (GT/PLA) or one called Guidor®? This experiment involved 32 people who needed bone regrowth after losing a tooth. They were split into two groups
Ever wondered who's calling the shots in the U. S. health insurance market? It's not a secret that a few big players have been gobbling up smaller companies. Take CVS Health, for instance. In 2018, they scooped up Aetna. That same year, Cigna bought Express Scripts. Fast forward to 2023, Kaiser Perm
