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Sexual arousal can blur recognition of unclear rejection signals

Sexual arousal can lead to "tunnel vision" that makes it more difficult to recognize when someone is just not that into you, according to new research in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

8 May 2026

Researchers uncover how bacterial toxin damages colon lining cells to trigger cancer

Since a landmark 2009 study, researchers have known that a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, drives colon tumor formation, potentially leading to colorectal cancer, by secreting a toxin that damages the lining of the colon.

8 May 2026

Bioinspired artificial muscle filaments bend and twist with temperature changes

Nature is replete with slender filaments that bend and coil – from climbing grape vines, to folded proteins, to elephant trunks that can pick up a peanut but also take down a tree.

8 May 2026

Plant-based mosquito repellent offers effective alternative to DEET lotions

Summertime hikes and afternoons in the backyard can be ruined by mosquito bites. So, many people apply topical synthetic repellents like DEET before heading outside, but there is a growing market for natural repellants that could be less irritating to the skin and more environmentally friendly.

8 May 2026

Tiny cellular structure found crucial for brain development processes

A largely overlooked structure inside our cells may play a crucial role in how the brain forms, offering new insight into developmental disorders and potential therapies.

8 May 2026

Scientists uncover cellular mechanism behind rare childhood brain disorders

Thousands of times per year, a family's moment of joy turns to unexpected grief. A seemingly healthy infant stops smiling or making eye contact.

8 May 2026

Study challenges assumptions about testosterone’s role in brain cancer

Scientists have long suspected that androgens, male sex hormones like testosterone, may help tumors grow because the hormones can suppress immune responses to some cancers.

8 May 2026

A brain-based approach may improve smoking cessation treatment success

For many people who smoke, quitting is not just a matter of willpower. It is a tug-of-war in the brain – between the pull of reward and the ability to resist.

8 May 2026

New brain findings open pathways for understanding behavioral and neurological disorders

When danger lurks, instinct keeps us safe. It compels us to run from a burning building or wrestle a knife-wielding attacker to the ground. It also adjusts our body physiology to support these behaviors.

8 May 2026

Engineered regulatory T cells offer a path toward immunosuppression-free transplants

Organ transplantation remains the cornerstone treatment for end-stage organ failure. While conventional broad-spectrum immunosuppression effectively controls acute rejection, it fails to address chronic rejection and carries long-term side effects including infection, malignancy, and metabolic disorders.

8 May 2026

Suppressing TGF-β signaling reactivates dormant bone cells to treat osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a common skeletal disorder, is marked by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, making bones more porous and prone to fractures.

8 May 2026

UK media portrays Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes stigma differently

Media framing often differs between diabetes types, with implications for misconceptions, blame, and diabetes-related stigma.

8 May 2026

AI diagnostic reasoning nears physician performance

Advanced AI systems are approaching physicial-level reasoning in diagnostic tasks.

8 May 2026

Adults of all ages can improve brain performance through practice

A landmark study recently published in the Nature Portfolio journal Scientific Reports reveals that cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging.

8 May 2026

New nanoparticles disable drug resistance to achieve complete tumor elimination

Cancer cells frequently develop the ability to expel anticancer drugs before they can work -- a phenomenon called multidrug resistance (MDR) -- which is one of the leading reasons why chemotherapy fails in patients.

8 May 2026

Metformin targets the gut instead of the liver to lower glucose

For decades, physicians and scientists thought metformin, the leading Type 2 diabetes medication taken by millions worldwide, mainly targets the liver to suppress glucose production.

8 May 2026

UK restaurant chains miss most government sugar and salt targets

A study reveals low adherence to UK nutrition targets in major restaurant chains, raising concerns about dietary risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

8 May 2026

Study links mitochondrial health to effectiveness of anti-aging pathways

Mississippi State University biologist Jean-Francois Gout's contributions to a study highlighting key advances in the complexity of aging now are published in Science Advances, a leading peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

7 May 2026

Diverse leukemia stem cells may drive AML relapse after therapy

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute have deciphered a key mechanism that contributes to treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

7 May 2026

Blocking TGF-beta may enhance osteoporosis bone regeneration therapies

A recent mouse model based study suggests that blocking TGF-β may improve osteoporosis treatment by helping quiescent osteoblasts in inactive bone surfaces return to an active state.

7 May 2026