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How does the brain recognize new faces and places in milliseconds?

This Communications Biology study used intracranial EEG in 22 epilepsy patients to map how the human brain processes new images of faces and places within milliseconds.. It found that visual information flows from the occipital cortex through parallel dorsal and ventral pathways toward frontal and limbic regions, with distinct timing patterns for faces and places.

19 May 2026

Risk-taking during play may strengthen children’s real-world safety skills

Children who take more risks on the playground make safe decisions more quickly when crossing a busy street.

19 May 2026

Methylene blue enhances hair follicle stem cell regeneration under stress

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 5, 2026, titled "Methylene blue protects hair follicle stem cells from oxidative and metabolic stress to enhance hair regeneration."

19 May 2026

Real-world study compares leading ALK+ lung cancer treatments

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the USC Shaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics have conducted a head-to-head comparison of five leading treatments for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer.

19 May 2026

Sensory nerve signals found to block lung cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have revealed that sensory nerve signals interfere with the immune system's response to lung cancer.

19 May 2026

Study finds critical gaps in prenatal syphilis screening in Ontario

Congenital syphilis is entirely preventable-yet new research shows critical gaps in prenatal screening that are leaving some infants at risk.

19 May 2026

Experimental smartphone game quickly identifies patients with depression

An experimental diagnostic tool in the form of a computer game was able to quickly identify patients with depression based on anhedonia, a key feature of the disease, a new study shows.

19 May 2026

New mRNA vaccine strategy dramatically amplifies cancer-fighting T cells

Engineers from the University of Houston, MIT and Harvard have developed a new mRNA-based strategy that dramatically amplifies the T-cell response to vaccines - an advance that could lead to far more powerful cancer vaccines and stronger protection against infectious diseases.

19 May 2026

Switching to pod-based e-cigarette could improve the odds of quitting smoking

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, even as rates of cigarette smoking have fallen to an all-time low of approximately 10% in 2024.

19 May 2026

Researchers identity patients with exceptional tirzepatide response outcomes

Tirzepatide GLP-1 medication is known to improve sleep apnea for people with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, but not all patients benefit equally.

19 May 2026

UC Davis scientists identify protein key to male fertility

The causes of male infertility can be hard to diagnose, with many tests failing to detect genetic defects. Sometimes, infertility doesn't even involve the genes themselves.

19 May 2026

Private equity hospital acquisitions linked to worse pulmonary patient outcomes

A large new study presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that patients treated for COPD or pneumonia experience worse outcomes across several important measures when they are treated at hospitals that have been acquired by private equity firms.

19 May 2026

Neighborhood demographics heavily influence how Americans choose their pharmacies

An estimated 15.8 million people in the United States live in pharmacy deserts. With limited access to healthcare services, like hospitals and pharmacies, these individuals are at risk of elevated mortality risk and higher rates of preventable disease progression.

19 May 2026

Nurse-led ultrasound screening catches hidden infant hip dysplasia

A recent trial of community-based and nurse-led ultrasound screening for hip dysplasia in Japan has been met with great success, according to new research at the University of Tokyo.

19 May 2026

Psychologist debunks myth that sexual desire disappears with age

Sexuality is an important part of life - even when we grow old. The idea that desire disappears with age is a myth that needs to be debunked, argues a psychologist who has researched older adults' sex lives.

19 May 2026

Early neural activity regulates speech-related gene to build communication circuits

Communication begins long before children learn to speak. Researchers at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan have now uncovered how early brain activity helps build developing communication circuits via regulating FOXP2/Foxp2, a gene linked to human speech and communication disorders.

19 May 2026

Research highlights dramatic growth in Medicare Advantage insurance broker market

New research offers one of the clearest pictures yet on just how large the Medicare Advantage insurance broker market has become.

19 May 2026

Pennington and Vanderbilt launch major study on childhood obesity treatment

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has launched a research study, the COACH trial, to test different ways to help children and their families improve their health through lifestyle changes delivered by primary care clinics in communities in Louisiana and Tennessee.

19 May 2026

Climate change drives emerging vector-borne diseases in Canada

Climate change is affecting the local ecology in Canada, contributing to emerging tick- and mosquito-borne diseases and infections in humans, argue authors of a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260668.

19 May 2026

New TriPcide compounds show promise against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

In a new study, researchers show how so‑called TriPcides can target the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic‑resistant strains such as MRSA.

19 May 2026